SOCIALIST campaigner Arthur Scargill has been banned from speaking at a Bolton town centre chapel. But the fiery political leader has vowed his message WILL be heard in the town - even if he has to take to the streets. Mr Scargill had been invited to speak at a meeting next Friday organised by the Bolton branch of the Socialist Labour Party (SLP) at Bank Street Unitarian Chapel.
But just 10 days before it was due to take place chapel trustees unanimously voted to block it.
A new emergency venue, Bolton Socialist Club in Wood Street, has been found.
Bolton SLP booked the chapel more than a month ago with the Minister Rev Tony McNeile.
When the trustees saw publicity about the SLP event they met and voted unanimously to cancel the booking.
By then the SLP Bolton branch had already spent money publicising the event. Mr Scargill, SLP president, said: "I am very surprised at this decision. If necessary I will do the same as many Christian preachers of old did and address the people in the open air."
He added that he had addressed political meetings in various religious venues including the Wesleyan chapel of London and Methodist Central Hall in Westminster.
Bolton SLP chairman Billy Kelly said: "We have no criticism of the minister who agreed to let us use the chapel, but it would seem that the trustees are somewhat lacking in tolerance when it comes to freedom of speech."
Mr Kelly, SLP candidate for Bolton North East, added: "This is particularly regrettable at a time when the main church leaders of Britain have just issued their important declarations on social and economic principles which are very close to those now enshrined in the constitution and policies of the Socialist Labour Party."
Bank Street chapel chairman of trustees Tom Entwistle said: "We acted as soon as possible when we were made aware of the booking. It is a long standing policy of ours to not be seen to be aligning with any political party.
"As for the suggestions of going against free speech, the unitarian policy is tolerance of all religious beliefs and says nothing at all about political ones."
The SLP meeting starts at 7.30pm. Another speaker will be Pauline Nazir of the Bakers Union.
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