BNP enrages Dame Vera as it features 'her' songs

Published on Wednesday 18 February 2009 20:57

DAME Vera Lynn is taking on the British National Party after it used her wartime classic White Cliffs of Dover on an album promoting the far-right party.

The forces sweetheart is said to be "furious" after the BNP used the song, and another of her classics, All Alone in Vienna, on the CD. She has told her solicitor the BNP did not approach her for approval for using two of her most famous songs on the album – proceeds from which will help boost the party's coffers.

The 91-year-old, who lives in East Sussex, is in talks with her legal team about the album, which sells for 4.95 and features a Spitfire on the front.

Its sleeve states: "Vera Lynn, Glenn Miller and others produced the music by which the English-speaking world went to war from 1939 to 1945."

Nigel Angel, Dame Vera's solicitor, said that because she did not write the songs there may be little to be done to have the tracks taken off, but he would investigate steps to end the association with her, and the issues surrounding copyright law.

A BNP spokesman said: "This is not a copyright issue, it's about people's attitudes to the BNP."