A coalition of faith groups, trade unions and community organisations vowed today to do all it could to oppose a planned march by the English Defence League (EDL). The group, called We are Norwich, said it would do "all in its power" to peacefully oppose the EDL demonstration.

The EDL is organising a march through Norwich on November 10, to protest at the city council banning the Norwich Reformed Church from a stall in the city centre. Reverend Alan Clifford, who said he had no links to the right-wing group, was barred from the stall for publishing leaflets deemed to be anti-Islamic.

We are Norwich secretary Nick O’Brien said: "The EDL has held countless demonstrations across the country where they have rampaged through towns."

The anti-fascist group will hold a counter-demonstration on November 10, if the EDL march goes ahead, and a public meeting on Wednesday October 24 at 7.30pm in the Vauxhall Centre.

Members include trade unions, Norwich Green Party, Chapelfield Mosque, Ian Gibson, The Norwich Pride Collective, and Labour’s prospective parliamentary candidate for Norwich South, Clive Lewis.

Norwich Evening News, 9 October 2012

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Veteran neo-Nazi Richard Edmonds addresses the NF rallyThe company behind a controversial Halal abattoir say they want to be a large employer for the coast.

Premier Halal Meats, who are behind an application to open up a Halal abattoir on Heath Road industrial estate in Skegness, hope to create between 40 and 70 jobs for the town.

A spokesman from the company, who would not give his name, said: "About 50 people have applied for a job with us and we expect more applications to come in. We will be employing a lot of people and hope to be one of the biggest employers in Skegness."

On Saturday, the far right National Front held a demonstration in Tower Gardens. They used a loud speaker to address around 50 people and a small leaflet drop on Grand Parade.

Tess Turner from Alford has set up online petitions and a Facebook page Say NO to Halal slaughter in Skegness. She said: "I am getting more 'likes' on Facebook for the campaign and there are petitions all over the place. I had nothing to do with the demonstrations by this political group but possibly the only good thing from it was that they did bring it to the attention of more people."

East Coast Target, 19 September 2012

Meanwhile, the British National Party are also trying to exploit this issue for their own political gain.

Update:  See also the Skegness Standard, 19 September 2012

The latter report notes that "East Lindsey District Council is keen to point out it has no role to play in the site's licensing". That hasn't prevented someone organising an online petition calling on the council to block the abattoir. At present it has over 900 signatures and this is a selection of the comments that have been added:

"How come foreigners can come to this country and kill animals inhumanly"

"anyone using religon to justify this torture should return to their own countries and carry out their practice away from us... that is not a racist comment... its FACT"

"in my opinion halal is a form of torture, evil cruel and barbaric, we are a civilized nation and that is the way we should stay!"

"This is a Christian Country and so anyone coming to live here should follow Christian Law."

"this is totally barbaric!!!!......hang them up and do the flippin same and see how they like it!!!!"

"Go back to your own country if you feel the need for Halal meat"

"we Non-Muslims don't need Meat that's been dedicated to ALLAH"

"there are laws in this country for us and they should abide by them they want halal meat go home"

"I'm sick of this country making allowances for other religions & minorities. Don't like it....Go back home"

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