BNP pulls out of elections in Stafford

The British National Party has decided not to field a candidate in the borough council elections in Stafford this year amid fears they will lose their jobs.

The extreme nationalists had announced plans earlier this year to contest seats in the Highfields ward in Stafford and St Michael’s, Stone, for the first time on May 3. But party spokesman Simon Darby told the Newsletter the potential candidates were concerned they could lose their jobs as there had been similar cases in other areas.

And he also admitted the party had failed to drum up enough interest from the public.

He added: "There have been incidents in other parts of the country where people have lost their jobs. We had no-one prepared to stand in Stafford so we’ve had to abandon our plans for now but we’ll be back at the next election."

But former Liberal Democrat borough councillors Frank James and Nicholas Brundrit will stand again as Labour councillors. Mr James, who was ousted at the 1998 election just as he was due to be made mayor of the town, will contest the Tillington ward after defecting from his former party.

Mr James, whose father Doug was a Tory councillor and borough mayor, said: "One of the reasons I have changed is because I was so upset with the county council decision over the closure of the care homes. I thought: 'If you can’t beat them join them.' I felt I needed a change of direction. I have always represented people as a trade unionist and said I would not stand again as a Liberal Democrat councillor. I just felt I could go no further with them.

"I was approached by all parties, including the BNP and independent groups but I decided to join Labour. I discussed it with my father before he died and he was happy about it. People know me in the Tillington ward. I live within it and I want to make things happen."

Meanwhile, Tory councillor Mike Heenan said the Conservative party was fielding a candidate in every ward for the first time and one of them was his own son Mark.

Mark Heenan, 25, said: "I have been quite involved with the party for a while and with my dad being a councillor I’ve been involved for most of my life so I decided to stand myself."

And Liberal Democrat councillor Brendan McKeown is standing in the Haywood and Hixon ward rather than Chartley, as he lives in Hixon.

The candidate lists were handed in to Stafford Borough Council yesterday before the deadline at noon. Potential candidates now have four days to withdraw.

Staffordshire Newsletter