LIKE other recent correspondents, I believe that the BNP will be defeated by arguments, not by egg-throwing.

John Riseley (HAS, Page 5, June 9) hopes the BNP will “Europeanise” and form alliances with like-minded parties in the EU. The BNP’s deputy leader, Simon Darby, recently called for greater co-operation with other fascist groups in Europe, such as the NDP (Germany), Front National (France), Jobbik (Hungary), Noua Dreapta (Romania), Ataka (Bulgaria), and Forza Nuova (Italy).

Members, supporters and leaders of these groups include racist thugs, criminals and terrorists, who incite violence and hatred towards minorities in Europe, including Jews, blacks, Roma, Turks and Muslims.

Forza Nuova is led by BNP leader Nick Griffin’s old pal, Roberto Fiore, with whom he founded the fascist group, International Third Position, in 1981. Mr Fiore was convicted in 1985 for his “subversive association” with the murderous Italian terrorist organisation Nuclei Armati Rivoluzionari.

With two MEPs, the BNP will be more in the limelight, and may find it harder to conceal from the British public the neo-Nazi ideology which underpins its misconceived policies. Mr Griffin will be judged by the company he keeps, as well as by his own racist doctrines.

Pete Winstanley, Durham.

IN referring to Nick Griffin, leader of the BNP, Peter Hill (HAS, June 12) states that “Ninety nine per cent of our population abhor his views”.

I suspect this assertion is completely unsubstantiated, in the same vein as statements from politicians and certain media outlets (naming no names) that “the public” this and “the public” that, implying that some kind of national referendum has been carried out, when it clearly has not.

Or perhaps Mr Hill has some evidence that he would be prepared to share with us?

Personally, I suspect that far more than one per cent of our population sees much of BNP policy as perfect common sense.

Note: I suspect, I do not assert.

Kevin O’Brien, Ferryhill Station, Co Durham.

AS someone who is never going to think of voting BNP I have no difficulty in believing that its leader and recently-elected MEP, Nick Griffin, should be accorded free speech. If I was not to hear what he said I would have no idea what he stands for.

I cannot understand anyone wanting to prevent anyone else expressing a point of view, and I think that the police would have been acting within their rights if they had arrested the people who were interrupting Mr Griffin’s recent press conference outside the Houses of Parliament.

As to going as far as Voltaire in being prepared to die to enable someone I profoundly disagreed with to express their opinions – as mentioned in Colin Mortimer’s letter (HAS, June 13) – I am not sure that I would be prepared to go as far as that.

I value my life too much to be a martyr.

Geoffrey Bulmer, Billingham.

THE quote that Colin T Mortimer (HAS, June 13), among many others, wrongly attributes to Voltaire – “I disagree with what you say, but will defend to the death your right to say it” – was, in fact, a synopsis of Voltaire’s position on free speech written by Evelyn Beatrice Hall, under the pseudonym of SG Tallentyre, in the 1906 biography, Friends of Voltaire.

Chris White, Spennymoor, Co Durham.

AS people condemn the recent throwing of eggs at BNP leader Nick Griffin remember the many whose right to freedom of speech have been denied them by the far-right.

HE Smith, Spennymoor, Co Durham.