5:09pm Thursday 11th March 2010
By Alexandra Barham
ANTI-BNP activists have snubbed an offer of a question and answer session with a far right supporter in Markyate.
Anti fascist campaigners passed up BNP Markyate Parish Councillor Simon Deacon's proposed question and answer style debate in the village hall, insisting it would breach their long held policy to share a platform with the controversial party.
Mark Smith of Unite Against Fascism (UAF) said: "We have a policy - we don't share platforms with members of BNP.
"If we stand on a platform with a BNP member it legitimises them, it makes them seem normal.
"I have political disagreements with members of the Conservative Party and UKIP and I would have a politcal exchange with these people, but fascists ideas are off the scale. Their ideas end up in concentration camps."
Before his face off was outrightly shunned, Mr Deacon said: "If they want to bring 20 or 30 people I will stand there on my own and I'm willing to answer any question they throw at me. I'll even serve them tea and coffee. I have nothing to hide, Lets see if they can do something and be civil."
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