Net slurs ‘brand Mish Bondage a degenerate slut’

A PUNK singer and former BNP employee has claimed she was branded a “degenerate deviant” by party members in an online hate campaign.

Michelle Harrington – also known as Mish Bondage – worked in Edinburgh for Andrew Brons, a BNP member of the European Parliament.

Mrs Harrington, the singer with punk band Sado Nation, is taking Mr Brons to an employment tribunal claiming sexual and religious discrimination and unfair dismissal.

The 49-year-old American told the tribunal in Edinburgh this week that other BNP workers were jealous of the fact she earned a good salary while not being a member of the party. As Mish Bondage, she is pictured on the internet wearing leather and fishnets, sporting tattoos and with bright red hair.

Mrs Harrington, who lives in Edinburgh, claims her alter-ego also offended BNP sensibilities and was used against her in a vicious hate campaign.

She told the tribunal: “The harassment stems from how the ideology of the party is. They are very much against open border and immigration.

“But look, I am foreign. I’m an outsider, a non-member.

“My private life as Mish Bondage shouldn’t have anything to do with my job.”

Mrs Harrington claims an ex-colleague, who she named as Eddy Butler, wrote some of the offensive blog posts against her. She said he referred to her in one post as a “degenerate deviant slut, who isn’t really a researcher and can’t do her job”.

Mr Butler also attacked her band, she claimed, writing: “To say that this band is a collection of degenerate weirdos is understating the case.”

He also claimed online that she was paid £36,000 a year when her salary was £29,000.

“This is a disgusting and immoral situation,” said Mrs Harrington. “I’ve been given this persona of a slut. They were undermining me with this propaganda. I felt like a disgusting piece of crap.”

Mrs Harrington once worked for BNP leader Nick Griffin, who is embroiled in a bitter dispute with Mr Brons after he contested the leadership.

Mrs Harrington claims that although Mr Butler penned the online attacks, Mr Brons was involved. “I think they both knew very well what they were doing,” she told the tribunal.

Mrs Harrington said she raised the issue with Mr Brons in an e-mail in October 2010.

Mr Brons is said to have responded: “I won’t take responsibility for this. I can terminate you – you have no

protection.”

“I felt on very shaky ground,” said Mrs Harrington. “I am being threatened and publicly targeted.”

She said she suffered depression and stomach issues afterwards. The hearing continues.