BNP imports candidates to qualify for TV adverts

The BNP has recruited nearly half its Holyrood candidates from England so that they qualify for a free political broadcast on national television.

At least 14 of the BNP's 32 candidates standing in next month's elections live south of the Border - but have Scottish sounding names. Among those canvassing will be five regional party organisers, while another, fighting in the Highlands and Islands, will also be involved in a simultaneous by-election campaign 625 miles away in Berkshire.

Gerry Gable, editor of anti-fascist magazine Searchlight, said the BNP's approach to the elections is not surprising. He said: "They did the same thing in Wales previously. They could not rally enough support there, so they asked for people living outside the country but with Welsh-sounding names to get in touch. They had also had a fundraising group specifically for the campaign in Wales, but that was based in Humberside."

Among the candidates in the Highlands and Islands region for the Scottish parliament elections is Roger Robertson, a south-east England organiser. The Lothians sees Sadie Graham from the East Midlands and Tim Rait, who unsuccessfully stood in Maidenhead in the 2005 general election. Mid Scotland and Fife has Michaela MacKenzie, who stood in Warwickshire North two years ago. Meanwhile, the West of Scotland region has Kevin Scott, north-east of England regional organiser.

The election fight between Labour and the SNP has dominated the run-up to this year's Scottish elections, but critics of the BNP fear this could play right into the hands of Nick Griffin's party.

Recently, the BNP has been trying to raise its profile in the North East of Scotland, a move which critics claim is in direct response to the influx of migrant Eastern European workers there. But because of its traditional lack of support in Scotland, the party has had to rethink its strategy for next month's Holyrood challenge. Among the methods that it has adopted is the creation of an organisation called 'Scottish Heritage', which the party describes as its 'election fund'. By using the name, the BNP has been able to hire various venues without disclosing the reality of who is behind it.

Several hotels in Glasgow and Edinburgh are believed to have allowed the party to hold fundraising events booked under this name recently. The strategy was cited as an illustration of the BNP acting deviously to try to maintain a place in 'mainstream' politics.

Gable added: "Using a name such as 'Scottish Heritage' is a classic smokescreen for them. They known that no-one wants to be associated with such an organisation, so the only way they can get round it is to fudge the issue."

A senior official of the union, Unison, said this was an attempt by the BNP to appear "more Scottish" to the electorate. The official, who asked to remain anonymous, added: "People can see the BNP for what they are ... it is precisely why they are having to 'import' people from down south, because they do not have the support necessary here. It does not surprise me that they are doing this, because they are topping up their electoral list so they qualify for the TV time. These people have no chance of winning and they know that, but they are just here to make up the numbers."

But Kenny Smith, the BNP's secretary in Scotland, defended the party's decision to "import" candidates from England. He said: "We are fielding candidates in each region to get the TV broadcast. We are standing 32 candidates and we have to take in candidates from down south to make the threshold and meet the requirements. It is not unlike what UKIP or other parties do. After all, we are a British party."

Smith claimed the fact that English-based candidates had Scottish-sounding names was a coincidence. He described Scottish Heritage as a 'legitimate fundraising organisation'.

Scotsman