Newspaper exposes lawyer as ex-leader of British Resistance Party
An employment solicitor believes he is the victim of a “character assassination” after a regional newspaper wrote about his previous links to a far right political party.
Joseph Chiffers (pictured below) — a solicitor at Liverpool law firm MSB Solicitors — was revealed as the ex-leader of the controversial British Resistance Party, by the Liverpool Echo over the weekend.
In response to the Echo’s article, Chiffers has now published a video on YouTube, branding the story a “character assassination” designed to cause his “dismissal from work”.
In the 10-minute clip — which has been viewed 140 times — the employment specialist claims that the newspaper has been selective in its quoting and there is an unfair “implied allegation of racism” running through the article.
Speaking to Legal Cheek, the 34 year-old — who was called to the bar in 2004 before cross-qualifying in 2011 — said:
I am a dedicated professional who believes in equality before the law for all UK citizens. I have accepted instructions from any client irrespective of any protected or personal characteristic and pursued their cases fearlessly to the best of my ability.
A quick glance of the British Resistance Party’s Facebook page (pictured below) reveals it is against “foreign aid”, “immigration” and “PC rubbish” Furthermore, the page — which has over 800 likes — claims that “indigenous British people” must come first. According to Chiffers he has had no involvement in the party’s social media output.
The employment specialist – who reveals in the video clip that his wife is in fact mixed race — told Legal Cheek that despite formally resigning from the British Resistance Party in May he actually made the decision to leave “two weeks after the parties [sic] formation” in March. Continuing, he said:
I have had no meaningful involvement with the party.
Chiffers — who stood for UKIP in last year’s general election and won 2,500 votes in Liverpool Riverside — said:
I am the victim of a smear campaign and this is not a genuine news story as it does not relate to recent events.
According to the Echo’s report, Chiffers faces disciplinary action from his bosses at MSB Solicitors. Paul Bibby, managing partner at the outfit, explained that he was aware of the situation and the firm has “already commenced disciplinary proceedings.”
Watch the video in full below:
