British Democracy Forum - View Single Post - Sikhs campaigning for freedom of expression

gawain · 07-05-2008, 05:44 PM

Just to give you all a heads up.

Of the UKIP MEPs on parade with the Sikhs today, Derek Clark should take the plaudits. For the third year in succession he has stuck with them whilst others waltzed through, got the photo and disappeared.

The trip was supposedly sponsored by Nena Gill (Lab) and Glenis Wilmott (Lab). Godfrey Bloom, who recently travelled to Amritsar asked me to ensure that everything was OK with the Sikh visit to Brussels. I tried to help but discovered that niether of the so- called sponsors had done a thing (other than book a room in an area of the parliament to which they must have known that the Sikhs would have been dissallowed to appear - due the kirpan issue).

At 10 o'clock this morning, Derek Clark, Mike Nattrass, Gerard Batten and Tom Wise appeared to discuss issues with the Sikh delegation.

Later some Lib Dems and Labour types turned up to get some glory, but the only people who went out of their way to be helpful were the UKIP MEPs (Bloom is not in Brussels this week but directed me)

John Whittaker and Farage spoke to some constituency Sikhs at a later part of the day.

After a huge amount of mucking around on the part of the Parliament authorities I managed to find them a room from where they contuinue their lobby. Clark stayed with them at all time sto ensure that problems were smoothed over.

I spoke to them (about 250 in total) and asked them if they were surprised that the only British party that seemed to give a damn was UKIP. They agreed that they were surprised. I then pointed out that these days we are the only party with a historical sense, the rest believe that history statrts with them.

I was given around of applause and a vote of thanks, thanks that was extended to the whole party.

After the meeting a number of senior Sikh figures spopke to me privately and assured me that they would be reporting back to the Sikh community at large in the UK that the only party to make an effort and give them a fair hearing was UKIP.

As a final point, there will be another visit in Novemeber, when they will all be turning up on mass again to go to Ypres and Neuve Chappelle ( the Indian WWI Memorial). This visit will be hostd by Godfrey Bloom.

All in all a good days work which I believe will be, in the long term very helpfull. Thank s to all the UKIP staff and MEPs who made it so

07-05-2008, 05:44 PM	#7 (permalink)
gawain Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 232	Others involved Just to give you all a heads up. Of the UKIP MEPs on parade with the Sikhs today, Derek Clark should take the plaudits. For the third year in succession he has stuck with them whilst others waltzed through, got the photo and disappeared. The trip was supposedly sponsored by Nena Gill (Lab) and Glenis Wilmott (Lab). Godfrey Bloom, who recently travelled to Amritsar asked me to ensure that everything was OK with the Sikh visit to Brussels. I tried to help but discovered that niether of the so- called sponsors had done a thing (other than book a room in an area of the parliament to which they must have known that the Sikhs would have been dissallowed to appear - due the kirpan issue). At 10 o'clock this morning, Derek Clark, Mike Nattrass, Gerard Batten and Tom Wise appeared to discuss issues with the Sikh delegation. Later some Lib Dems and Labour types turned up to get some glory, but the only people who went out of their way to be helpful were the UKIP MEPs (Bloom is not in Brussels this week but directed me) John Whittaker and Farage spoke to some constituency Sikhs at a later part of the day. After a huge amount of mucking around on the part of the Parliament authorities I managed to find them a room from where they contuinue their lobby. Clark stayed with them at all time sto ensure that problems were smoothed over. I spoke to them (about 250 in total) and asked them if they were surprised that the only British party that seemed to give a damn was UKIP. They agreed that they were surprised. I then pointed out that these days we are the only party with a historical sense, the rest believe that history statrts with them. I was given around of applause and a vote of thanks, thanks that was extended to the whole party. After the meeting a number of senior Sikh figures spopke to me privately and assured me that they would be reporting back to the Sikh community at large in the UK that the only party to make an effort and give them a fair hearing was UKIP. As a final point, there will be another visit in Novemeber, when they will all be turning up on mass again to go to Ypres and Neuve Chappelle ( the Indian WWI Memorial). This visit will be hostd by Godfrey Bloom. All in all a good days work which I believe will be, in the long term very helpfull. Thank s to all the UKIP staff and MEPs who made it so