http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2008/07/403048.html?c=on#comments

Late last night, a poster ambiguously calling themselves ‘Independent’, put up what appeared to be a letter from British People’s Party leader and ‘Redwatch’ co-conspirator, Kevin Watmough to Gerry Gable of ‘Searchlight’. The post is in the form of a jpeg, showing the re-constructed letter, which is rather soiled and appears to have been ripped up. In the letter ‘Kev’ thanks ‘Gerry’ for a cheque, refers to a change in BPP electoral policy, and also refers to various photographs, etc supposedly supplied with the letter. The two identifying features are the address and a signature.

Comments beneath the post suppose that the letter may originally have been taken from a bin, it certainly looks soiled, and there appears to have been an attempt to destroy it’s content prior to reconstruction. There may however be a number of ways this letter has entered the public domain, and so far ‘Independent’ has not told us anything further.

There have long been suspicions in both anti-fascist circles and neo-nazi circles that Kevin Watmough is a state agent of some sort (an informer, paid or otherwise) and a ‘Searchlight’ collaborator. This letter, if it is genuine, would certainly be proof of the latter.

‘Concerned of gipton’, an established Indymedia poster and regular commentator on anti-fascist affairs within West Yorkshire, alludes to a ‘tradition’ among sections of the far-right in Leeds of working for their supposed opposition. Kevin Watmough would appear to be very much part of that tradition, though it encompasses financial gain and a desire to save one’s own skin rather than any conversion.

Beneath this is a post from ‘Night Owl’, a monicker used by Arthur Bentley of Bradford (BNP), an old adversary of Watmough’s. ‘Night Owl’ says: “This only confirms what many in Nationalist circles have known for years.”

Another poster asks for verification on the signature. That is certainly Kevin Watmough’s signature, or a very good forgery, anyone who has seen it would know that, so his ‘comrades’ may be less sceptical about the letter’s authenticity than some anti-fascists. The address is also genuine, and would be known to very few people (Watmough however has recently moved in with his current girlfriend, Kate O’Dermody, who is briefly mentioned in the letter.)

The roving eye of Larry O’Hara, a big gun in these circles, and editor of ‘Notes From The Borderland’ it seems never sleeps. Perhaps surprisingly, Larry wades in at an early stage with some comments on the Watmough-Searchlight letter. While he expresses some doubts about the authenticity of the letter, he says that if genuine it would support the ‘gut feeling’ he (and many others) have always had about Watmough. Larry makes the point that the signature comprises only 3 letters, but that is how Watmough signs his name. Also that it appears to have been ripped up in a “contrived” fashion, but most people tear up letters in much the same way, and the address is not “intact” it has clearly been ripped across prior to the letter being reconstructed (so for that matter has the signature.)

Perhaps the most interesting thing about this letter, is the reference to the change in BPP electoral policy. Certainly there has been a recent and complete u-turn by the BPP in this respect. Previously they have said that they would not stand against the BNP or any other ‘nationalist’ candidate. Now, they have completely reversed that, and are planning to stand candidates in areas where the far-Right vote will certainly be split. This letter, if it is genuine, provides the answer as to why the BPP should have taken such a sudden, and in many ways illogical, decision.

It is certainly the case that Kevin Watmough has led a charmed life with the security services, escaping arrest time and time again while those around him are arrested and imprisoned. Furthermore, it is the considered opinion of many seasoned anti-fascists that Watmough is, as Mr O’Hara puts it, “dodgy”. We may not yet know enough about this letter to pronounce one way or another, with certainty, on its authenticity (perhaps ‘Independent’ will be more forthcoming), but if it is it will finally nail that suspicion once and for all.