AN election hustings featuring a British National Party (BNP) parliamentary candidate descended into chaos as anti-fascist protestors disrupted the event.
Protestors shouted “he’s a Nazi” and “don’t share a platform with a fascist” as Julian Leppert, candidate for Chingford and Woodford Green, spoke at Chingford Assembly Hall on Monday.
Demonstrators outside the venue carried a banner reading “stop the BNP” and tried to persuade people not to attend.
The hustings, which was organised by independent candidate None of the Above, was not attended by the three main political parties, the Green party or UKIP.
Labour candidate Cath Arakelian handed leaflets to those attending, explaining that she would not share a platform with the BNP.
She said: "We have never tolerated fascism in this country. We do not need to tolerate fascism with a smiling face in Chingford."
As the debate got underway, members of Unite Against Fascism moved into the hall and began shouting. Several audience members asked them to stop, saying they wanted to hear the debate.
Resident Keith Mason said: "I agree with your sentiments, but I will listen to what they have to say and then deal with that in my own way, which will be not to vote for them.
“That is what democracy is about, what you are doing is stopping democracy in action."
But protestors continued to disrupt the meeting for about half an hour.
Topics debated at the event included immigration, the economy and the European Union.
Mr Leppert compared the struggle of the British people to retain their identity to oppression of Tibetans by China and called for a return to the “social cohesion of the 1950s”.
He added that the three main parties had treated voters with contempt by not turning up.
Mr Above said he would advocate the policies that voters want.
“I am not interested in leading the people where I want, I am interested in leading them where they want to be led,” he added.
Another independent, Barry White, said he advocated the use of regular referenda to decide major issues.
The meeting took place on a day of action against the BNP, which saw volunteers deliver leaflets with the message “Hope Not Hate”.
Jim Clift is standing for the BNP in Leyton and Wanstead.
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