Former Rangers star Nacho Novo caught up in fascist charity scandal, amid claims it's a front for the BNP
Sunday Record by Derek Alexander | Sunday, 11 August 2013 | Click here for original article
A charity supported by former Rangers star Nacho Novo have close links to the fascist BNP, we can reveal.
The 34-year-old last week threw his weight behind the controversial Soldiers off the Street group.
The registered charity are run in Scotland by ex-BNP parliamentary candidate Walter Hamilton.
The charity claim to help homeless ex-servicemen and women who end up sleeping rough.
Ex-Gers striker Novo told his Twitter followers that he was supporting the charity despite the controversy.
He also posted photographs of himself wearing one of the charity’s T-shirt on the internet.
The Spanish footballer, who had hoped to return to Ibrox this season, wrote: “I will do everything I can to do something for the Soldiers off the Street Scotland.
“People who risk their lives for his country are heroes.”
But the charity were launched by far-right BNP activists and have been dogged by claims they are a front for the racist party.
Yesterday, Novo said: “I was asked to support a charity to help homeless British soldiers. I was only too happy to help as the armed forces are true heroes in my eyes.
“As far as I’m aware, Soldiers off the Street helps vulnerable ex-servicemen and that’s something I’d always support.
“I have no interest in politics. I don't know about politics in Spain, never mind Britain. I was just trying to do a good thing.
“I don’t care about the politics of the people involved.
“I would only be concerned if there’s evidence that money raised from this charity is going to fund any kind of political organisation rather than to help homeless soldiers.”
SotS were set up in 2009 and were recognised as a registered charity in 2010.
They were founded by former high-ranking BNP members including Hugh Murray, the party’s Welsh secretary and close associate of leader Nick Griffin.
Three other former BNP members – Daniel McDonald, who ran for the BNP in Horsham, West Sussex, the late Christopher Robinson, who ran for the party in Wales before his death in 2010, and BNP member, Paul Jones, who was dismissed – were also involved in launching the charity.
Prime Minister David Cameron has previously described the BNP as “Nazi thugs”.
He said in 2009: “If you vote for the BNP you are voting for a bunch of fascists who want to divide this country over the issues of race and the colour of skin. They dress up in a suit and knock on your door in a nice way but they are still Nazi thugs.”
Hamilton, 51, of Larkhall was the BNP’s Westminster candidate in Glasgow Central constituency in 2005 and in the Glasgow North East by-election in 2005.
He’s the stadium manager at Hamilton Accies and is in charge of security at the Division One club.
Hamilton took charge of SotS in Scotland in 2011 and SNP MSP Christina McKelvie gave her support to Hamilton at a campaign launch.
She then withdrew after being told about Hamilton’s political background and the charity’s BNP links.
The mobile number on the side of the SotS van is registered to Hamilton, whose detached home is decorated with Union Flags.
According to the Scottish Charity Register, the charity’s income in 2011 was £36,657 and their expenditure, £27,504. Their annual submissions for 2012 aren’t available.
Novo became a Gers legend when he scored the winning goal against Hibs, which won the league title.
Novo left the club in 2010 and returned home to Spain.
But he’s now back in Scotland and been linked with a move to Accies.
A Unite Against Facism spokesman said: “Soldiers off the Street will appeal to members of the public who aren’t aware of its extreme right-wing background.”
Yesterday Hamilton, who denies being a current member of the BNP, said: “Soldiers off the Street is non-political. We’re not a front for the BNP, our books will show how every penny we raise is spent.
“Because people who started the charity were once members of the BNP doesn’t mean that we’re affiliated to the party.
“It’s a shame that individuals who have their own agenda are trying to ruin the good this charity does.”
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