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I was punched in face at BNP demo

Kate Stirrup
29/ 4/2004

AN anti-racism protester from south Manchester claims he was punched in the face by a member of the British National Party.

Ahead of the controversial visit to the UK by French right wing nationalist leader Jean-Marie Le Pen last week, BNP members gathered in the car park of Office World in Stockport.

They were joined by anti-racism protesters keen to learn where Le Pen - in the country to publicise the BNP's campaign in June's European Elections - was to hold a press conference. During the scrum to get hold of a leaflet Bill Jefferies, from Fallowfield, claims he was punched by a member of the BNP and was left bloodied and sore after the incident.

Mr Jefferies, an office worker said: "The attack was completely unprovoked."

"I saw this man handing out leaflets as to where the press conference was going to take place."

"I approached him and he smacked me on the chin. It was absolutely unbelievable, his fist drew blood and then he claimed I had attacked him. When I asked him his name he told me he was Mickey Mouse."

The BNP said no action would be taken against their member, who they say was acting in self defence.

A spokesman for Office World said: "We would like to make it clear that any representatives of the British National Party, or any other organisation, on its premises, was uninvited, unwelcome and unwanted in our car park."