CONTROVERSIAL leaflets for the British National Party’s European election campaign have provoked a backlash from Dorset military veterans. The BNP literature for the up-coming June 4 election dubs their cause ‘the new Battle for Britain’ and uses a picture of a Spitfire, as well as drawing parallels with momentous British battles such as the Somme and D-Day.

Eric Alley, 85, from Weymouth, a D-Day veteran and naval war hero, said the far-right party’s use of such historical references was ‘diabolical’.

“What we achieved has absolutely no connection whatsoever with the BNP,” said Eric, who sailed on HMS Mauritius during the Normandy landings.

“It is an affront to everything we went through.

“It has nothing to do with what we did. We fought not only for the freedom of this country but the world.

“It is cheap politicking and a bit of a cheek.”

Derek Julian, a former acting sergeant in the Dorset Regiment, grew up during the Second World War and branded the BNP’s approach ‘cynical’.

Mr Julian, 74, said: “They should not be using the reflected glory of people who lost their lives fighting a tyrannical regime.

“It is wrong and could cause offence.

“There are no parallels between them and what they are depicting.

“They shouldn’t use these tactics in their campaign.”

Lt Col Nat Parmley, 64, a former Royal Engineer from Weymouth, said the BNP’s polices were ‘anathema’ to the British Armed Forces.

“There is no case to be made in connecting them to the Armed Forces,” he said.

“It is irrelevant and if it is an attempt to involve the Armed Forces in supporting them they will have no joy.”

Lt Col Parmley said any veterans of the Second World War would most likely ‘shrug off’ the associations made by the BNP campaign and rise above it.

“They may see it as an insult, but the BNP are not even a mainstream party,” he added.

John Walker, assistant press officer for the BNP, said their ‘new Battle of Britain’ campaign had proved ‘hugely successful’ and popular with a lot of ex-servicemen.

He said: “It seems to have really struck a chord with people.

“We are comparing the tyranny of the European super-state with the regime we fought in the Second World War.

“We are fighting this ruling power, which is why we are calling it the Battle for Britain.

“The BNP are not Nazis; we are patriotic nationalists flying the flag for this country.”