View all newsletters
Sign up for our free email newsletters

Fighting for quality news media in the digital age.

  1. Archive content
July 22, 2004updated 17 May 2007 11:30am

T&A grabs first interview with BBC’s BNP spy

By Press Gazette

The Bradford Telegraph and Argus published an exclusive interview with British National Party mole Andy Sykes on the day the BBC documentary The Secret Agent was aired.

Sykes was the BNP organiser for the Bradford area and told journalist Tim Wyatt how he had begun to find its policies “abhorrent”.

The Telegraph and Argus splashed on the story and devoted a three-page spread to it.

Editor Perry Austin-Clarke said: “We have been campaigning vigorously against the BNP since they first started to put forward candidates in Bradford’s local elections a couple of years ago.

“That campaign has won us a great deal of praise and support among decent, ordinary readers and we were able to use our contacts – particularly with the local TUC branch – to gain exclusive access to Andy Sykes days before the programme was aired.

“As a result, we were able to give readers an in-depth insight into why Mr Sykes decided to put his neck on the line to expose this nasty, racist group of activists operating in the Bradford area. Mr Sykes is a very brave man.”

Content from our partners
MHP Group's 30 To Watch awards for young journalists open for entries
How PA Media is helping newspapers make the digital transition
Publishing on the open web is broken, how generative AI could help fix it

The BBC said it had taken security measures to protect Sykes from any reprisals.

Material from the documentary has been handed to police and the Crown Prosecution Service.

Programme producer Karen Wightman added: “We hope charges will be made.”

By Dominic Ponsford

Email pged@pressgazette.co.uk to point out mistakes, provide story tips or send in a letter for publication on our "Letters Page" blog

Select and enter your email address Weekly insight into the big strategic issues affecting the future of the news industry. Essential reading for media leaders every Thursday. Your morning brew of news about the world of news from Press Gazette and elsewhere in the media. Sent at around 10am UK time. Our weekly does of strategic insight about the future of news media aimed at US readers. A fortnightly update from the front-line of news and advertising. Aimed at marketers and those involved in the advertising industry.
  • Business owner/co-owner
  • CEO
  • COO
  • CFO
  • CTO
  • Chairperson
  • Non-Exec Director
  • Other C-Suite
  • Managing Director
  • President/Partner
  • Senior Executive/SVP or Corporate VP or equivalent
  • Director or equivalent
  • Group or Senior Manager
  • Head of Department/Function
  • Manager
  • Non-manager
  • Retired
  • Other
Visit our privacy Policy for more information about our services, how New Statesman Media Group may use, process and share your personal data, including information on your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications.
Thank you

Thanks for subscribing.

Websites in our network