Songs for Social Justice: Pop Will Eat Itself – Ich Bin Ein Auslander

Pop Will Eat Itself teamed up with Fun-Da-Mental for this driven anti-fascist song. It was from the album Dos Dedos Mis Amigos, which was the band’s most political output.

Released in 1994, it was written following the 1993 election of a BNP candidate to the Millwall council seat. This was the first time that a BNP candidate had been elected. After much local campaigning by anti-fascist and anti-racist organisations alongside local people and trade unions, the BNP lost the seat at the following year's election. It was not until 2002 that the BNP were once again able to get their members elected to local councils in England. 


The work undertaken in the area against the BNP demonstrates that local campaigning can and does successfully drive back the fascists. This song still resonates, as the BNP still have elected members and today Unite Against Fascism are holding a rally against the fascist EDL as they take to the streets of Barking in London.

The cover of the single had a clear focus on anti-nazi symbolism. The song got into the Top 30 and the album reached No. 11.

After Pop Will Eat Itslef split up in 1996, one of their singers – Clint Mansell – started writing film scores and has now written the scores for The Wrestler, Black Swan and Moon amongst many others.

Pop Will Eat Itself – Ich Bin Ein Auslander 

Songs for Social Justice Dance Night featuring guest DJ Jerry Dammers -

o      Thursday 26^th January

o      STUC Centre, 333 Woodlands Road, Glasgow

o      6.45pm – midnight

o      Tickets £8/£4 - Available direct from the STUC - 0141 337 8100

The Royal George Hotel and the BNP

On the subject of fair hotels, it has been brought to our attention that the Royal George Hotel in Perth recently allowed the BNP to use their conference facilities to launch their Scottish manifesto.

The STUC will be writing to the Royal George Hotel in order to find out how they came to take a booking from the BNP and whether they are likely to take a booking from this organisation again in the future.  Depending on their response, we will then consider whether it is appropriate to ask our affiliated trade unions and their members to undertake a boycott of this hotel.

From a quick look at the hotel’s website it is apparent that the Royal George is also often used as a conference venue by the Conservatives and the Lib Dems. So we will also consider writing to these political parties to make sure they are aware of the situation and to ask them to consider using an alternative venue in the future.

Helen Martin- STUC.    

The Best Western’s response to the BNP

The STUC met with senior members of the Best Western GB hotel group on the 3 Feb 2011. This meeting was organised to discuss one of their member hoteliers allowing their facilities to be used by the BNP for their annual conference in December. The Best Western group were quick to engage with us on this issue and took very seriously the concerns that we raised.

A positive discussion was had and the STUC is clear that this incident resulted from a decision taken by a single hotel without consultation from Best Western. We are confident that the vast majority of the group’s independently owned and managed hotels would have declined business from the BNP. We have also received assurances that no such booking would ever knowingly be accepted through Best Western’s central reservations team.

In general the STUC is pleased that Best Western has taken this issue seriously and we are confident that they have handled the situation with the individual hotel in a robust manner. We are also comforted that the steps taken by Best Western on this occasion will help them avoid a situation where their facilities are used by the BNP or other extremist groups in the future.   

As a result we look forward to continuing a good working relationship with the Best Western group.

Helen Martin -STUC

The Best Western and the BNP- Update

Following my last blog, the Best Western and the BNP, the Best Western Hotel Group has got in touch with the STUC.   

We have now arranged a meeting to discuss this issue in January. We are pleased that the Best Western is taking this issue seriously and wants to engage with us on it. We look forward to having a positive discussion with them when we meet in the New Year.

The Best Western and the BNP

It has been brought to our attention that the Best Western Hotel in Leicester allowed its Conference Suite to be used by the British National Party for its annual conference. Apparently they did so in full knowledge that the booking was for use of the BNP and their Holocaust denying leader Nick Griffin.

As a result of this decision trade unions and anti-racist campaigners are considering calling on their members to refrain from using Best Western Hotels.

The STUC will be writing to the Best Western to express our concern and to ask why they allowed their facilitates to be used to promote racist and fascist ideas.  

In the meantime we are asking people to decide for themselves whether in light of these allegations, they want to continue spending their hard earned cash at the Best Western.  

Helen Martin- STUC