EPPING FOREST: BNP fielding no candidates in election (From East London and West Essex Guardian Series)
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EPPING FOREST: BNP fielding no candidates in election
1:33pm Friday 8th April 2011 in Epping Forest News By Tom Porter
IN a dramatic turn of fortune the British National Party will be fielding no candidates in the forthcoming local elections.
Only four years ago the BNP had seven members on Epping District Council, more than at any other time in their recent history.
But this year none of the 18 seats that are up for re-election on May 5 will be contested by the far-right organisation.
Many of the seats are in Epping and Waltham Abbey, and the Liberal Democrats are looking to use the opportunity strengthen their position and oust Loughton Residents Association as opposition to the dominant Conservatives.
District Councillor Stephen Murray, who is an independent, said: “I was pleasantly surprised to see that the BNP are putting forward no candidates this year. It can only be a sign of weakness. Only four years ago there was talk of them being a majority, now their membership on the council is down to one.
He said that internal divisions and campaigning by ant-fascist organisations were the root of the the collapse.
“Eddie Butler, who is married to a former BNP councillor from the area, stood against Nick Griffin a recent leadership contest which has caused fratricidal disputes", said Councillor Murray.
“I also think that Searchlight have done valuable work in the area in waking people up to the true nature of the BNP as a racist organisation.
“However it is very important for people not to become complacent and for us to keep an eye on them.”
Councillor Murray was sceptical about the Lib Dem's chances of becoming district's second most powerful party, saying that their centre-left support could collapse having formed a coalition government with the Conservatives.
The BNP's one remaining District Councillor, Pat Richardson, said: “Sometimes it is hard to find candidates. Most parties are going through difficult times.
“None of the seats in Debden and Alderton where we have most of our support are up for re-election so that is another factor.
“I think at the minute people are more interested in their home lives than in politics.
“It is swings and roundabouts, the game of politics. Recently Labour had strong support now they only have one district councillor.”
Comments(18)
janusbranzer
says...
9:49pm Fri 8 Apr 11
larry g
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1:58pm Sat 9 Apr 11
no2facism
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8:47pm Sat 9 Apr 11
l poor poor Griffin first of all he looks like that cartman from south park, and now he must be feeling like mr hanky the christmas poo in the toilet. BNP bunch of toilet cleaners.
ch815n
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4:08pm Mon 11 Apr 11
SylvieM
says...
1:01am Tue 12 Apr 11
pan
says...
7:17am Tue 12 Apr 11
Clear Thinking
says...
10:38am Tue 12 Apr 11
Clear Thinking
says...
10:41am Tue 12 Apr 11
pan
says...
4:13pm Wed 13 Apr 11
UKIP-local
says...
7:57am Thu 14 Apr 11
larry g wrote:Why do the press continue to describe the BNP as right wing? They are control freaks whose members and many supporters have come from the Labour Party, to which they will return.
who will the people of debden vote for then ??
Why else did BNP do well only in Labour wards up and down the country, where the people had good reason to feel disaffected from the politicians who had sought their votes in the past.
Loaded & Locked
says...
12:43pm Tue 26 Apr 11
no2facism wrote:You sound like a right mental case who previously cleaned the local toilets before being found it was too difficult for ya! HaHaHaHa
hahahehehohohihilolo l poor poor Griffin first of all he looks like that cartman from south park, and now he must be feeling like mr hanky the christmas poo in the toilet. BNP bunch of toilet cleaners.
ade12001
says...
8:37am Thu 28 Apr 11
bubbles and squeaks
says...
8:48am Thu 28 Apr 11
miss moneyhoney
says...
8:57am Thu 28 Apr 11
bubbles and squeaks wrote:hello babes,
...well it makes the news for someone 'ade' - it also gives defunct and failed 'lester' something to do!! rofl!!
it lets old erastus piggy concentrate on those important things like the sweeny series on dvd, think it was shown on the old Thames channel, remember that?
will you be flying the flag for the royal wedding are are you being invited lol
bubbles and squeaks
says...
9:11am Thu 28 Apr 11
miss honeymoney
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9:19am Thu 28 Apr 11
half baked idiot if ever there was one ! come one babes its dead here come and get a bit closer now and i think we should give your mother a nice run out in her wheelchair with the little union flags draped over the wheelchair
bubbles and squeaks
says...
9:40am Thu 28 Apr 11
SN3 says...
9:27pm Fri 8 Apr 11