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Britain First Rochester election mail leaflet dubbed illegal | Britain First Rochester election mail leaflet dubbed illegal |
(about 3 hours later) | |
Royal Mail has said it will not deliver a leaflet for the right wing party Britain First in the Rochester and Strood by-election because it believes it to be illegal. | Royal Mail has said it will not deliver a leaflet for the right wing party Britain First in the Rochester and Strood by-election because it believes it to be illegal. |
The company said it could refuse to carry election mail if it considered the contents threatening or abusive. | The company said it could refuse to carry election mail if it considered the contents threatening or abusive. |
The leaflet features a woman wearing a veil with the word "warning" and refers to a campaign against a planned mosque. | The leaflet features a woman wearing a veil with the word "warning" and refers to a campaign against a planned mosque. |
Britain First said it had free speech rights and would challenge the move. | Britain First said it had free speech rights and would challenge the move. |
The party said the leaflet highlighted its key policy - opposition to a new mosque. | The party said the leaflet highlighted its key policy - opposition to a new mosque. |
'Mega-mosque' | 'Mega-mosque' |
Paul Golding, from Britain First, said: "Royal Mail is compelled by law to put out each candidate's election address. | Paul Golding, from Britain First, said: "Royal Mail is compelled by law to put out each candidate's election address. |
"They're breaking the law by not putting this out. They're actually breaking the law and basing it on 'it may be unlawful'. That's not good enough." | "They're breaking the law by not putting this out. They're actually breaking the law and basing it on 'it may be unlawful'. That's not good enough." |
When asked whether the leaflet could be seen to be prejudiced against Muslims, he said: "No. Not at all. We've just simply said we're against the mega-mosque. We don't want it built." | When asked whether the leaflet could be seen to be prejudiced against Muslims, he said: "No. Not at all. We've just simply said we're against the mega-mosque. We don't want it built." |
In a statement, Royal Mail said it was legally obliged to deliver parliamentary election mail, but could refuse if it considered contents to be illegal - for example if it was threatening, abusive, insulting, or intended to cause distress or anxiety. | In a statement, Royal Mail said it was legally obliged to deliver parliamentary election mail, but could refuse if it considered contents to be illegal - for example if it was threatening, abusive, insulting, or intended to cause distress or anxiety. |
"We have procedures in place to evaluate whether election mail complies with the law. | "We have procedures in place to evaluate whether election mail complies with the law. |
"In this instance, we consider that the election mail in question does not comply with the law and have therefore refused to carry it." | "In this instance, we consider that the election mail in question does not comply with the law and have therefore refused to carry it." |
Thirteen candidates are standing for election in Rochester and Strood. | Thirteen candidates are standing for election in Rochester and Strood. |
The full list of candidates, in alphabetical order by surname, is: |
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