Category Archives: Right wing

Six Birmingham schools face censure by Ofsted after Trojan Horse inquiry

Posted on by Bob Pitt

The chief inspector of schools, Sir Michael Wilshaw, is to censure half a dozen schools in Birmingham for failing to prepare pupils “for life in modern Britain”, when Ofsted publishes the results of its investigations into the Trojan Horse affair, in which it was alleged there was an Islamist plot to subvert schools in the city.

The tranche of reports on 21 state schools, which could be published as early as this week, say there was scant evidence of religious extremism on a daily basis in classrooms, with most criticism reserved for school management and cases of overbearing behaviour by school governors.

Ofsted’s inspectors appear to have been unable to find much evidence of claims of homophobia or gender discrimination, which have been alleged by anonymous former teachers at some of the schools.

Six schools, including three operated by the Park View Academy Trust – Park View academy, Golden Hillock secondary and Nansen primary schools – are expected to be rated as “inadequate” and placed in special measures, allowing the Department for Education to remove the trust from the running of schools and replace their governors.

In the case of Park View, the inadequate grade would come a little more than two years after Ofsted inspectors rated the school as outstanding in all areas and praised it for its excellent academic results and inclusivity. In the two subsequent years its exam results have improved, but the latest Ofsted evaluation downgrades teaching and achievement.

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Peter Robinson should make public apology, says speaker at Belfast anti-racism rally

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Belfast rally against racism

One of the speakers at an anti-racism rally attended by thousands of people in Belfast on Saturday has called for the First Minister to make a public apology over recent comments he made about the Islamic faith.

Mohammed Samaana has worked as a staff nurse at the Ulster Hospital for over a decade. A member of the Muslim community, he has been the victim of racist attacks in Northern Ireland. He told UTV that the First Minister Peter Robinson should apologise publicly for recent controversial comments he made about Muslims.

The DUP leader’s comments appeared to defend controversial evangelical pastor James McConnell, whose sermon about Islam is being investigated by police. Mr Robinson has previously insisted his remarks were “misinterpreted and given a meaning that was never intended”. He met with NI’s Muslim leaders earlier this week at Stormont Castle, where he apologised in private.

Mr Samaana said the apology should not have been behind closed doors and he is angry that the First Minister has not apologised to all Muslims. “I heard the insult – but I haven’t heard the apology. I heard that he apologised before three men behind closed doors – that’s not an apology, ” he said. He wants a public apology and for Peter Robinson to condemn the recent negative comments made by Pastor McConnell.

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Ofsted inspectors make U-turn on ‘Trojan Horse’ school, leak shows

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Park View School

Ofsted’s first inspection of Park View academy – at the centre of the Trojan Horse allegations of an Islamist plot – cleared the school of allegations of discrimination and retained its “outstanding” rating, according to a leaked draft of the inspector’s recommendations seen by the Guardian.

The results of that initial inspection were rejected just a few days later when Ofsted inspectors re-entered the school and overturned their initial findings, replacing a string of relatively minor recommendations with more severe criticism that could see it placed in special measures as early as next week.

The revelation is the latest twist in the so-called “Trojan Horse” saga, which has seen claims of Islamist plots to take over schools in Birmingham turn into a political row that has engulfed the education secretary, Michael Gove, Ofsted chief inspector, Sir Michael Wilshaw, Birmingham city council and Britain’s former senior anti-terror policeman, recruited by Gove as a special education commissioner.

At the centre of the saga is Park View, a school rated by Ofsted as outstanding as recently as 2012 and praised by Wilshaw for its extraordinary exam success, despite having 60% of its pupils eligible for free school meals – three times the national average – in a deprived, heavily Muslim part of Birmingham.

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Terry Jones plans another visit to Dearborn

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Terry Jones, controversial anti-Islam pastor, will visit Dearborn to rally against Islamic Sharia law again. The Florida native is expected to be the featured guest speaker June 14 at the Dearborn Freedom Rally, an event held by the American Patriotic Bikers, according to an announcement by Stand Up America Now, the activist group Jones founded.

In a previous announcement, the organization said Jones was going to speak at Camp Dearborn in Milford. However, Jones said he will be speaking from the grassy area in front of the Islamic Center of America (ICA), a mosque on Ford Road.

The event was planned specifically for Flag Day, he said, and will include a motorcycle parade through the city before a presentation and his speech in front of the mosque, which will focus on the First Amendment and Sharia law. “It’s also on how Islam is not compatible to Western society because of its lack of freedom in thinking, thought and expression,” he said.

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Row after Robinson backs ‘Islam’ sermon

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Peter RobinsonFirst Minister Peter Robinson has defended the evangelical pastor who is at the centre of a police investigation into a sermon which has been accused of amounting to a hate crime against Muslims.

Pastor James McConnell sparked controversy when he likened “cells” of Muslims in Britain to the IRA and told his congregation that Islam was a “heathen” doctrine which had been “spawned in hell”. The preacher, from the Whitewell Metropolitan Tabernacle on the Shore Road in north Belfast, has already told UTV that he stands by his comments and has rebuffed calls for an apology.

