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| Britain First insist their videos aren't racist in bizarre attack on comedian Jason Manford | Britain First insist their videos aren't racist in bizarre attack on comedian Jason Manford |
| (6 months later) | |
| The comedian Jason Manford has come under attack from the far right group Britain First for branding it “racist”. | The comedian Jason Manford has come under attack from the far right group Britain First for branding it “racist”. |
| He had earlier told fans he had deleted three friends from his personal Facebook account after they shared the group’s videos saying: "Nowt more depressing than finding out someone you know is a racist." | He had earlier told fans he had deleted three friends from his personal Facebook account after they shared the group’s videos saying: "Nowt more depressing than finding out someone you know is a racist." |
| But members of the group, which was founded in 2011 by former members of the BNP, quickly flooded onto Facebook to insist they are not racist, according to Mirror Online. | But members of the group, which was founded in 2011 by former members of the BNP, quickly flooded onto Facebook to insist they are not racist, according to Mirror Online. |
| In a post on their own Facebook page, they took a picture of the 34-year-old with fellow comedian Ross Noble backstage of The Producers with a Nazi flag behind them. | In a post on their own Facebook page, they took a picture of the 34-year-old with fellow comedian Ross Noble backstage of The Producers with a Nazi flag behind them. |
| Manford and Noble are currently starring in the musical which famously depicts the story of staging a fictitious play Springtime for Hitler. | Manford and Noble are currently starring in the musical which famously depicts the story of staging a fictitious play Springtime for Hitler. |
| In the post, Britain First said: “How is it 'racist' to oppose a multi-racial religion whose adherents include black, white, Asian and Oriental people? Is it 'racist' to oppose Islamic extremism? | In the post, Britain First said: “How is it 'racist' to oppose a multi-racial religion whose adherents include black, white, Asian and Oriental people? Is it 'racist' to oppose Islamic extremism? |
| “Any man who thinks Nazism is funny is a disgrace.” | “Any man who thinks Nazism is funny is a disgrace.” |
| Manford saw the funny side of the attack. He responded that he agreed “Nazism isn’t funny, but Mel Brooks’ ‘The Producers Musical is”. | Manford saw the funny side of the attack. He responded that he agreed “Nazism isn’t funny, but Mel Brooks’ ‘The Producers Musical is”. |
| "As you know (because I'm, you know, a human being) I am very much against extremists of all belief systems” he continued “I also like to put Britain first (note the lack of capital letter). But my Britain is very different to their idea of Britain.” | "As you know (because I'm, you know, a human being) I am very much against extremists of all belief systems” he continued “I also like to put Britain first (note the lack of capital letter). But my Britain is very different to their idea of Britain.” |
| He also changed his profile picture to one of him celebrating Ramadan with a Muslim family to further rile up the group but admitted that he was now “milking it”. | He also changed his profile picture to one of him celebrating Ramadan with a Muslim family to further rile up the group but admitted that he was now “milking it”. |
| Britain First fiercely denies the charge that it is a racist party despite pledging to stand against “the Islamification of Britain” and mass immigration. | Britain First fiercely denies the charge that it is a racist party despite pledging to stand against “the Islamification of Britain” and mass immigration. |
| Back in April 2014, they caused controversy when they registered the phrase “Remembering Lee Rigby” as their official party slogan in the European elections. | Back in April 2014, they caused controversy when they registered the phrase “Remembering Lee Rigby” as their official party slogan in the European elections. |
| The date of the vote, May 22nd, coincided with the first anniversary of Fusilier Rigby’s murder in Woolwich, south-east London by Islamist extremists. | The date of the vote, May 22nd, coincided with the first anniversary of Fusilier Rigby’s murder in Woolwich, south-east London by Islamist extremists. |
| The Electoral Commission apologised for allowing use of the slogan and an inquiry was launched into the decision. | The Electoral Commission apologised for allowing use of the slogan and an inquiry was launched into the decision. |