SIR-It isn't often that I am shocked when reading British newspapers online, but the story about the jailing of a BNP man in Scotland for four months for distributing leaflets accussing Muslim immigrants of militancy and attacks against whites deeply disturbed me (report, Nov.15) I understand that the BNP is an extremist group, and that local Muslims were no doubt deeply offended by his activities.

But to have the state declare certain expressions of opinion as "hate speech" strikes at the heart of what civil liberties mean. Living in a free society is not easy. There will be times when distasteful people will speak, and times when we are either deeply hurt or deeply angered by the speech of others.

However the best defence against such speech is the clear light of day, engaged debate and the equal use of free speech by those who oppose such messages. To level the full weight of the state at such speech can only have the doubly unfortunate effect of emboldening such speakers to believe themselves "dissidents" while chilling others who may wish to express deeply held, if unpopular, views. We have a right to be free men and women in our two countries; any attempt to impose a "right never, ever, to be offended" is incompatible with liberty.

It is hard not to draw the conclusion that this man is being singled out by a political establishment that will pick and choose what constitutes"hate speech". I don't think it will cause too much controversy if I speculate that it is highly unlikely that the same state authorities will be rounding up any Muslim "death to the Jews" types in equal measure.

It is easy, too easy, to enact such laws when obvious lunatics and extremists are the target, but the cost far outweighs any possible benefit. It is only a matter of time before those in power slowly expand the list of "forbidden" topics to include the outer edges of necessary debate.

As I write this, I am looking at a copy of the Constitution of the United States hanging on my wall.
The First Amendment has never looked so good.
Kevin Vaillancourt
Portland, Oregon

A Plea From BNP Scotland !
26 / November / 2002

There has been an outrageous attack on David Wilson in today's Daily Record. You will see the article using the link below. What we are asking everyone to do is to email their complaint to the News Editor, Tom Hamilton, ASAP. We ask everyone if they will do this. These attacks by the Daily Record cannot be tolerated. This paper is vehement in it's criticism of schoolbullies, and quite rightly so, but when it allows itself to bully an individual and those nearest and dearest to him it cannot be tolerated. We ask every last one of you to register your disgust re, this deplorable scumbag form of journalism. Please do so using no swearwords or threats of violence. We are a legitimate political party and the sooner these lowlife "journalists" realise this the better. We will only play further into their hands if we appear thuggish.

Tom Hamilton's address.

t.hamilton@dailyrecord.co.uk

Our kindest regards for your cooperation

BNP Scotland

NAZI YOB IS SECRET LOVE-RAT Nov 26 2002
Article. http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/page.cfm?objectid=12403336&method=full&siteid=89488

Family man' left wife and kids

Cara Page Exclusive

A MARRIED BNP supporter who preaches family values left his wife to live with a work colleague.

Father-of-two David Wilson was jailed for four months for distributing anti-Moslem leaflets in the name of Families Against Immigrant Racism.

But Wilson,31, left his wife of 10 years Elizabeth, 33, and their daughters aged seven and eight.

He turned his affections to **** ****, 31, and the couple bought a house in Janetta Street, Yoker, Glasgow, just weeks before he was jailed this month.

Now the Record can reveal how **** has opened her heart to friends about the "love of her life" and has vowed to stand by him.

She said: "I love him so much that this is almost physically painful.

"It was a bad thing, but he is more sorry than you could ever know.

"He hates himself, has tried suicide twice and he's self-harming."

Yesterday, the Record told how Wilson was sacked from his job at Bae Systems in Scotstoun. Now BNP Scotland have launched a support fund for Wilson on their website - and to gather messages of support.

Police raided his marital home in Alexandria after he distributed racist leaflets in Glasgow's Pollokshields - Scotland's biggest Moslem community in July last year. They found a hoard of right wing videos.

His marriage fell apart and in August this year he moved in with **** who now works for Glasgow engineering firm Mott McDonald.

She initially contacted the Record to talk but then changed her mind. But while at work, **** had been pouring out her heart to friends on an internet message board.

On November 14 she told them: "Today my boyfriend was jailed for 4 months. I DO NOT condone his actions, I cannot defend them. I will say however that he is a changed man."

She went on to say that when his best friend died in a car crash, Wilson became an "angry young man".

She wrote: "(He) went looking for trouble - he got it.

"That's not an excuse, many people suffer grief and don't go out and do horrible stuff to others. It took me a long time to come to terms with what he's done and it took me even longer to believe he's changed.

"David phoned from prison, he's been put in segregation but not with the paedophiles which is what was worrying him. I'm scared for him.

"He's a good man, he's not a racist, he just got mixed up with those scumbags at a bad time in his life and they dropped him in it up to his neck, now he's been made an example of.

"He loves his children and he's lost his job now so he can't provide for them when he gets out and that's his biggest worry."

**** also ridiculed the Daily Record's reporter on the message board, insisting we knew nothing about her. Unknown to her we were reading every word.

Last night, when the Record contacted she declined to comment but quickly emailed her friends.

She said: "Oh dear lord I'm so freaked out, that journalist has just phoned me. She knows everything about me ... S***. S***. S***."