Horror at youth leader's website

Videos apparently inciting anti-Semitism were posted on theinternet by a youth leader who was last year commended for his workwith teenagers.

The films entitled Raceland and What Is White Nationalism? wereadded to the Bebo site, which is used by millions of teenagers, byair cadet unit leader Mike Howson.

Mr Howson, who leads a unit at Rudloe, is also the BritishNational Party regional organiser for the mid-west, and two monthsago launched a community patrol in Corsham to provide what hedescribed as a "calming influence on local yobs".

One of the films added by Mr Howson included text promoting whitenationals as "ordinary white people who want to protect themselvesfrom being mugged by multi-culturalism and raped by multi-racialism".

Another depicted a police officer being attacked on a publichighway, images of the Israeli flag pierced by a dagger, Americanpresident George Bush taking a bite out of the neck of the Statue ofLiberty and messages saying "wake up, white people".

The majority of Mr Howson's friends listed on his Bebo page arebetween the ages of 16 and 20 and are also listed on the Bebo pagefor the Rudloe Air Training Corps.

The National Union of Teachers' area secretary for Bath, RobHenderson, said he thought the idea of a youth leader placing videosof this kind on the internet was appalling.

Mr Henderson said: "I am horrified that a person with those viewscould have an influence on youngsters."

Mr Howson had stood as a candidate in the North Wiltshire Councilelections on May 3 but was well beaten in the Pickwick ward by ToryElaine Marston and Labour's Christine Reid. Less than an hour afterthe Chronicle had spoken to a BNP colleague, the videos were removedfrom Mr Howson's personal Bebo site but remained accessible through aBebo TV channel to which the films had also been added for viewing.

Mr Howson said his Bebo site was an information portal and ifinternet users did not like the content they did not have to watchit.

He said: "If there is something on there that you disagree with,tell me and I will remove it.

"There are a lot of things in this world that are offensive and itis people's choice to watch them or not.

"My Bebo site is a private site and people on that site arefriends and it is their choice to be so. My political views havenever been a part of the Air Training Corps and never will be."

Mr Howson's site is also linked to information about a group knownas Unite Against Anti-White Racism which supports the re-introduction of corporal punishment for petty criminals and vandalsand claims native British people will be an ethnic minority within60 years.

A Ministry of Defence spokesman said it was looking at the issue.

He said: "The core values of the air cadet organisation - respect,integrity, service and excellence - are of paramount importance. Ourduty of care to all young people engaged in air cadet activities isof utmost importance.

"Should any evidence exist which would bring into doubt thewelfare and protection of cadets and staff at a squadron, as aconsequence of an individual's political activities, an investigationwould be initiated."

This month BNP member Michael Simpkins took his party's first seatin the south west in the Corsham Town Council ward of Rudloe.

Mr Simpkins said he was not interested in what he calledcyberpolitics and said nobody had been forced to access Mr Howson'ssite.

He said: "I know Mike Howson is a very well-respected youth leaderand he keeps his political life and his youth work completelyseparate."

Corsham Town Council chairman Allan Bosley said although the BNPnow held the Rudloe seat, party politics had no place on the towncouncil.

"Michael Simpkins is on the town council quite legitimately and hegot his position within the terms of the democratic process."

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