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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| BNP cancels event after match row | BNP cancels event after match row |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| The British National Party (BNP) has cancelled an event in Liverpool which police said forced them to postpone Everton's match against Stoke. | The British National Party (BNP) has cancelled an event in Liverpool which police said forced them to postpone Everton's match against Stoke. |
| The Premier League fixture was due to take place at Goodison on Saturday, 14 March, but was switched to Sunday. | The Premier League fixture was due to take place at Goodison on Saturday, 14 March, but was switched to Sunday. |
| Merseyside Police feared it would not have enough officers to police the match and a BNP leafleting event. | Merseyside Police feared it would not have enough officers to police the match and a BNP leafleting event. |
| The force said it had yet to received confirmation from the party that the city centre event had been cancelled. | The force said it had yet to received confirmation from the party that the city centre event had been cancelled. |
| Everton Football Club and Premier League officials are meeting on Monday to discuss the situation. | |
| Our role is to facilitate lawful marches whilst ensuring that the safety of the public of Merseyside remains paramount Dep Ch Con Bernard Lawson, Merseyside Police | Our role is to facilitate lawful marches whilst ensuring that the safety of the public of Merseyside remains paramount Dep Ch Con Bernard Lawson, Merseyside Police |
| Members of the party were due to hand out leaflets in the city centre ahead of the European elections in June, but revealed on Sunday that it was being cancelled. | Members of the party were due to hand out leaflets in the city centre ahead of the European elections in June, but revealed on Sunday that it was being cancelled. |
| Deputy BNP leader Simon Darby told the BBC: "It's the right thing to do. | Deputy BNP leader Simon Darby told the BBC: "It's the right thing to do. |
| "It's an unholy political row and football is going to be the loser here, so I don't see why Everton and Stoke fans should be inconvenienced. | "It's an unholy political row and football is going to be the loser here, so I don't see why Everton and Stoke fans should be inconvenienced. |
| "And if the police can cancel these fixtures as they seem to do at the drop of a hat, then they can rearrange it now." | "And if the police can cancel these fixtures as they seem to do at the drop of a hat, then they can rearrange it now." |
| Club discussions | Club discussions |
| Merseyside Police had apologised to fans for getting the fixture rearranged, saying the decision was taken for operational reasons. | Merseyside Police had apologised to fans for getting the fixture rearranged, saying the decision was taken for operational reasons. |
| Reacting to the BNP announcement, Dep Ch Con Bernard Lawson said: "Merseyside Police is awaiting formal notification from the BNP as to their decision to cancel their event in Liverpool city centre on March 14." | Reacting to the BNP announcement, Dep Ch Con Bernard Lawson said: "Merseyside Police is awaiting formal notification from the BNP as to their decision to cancel their event in Liverpool city centre on March 14." |
| "Merseyside Police has, and always will, remain neutral on such matters. | "Merseyside Police has, and always will, remain neutral on such matters. |
| "Our role is to facilitate lawful marches whilst ensuring that the safety of the public of Merseyside remains paramount. | "Our role is to facilitate lawful marches whilst ensuring that the safety of the public of Merseyside remains paramount. |
| "We will discuss with Everton Football Club any alterations that may be requested for the Everton versus Stoke City fixture." | "We will discuss with Everton Football Club any alterations that may be requested for the Everton versus Stoke City fixture." |
| The match is still scheduled to take place at 1500 GMT on Sunday, 15 March. | The match is still scheduled to take place at 1500 GMT on Sunday, 15 March. |