WHARFEDALE postmen are up in arms over the delivery of election material for the British National Party.

Around 60 Royal Mail workers attended an emergency meeting at the Ilkley Sorting Office on Monday to discuss the delivery of the election leaflets which are landing on doormats this week.

Workers were told that they were required by law to deliver the leaflets, which are going out ahead of next month's European elections, even if they disagreed with the sentiments of the far right party BNP.

The BNP is putting up seven candidates in Yorkshire and Humber and for the first time a system of proportional representation will be used which could work in smaller parties, such as the BNP, favour.

Its leaflet attacks the European currency, defends Sterling and hits out at 'bogus asylum seekers' as well as claiming the country faces threats to its British identity.

One Royal Mail worker, who asked not to be named, but who delivers letters in Burley-in-Wharfedale, Menston, Ilkley and Addingham, said people had said they felt unhappy about delivering the letters where Asian and black people worked or lived.

He said: "Some staff complained that they did not feel happy about taking these leaflets out. Some deliver to addresses in Wharfedale where Asian or black people live or work and they felt embarrassed to have to post these leaflets through the letter boxes."

He said he had delivered his because he had been told the leaflets had been vetted and that postmen had no choice.

He added: "I just thought the leaflets were in bad taste. Particularly after those bombs in Brick Lane and Soho in London.

"How would you feel if you had to post these leaflets yourself? We don't mind delivering election publicity for the Conservatives or the Labour Party because they don't really offend anybody the way that the BNP do. The BNP are totally different to other political parties."

A spokesman for Royal Mail said it was bound by law to deliver all election material as long as it met legal guidelines covering such communications.

"We have a duty to deliver and this cannot be over-ridden by personal opinions.

"Royal Mail and its staff cannot and must not become the censors or self-appointed guardians of people's moral thoughts or morals."

The spokesman added that if people received letters that they disagreed with they could throw them away, but the Royal Mail could not make that decision for them.

"All election material will be delivered in the North East by Thursday. Indeed, much of it has already been received by our staff.

"However, where an individual member of staff does have a strong, personal view we will ensure these are taken into account and, if appropriate, make alternative arrangements for leaflets to be delivered."

No one from the Communication Workers Union at its Leeds or Bradford offices, which represents Royal Mail staff, was available for comment.

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