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Radio host exposed in BNP leak is axed
Joe Murphy, Political Editor19.11.08
A RADIO station today axed a DJ whose name appeared on a leaked BNP membership list.
TalkSport presenter Rod Lucas, a veteran broadcaster who has also been on Radio 1, was among 10,000 people named when the secret list was published on the internet.
The station yesterday ousted another presenter, Jon Gaunt, for branding a councillor a “Nazi”.
Hundreds of Londoners were exposed as members of the far-Right party, including teachers, soldiers, advertising men and even a songwriter.
Others were police officers and prison staff, whose contracts forbid them from joining the BNP, and servicemen including a member of the Intelligence Corps.
Sony Award winner Lucas was brought in to cover overnight shows earlier this year and was hailed by station bosses for his “unique style of radio”.
On his website he boasts of pioneering the “zoo-style” of radio with Steve Wright while a BBC producer in the Eighties.
His firm — Lucas Media Group — claims it represents more than 250 DJs and artists, running £350-a-day training courses at his home in Staplehurst, Kent.
The BNP membership list, which is one year old, said Lucas would not be renewing his membership.
A TalkSport spokesman said: “We won't be using him again. We had no knowledge of his association with the BNP.”
Lucas, whose mobile phone rang unanswered this afternoon, was the most high profile name on the leaked list, which includes three London teachers.
Many of those listed have notes attached describing their professional skills that could be useful to the BNP. The party appears to value media skills — including a woman television producer in central London and a Chiswick man who is noted to own an advertising company.
The list also names people at upmarket addresses in Chelsea and Westminster.
BNP leader Nick Griffin demanded a police investigation into the leak, which he blamed on “a disgraceful act of treachery” by disaffected ex-party officials. The party says it had an injunction banning publication of the list. BNP spokesman Simon Darby said of the person behind the leak: “I wouldn't want to have done that. I wouldn't be sleeping very well.” But Mr Griffin claimed he was merely talking about the threat of prosecution.
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Reader views (22)
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Surely it is unfair to sack someone based on their beliefs and opinions? england cannot say that everyone is free to think and feel as they wish EXCEPT if it is thinking like this. surely that defeats the whole point. people are entitled to have views on immigrants that do not fit with everyones taste. you cant discrimminate people as if their point of view is wrong. i think to be honest that alot of people think immigration is an issue but are afraid to admit it for fear of being called 'racist'. surely people have the right to look out for the future interests of their home. what is so shameful about that. the whole point in england is that people are allowed ot have their own opinion. and who is to say an opinion is wrong. and discrimminate against someone for it. surely that is a form of racism?
- John Smith, London
Brandon, it was Talksport. Not the BBC.
- Dan, London
I'm no friend of the BNP but this decisionis absolutely appalling. People have the right to vote for whoever they like. That is democracy and what our men have fought the last two wars for. He should sue the radio station for everything they have.
- Wooram, Alicante, Spain
