IT’S good to see Pete Winstanley admitting that the word “fascism” is not applicable to the British National Party (HAS, June 24).

However, he still claims that the word “racism” is applicable. This is nonsense.

First, the notion that one race is superior to another is central to Oxford dictionary definition of racism. The BNP’s desire for stricter immigration controls does not prove the latter belief, nor does the desire to repatriate some immigrants.

Second, even if one believes in the superiority of one race over another, what of it? In an earlier correspondence (HAS, May 20), I asked what was wrong with the obviously true claim that Negroes win nearly all the sprint events at the Olympics, or with the equally true claim that Jews get far more Nobel Prizes per head of population than Arabs.

Mr Winstanley has not answered this point, nor has anyone else – presumably because they can’t.

Third, another element in the dictionary definition is “hatred”.

Again, BNP policies do not prove hatred of anyone.

Will Mr Winstanley now concede that both the words “fascism” and “racism” are largely codswallop, and no more applicable to the BNP than any other party?

Adam Walker, Spennymoor, Co Durham.