Representatives of the Muslim community in Northern Ireland have expressed shock.

But, in an interview with the Irish News, DUP leader Peter Robinson said it was “the duty of any Christian preacher to denounce false doctrine”. The politician, who attends the church in question, added: “He’s perfectly entitled to do that – it’s an appropriate thing for a minister to do.”

Mr Robinson said he did not trust Muslims who were involved in “terrorist activities” or those “fully devoted to Sharia law”. According to the First Minister, not trusting someone does not amount to hate crime, using an example of the media not trusting politicians.

In a later interview with UTV, Mr Robinson said he stood by the comments and that his interview had been taken out of context. He said: “Of course there are people out there who are up to mischief and want to sensationalise what was said. The reality of course is that many Muslims in Northern Ireland have made a very significant contribution to life in Northern Ireland. But would I trust them for spiritual advice? No, I wouldn’t and that’s a matter of fact.”

When asked about those Muslims who have said they feel aggrieved by the First Minister’s comments, Peter Robinson added: “The people who will be offended would be those who are Muslim terrorists, those who carry out Sharia law, and those who want to offer me spiritual advice. Those are the only people who I referred to.”

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Expelled from UKIP, Dave Small declares ‘I shall never apologise to the poofs and perverts and certainly not the foreigners’

Posted on by Bob Pitt

A man elected as a UKIP councillor has been booted out of the party just days after his election.

Dave Small has been expelled with immediate effect following posts he made online in which he branded gay people ‘poofs’ and perverts and made a series of racist comments. He was only elected to the Church Hill seat on Redditch Borough Council last Friday (May 23) but the postings on his Facebook page emerged just minutes after the result was announced.

But it appears Mr Small intends to continue to sit on the council as an independent candidate and there is currently nothing Redditch Borough Council can do to stop him. All councillors have two months to sign official papers before taking their seat and as Mr Small has yet to do so he is not bound by the council’s code of conduct.

In an interview with the BBC the 81-year-old was unrepentant for his remarks. “I shall never apologise to the poofs and perverts and certainly not the foreigners. The people of Redditch voted for me, I will stand my ground.”

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UKIP suspends Councillor Dave Small

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Dave SmallA UKIP councillor has been suspended from the party just four days after being elected for posting homophobic and racist comments online.

Dave Small won the Church Hill seat for the party on Redditch Borough Council on Friday (May 23) but minutes later it merged postings had been made on his Facebook page containing a series of derogatory and offensive terms, including one on June 3 last year in which musician Sir Elton John and sports presenter Clare Balding OBE are branded perverts.

“I refuse to call them gays, as what has gay to do with Perverts like Elton John and Clair [sic] Balding who get their jollies in such disgusting ways. to sum up, they should not allowed to be married, they should go back to the closet,” it said.

A previous post in February last year also states the best place for gay people is in the closet.

Another note on the wall under the headline ‘Muslims and the threat they pose to our way of life’ states: “Fact, we had most eradicated T.B from this country, then with the migration for Muslim country’s its near epidemic proportions. But mustn’t say anything, it might be considered racist.”

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Presbyterian moderator slams Pastor’s Islam comments

Posted on by Bob Pitt

The moderator of the Presbyterian Church has criticised remarks made by Pastor James McConnell who described Islam as “heathen” and “satanic” in a sermon. Pastor McConnell, of north Belfast’s Whitewell Metropolitan Tabernacle Church, made the comments last Sunday.

Speaking yesterday on Sunday Sequence this week, Rev Dr Rob Craig said the comments were unacceptable. “They are not consistent with the Gospel of Christ and the love of God,” he said. “I would be deeply offended if someone were to brand either all Presbyterians or all Christians with some extreme act by someone who claimed to do it in the name of Christ. I want to treat my neighbour as I would want to be treated myself.”

Police have said they are investigating Pastor McConnell’s comments. He told his congregation “a new evil had arisen” and “there are cells of Muslims right throughout Britain”.

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New UKIP councillor thinks Muslims bring disease

Posted on by Bob Pitt

A UKIP councillor has been embroiled in a row over homophobic and racist comments just hours after being elected.

Dave Small won the Church Hill seat for the party on Redditch Borough Council on Friday (May 23). But just minutes later it emerged a posting had been made on his Facebook page on June 3 last year in which homosexual people are branded perverts including musician Sir Elton John and sports presenter Clare Balding OBE.

“I refuse to call them gays, as what has gay to do with Perverts like Elton John and Clair [sic] Balding who get their jollies in such disgusting ways. to sum up, they should not allowed to be married, they should go back to the closet,” it said.

A previous post in February last year also states the best place for gay people is in the closet.

Another note on the wall under the headline ‘Muslims and the threat they pose to our way of life’ states: “Fact, we had most eradicated T.B from this country, then with the migration for Muslim country’s its near epidemic proportions. But mustn’t say anything, it might be considered racist.”

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