Bonhill BNP man says ‘I’m not racist’

Nov 28 2008 by Marc McLean, Lennox Herald (main ed)

A BONHILL man who was uncovered as a member of the BNP in a leaked document has insisted: “I’m not a racist.”

Colin Ross spoke openly to the Lennox Herald about joining the extremist British National Party which has racist links.

The 37-year-old dad-of-two says he only supports the BNP’s tough stance on immigration, joining after being caught up in the London 7/7 terror attacks in 2005.

He said: “I was in London for a UB40 concert and was moments away from being involved. Apparently, if I had been on the tube in front of me I could have died.

“My wife was at home thinking I had been killed. She was watching it unfold on BBC News and was in hysterics.

“It was horrible. I’ve never experienced anything like that in my life.

“The BNP appealed to me because they seemed to be tackling the illegal immigrant problem and extremists.

“I want a safe country for my two daughters and I wouldn’t want them going on public transport and risk being killed.”

The BNP is led by Nick Griffin, a Cambridge educated politician who was convicted of inciting racial hatred by denying the Holocaust in a magazine.

The party has tried to tone down its image and appeal to a wider audience in recent years.

But campaign group Hope Not Hate, which launched a London-wide drive to stop people voting for the BNP, says the party stands for “hatred and violence.”

Colin Ross, a local entertainer and Elvis impersonator, said: “I’m certainly not racist, there’s not a racist bone in my body, and that’s why I’m being open about it.

“I joined the BNP on a whim and got a family ticket. My wife and parents are not members any more.

“I renewed my membership but I’m not an activist. I wouldn’t get involved in any of the protests or rallies.”