ManchesterOnline - News: Blunkett stirs up Le Pen visit storm HOME Secretary David Blunkett has refused to intervene to stop French National Front leader Jean-Marie Le Pen from visiting Greater Manchester to offer his support for the BNP. MP George Galloway, who was expelled from the Labour Party over comments made in the run-up to the Iraq war, said a visit by Le Pen would stir up racial tension. The French politician is expected to visit Manchester over the weekend to lend his support to the BNP's campaign in the forthcoming European elections. But Mr Galloway, MP for Glasgow Kelvin and now a member of Respect, the unity coalition - a political party founded in January - is demanding that Mr Blunkett use his powers to stop Le Pen's entry to Britain. siehe auch: Le Pen's BNP tour condemned