Convicted BNP liar and cheat to defend council seat in May

Far-right councillor Richard Mulhall – described by a judge as a liar and a cheat – will defend his seat on Calderdale Council at the elections on May 3. He has represented Mixenden and Illingworth since 2003 and is one of 77 candidates who have put their names into the ring, including 13 for the British National Party.

Councillor Mulhall was convicted in October on four counts of cheating taxpayers by claiming £3,000 in housing benefit, council tax benefit and jobseeker's allowance he was not entitled to. At Teeside Crown Court he was ordered to serve 200 hours of unpaid work in the community.

When nominations closed yesterday, there were four candidates standing as independents, six representing the English Democrats Party, three for the Green Party and one for George Galloway's Respect Party. Labour and the Liberal Democrats will be contesting all 17 seats and the Conservatives 15. The Tories have been unable to find candidates for either Park ward or Calder ward.

There will be seven candidates trying to win the seat in Warley ward, which Liberal Democrat councillor Jennifer Pearson is defending. They include Faizan Saghir, the son of former Tory councillor Mohammed Saghir (Park). Another of his sons, Shakir Saghir, who has represented Park ward, is this year standing there for the English Democrats.

An ex-Conservative Mayor of Calderdale, Chris O'Connor, will be standing as an independent in Hipper-holme and Lightcliffe and Craig Whittaker, who recently became the Conservative prospective Parliamentary candidate for the Calder Valley is standing in Rastrick ward.

The deputy Conservative leader of the council, John Ford, will be defending his seat in Skircoat, while the deputy leader of the Labour group, Tim Swift, is standing again in Town ward.

The present make-up of Calderdale Council is Conservatives 19 seats, Liberal Democrats 16, Labour 10, Independents three seats, BNP two and English Democrats one.

Halifax Evening Courier