I THOUGHT The Press were meant to be an unbiased newspaper when it comes to politics, but over the past few weeks you have proven me wrong.

Firstly, your "Bin BNP leaflets" story (March 9) calls the BNP an "extreme group" which "has hate at its core." This is obviously biased, and proves that you are biased when it comes to certain political groups.

Furthermore, The Press has no right to try and influence who people support and what to do with their leaflets. I'm sure that you wouldn't tell readers to bin Labour Party leaflets, would you?

That fact that in the Readers' Letters section in your newspaper, where this topic could be discussed, you had three anti-BNP letters, but only one letter defending the BNP written by Ian Dawson - which you had greatly edited to make look meaningless. This again shows your anti-BNP bias.

You also keep putting emphasis on how the BNP are "fascist" and you often interview people from Unite Against Fascism, but did you realise that one of Adolf Hitler's fascist policies was to destroy or silence opposition parties? Isn't this what The Press are trying to do by constantly trying to lose the BNP support? It seems to me that the real fascists are The Press themselves.

It has recently come to my attention The Press are owned by an American company. What right have people who aren't even British got to tell people who they should and shouldn't vote for?

In conclusion, I think you should stop trying to lose the BNP support, or you should slander all political parties equally.

Ben Graves, Parton Walk, York.

Editor's note: The four BNP-related letters that we published on March 20 were the entire correspondence that we had received on the subject by the time of going to press. Ian Dawson's letter was not the only one edited, and the changes did not make it meaningless.

Our Letters page makes it clear that we reserve the right to edit all correspondence, and our editorial policies are decided here in York.


I READ that the BNP will be standing in nine York seats for the forthcoming local elections (The Press, April 5).

In recent weeks some members of the BNP have had a small stand in Front Street, Acomb, giving out their literature.

Draped across the stand was a poster which said: Defend Our Christian Values. I would like to make it clear to everybody that BNP values are in no way compatible with Christian values.

To be a Christian is to be a believer in Our Lord Jesus the Christ, whose values are that all people are equal in the eyes of God, regardless of race, colour or creed.

To be a Christian does not mean believing that non-Christians are less important in the eyes of God.

It is an acceptance that we are all sinners equal in the eyes of God, and our sins are forgiven through the death and resurrection of Jesus. Before readers swamp the letters page with replies about failings in the Christian church, I agree - none of the churches or their members are perfect (after all, we are only human), but the BNP don't even try to represent Christianity.

Vote for them by all means if you agree with their bigotry, but don't fool yourself into believing it has anything to do with Christian values.

Tony Taylor Grassholme, Woodthorpe, York.


I FEEL obliged to make comment on Hugh Bayley's remarks about the BNP (BNP targets nine council seats, The Press, April 4).

As far as I know the BNP are the only ones who are dedicated to the British people.

Over the last ten years his party (New Labour) have repeatedly said how well our economy is doing.

It is, in France, Spain, Poland, Europe in general and the Far East.

Look at what has happened here in York. Industry all but gone, the cost to the people lost pensions, low income and high bills.

Perhaps we should remind him of what has happened since 2003: the 76 per cent increase in the North Yorkshire Police Authority's council tax precept; the 9.5 per cent council tax increases (£2.93 on the bills).

These are but a few that Mr Bayley would like people to forget.

So far as crime figures being reduced since 2003 is concerned, the force has increased by 180 police officers, so crime should fall accordingly.

But, Mr Bayley, consider this. In 2003 the North Yorkshire Police Authority created the finest money-making scheme in the country - all legal. What did you do?

P Richardson, York Road, Haxby, York.