Protest scheduled outside hotel over claim 'far-right' party is holding conference there

The group organising the protest has asked the hotel to cancel the booking but the hotel says it has no record of it

Protestors are planning to demonstrate outside a Nottinghamshire hotel because it says a far-right political party is holding its Annual General Meeting at the property. The English Democrats, which don't hold and have never held any seats in Parliament, is set to hold a joint conference with UKIP on Friday, October 4 and Saturday, October 5.

The English Democrats say on their website that the event will take place "just outside Nottingham" but protesters are planning to head to the Arnold-based Bestwood Lodge. The party, whose slogan is "Putting England First", is said to be charging up to £320 for a two-person "gold dinner" and accommodation package at the hotel.

Now, protestors have sent a jointly-signed letter to the hotel requesting they cancel the booking. It says: "We, the undersigned, are writing to you regarding a booking for your hotel to be held on the 4th and 5th October. We represent thousands of workers across Nottinghamshire and the Midlands, including some of your own staff.

"As you are aware, Nottingham is a multi-cultural, diverse city, welcoming people of all nationalities. We hope that this booking is an oversight on your part and that you are not choosing to be aligned with a party that promotes racism and division.

"We hope you will consider whether hosting the English Democrats is worth the reputational damage and potential economic cost to Bestwood Lodge and reverse the booking."

The letter contains 96 signatures, including from trade union representatives including NEU, which represents teachers and UNITE which is one of the largest in the UK, as well as the Nottingham branch of Stand Up To Racism.

In response, the Stand Up To Racism group has called for a protest to be held outside the hotel, on Bestwood Lodge Drive, on Friday, October 4 at 6pm. Bestwood Lodge Hotel was contacted by Nottinghamshire Live for comment on two occasions, with the hotel saying it did not have a booking at the time and date specified.