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ONE PAPER ... ALL THE NEWS from Dewsbury, Batley, Ossett, Mirfield, Liversedge, Birstall, Heckmondwike, Cleckheaton & Spen Valley
Friday December 4, 2015
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No. 714
50p
Towns & Clashes, arrests villages and confusion in light up Ravensthorpe
p4-5
p12
STAY AWAY Traders, councillors and community leaders condemn far-right’s demo in Dewsbury plan PLANS by far-right group Britain First to hold a demonstration in Dewsbury next month have been condemned. Traders, councillors, campaigners and mosque leaders are united in opposing the demo on Saturday January 30 at 1pm. Police and Kirklees Council are aware of the plans, but neither had been formally notified when asked by The Press. Britain First, which dubbed Dewsbury “a well-known nest of Islamism”, called their protest a “Day of Action” on Facebook. Coun Mumtaz Hussain (Lab, Dewsbury West) called for the demonstration to be blocked. He said: “I’m not happy that this event could take place and I’m sure most law-abiding people in Dewsbury don’t want it either. “How much will it cost? The last one by the English Defence League (EDL) cost thousands of pounds. “That money should be spent on putting police on the streets and sup-
porting businesses.” He added that at the time of the EDL rally in 2012, he had a shop on Foundry Street and closed early due to the disruption. Six terrorists were later jailed for plotting to blow up protesters. Coun Masood Ahmed (Lab, Dewsbury South) called on the local Asian community to ignore any Britain First activity. He said: “They shouldn’t be given the platform that would come from any sort of reaction. They should be left to stand around among themselves.” Dewsbury Chamber of Trade president Trish Makepeace said: “I wouldn’t be happy if this goes ahead. “We’ve had enough bad publicity as it is and now Dewsbury faces being in the national headlines for all the wrong reasons yet again.” She and community activist Mark Eastwood fear lost trade will be a blow to regeneration efforts. Mr Eastwood said: “I’m all for freedom of speech and the right to protest, but this isn’t what Dewsbury
Britain First leader Paul Golding and deputy Jayda Fransen ... “stay away from Dewsbury” message needs. We want to move Dewsbury forward but while ever there’s extremists, whether they’re far right or Islamist, Dewsbury isn’t going to move forward.” Kaushar Tai, of the Kirklees Inter-
Faith Forum, wants to meet Britain First to discuss their concerns (see p4 for details). The Press phoned Britain First on Wednesday to quiz them on their reasons for coming but was put on hold
for 15 minutes. There was also no reply to an email, though there was a statement on social media that gave an indication of the group’s intent.
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