THE letter from the BNP press officer in response to your report on the Unite Against Fascism campaign (February 26) is a classic example of spin-doctoring.

Just look at what he doesn't say. He doesn't deny any of the substantive facts in the original article. He doesn't deny the BNP is racist, anti-semitic, holocaust- denying, anti-gay, anti-trade-union and anti civil liberties.

He doesn't deny they have forged nominations in elections nor that they threaten to "silence" anyone who disagrees with them.

And he doesn't deny their leader and deputy leader have criminal convictions for, respectively, incitement to racial hatred and assault and bomb-making. All he says is they stand in elections, therefore they must be democratic. But Hitler and Mussolini stood in elections too.

The real test of a democratic party is commitment to open debate and peaceful means. Those who whip up hatred and rely on violence and threats cannot truly claim to be democrats.

Ben Drake,

York Unity/Unite Against Fascism,

Danum Road, York.

...IN his plea for democratic toleration Phill Edwards claims the BNP seeks only for "political parties to have the right to be heard for their true policies, aims and objectives".

I'm sure all residents of York can agree with this, if only to ensure the BNP is revealed for the vile, racist and violent bunch of thugs they are.

Alex Ball,

Fossgate,

York.

Updated: 11:14 Saturday, February 28, 2004