Use votes to keep BNP out

The British National Party is standing in the heart of the Jewish community in local elections on May 3. In Alwoodley, Conservative candidate Cllr Ruth Feldman takes on BNP nominee Christine Whitaker.

Back in 2004, the BNP made little impact but Cllr Feldman is not being complacent despite the Alwoodley ward not being classed as 'at risk'. Cllr Feldman said: "The BNP tries to give the impression that it has changed its spots and no longer is a racist party. The Jewish community remembers well its past history and is not taken in by this deception. It is necessary for the members of the Jewish community to do their duty and vote for the democratic party which meets their interests."

Aside from the Alwoodley ward other Jewish councillors facing BNP opposition are Labour candidate Alex Sobel (Roundhay), UK Independence Party candidate Jeff Miles (Moortown) and Liberal Democrat candidate Sadie Fisher (Killingbeck Seacroft).

Mr Sobel has fought against the BNP in Leeds and throughout the country for a decade. He said: "I am saddened that they have been able to stand a candidate right in the heart of North East Leeds. I hope the community in Roundhay and throughout Leeds gets out and votes so that they can make no further gains."

Sue Dorsey, Leeds Jewish Representative Council, president added: "News that 33 BNP candidates are standing in the Leeds local elections must be of the great concern to the whole Jewish community. There is no room in British Society for racism and prejudice. The Jewish people have suffered so much throughout the ages, but we now have the power of the vote, which we must all use in May. The equation is simple, every vote for a mainstream party means one less vote for the BNP."

In a worrying trend the British National Party has announced a record number of candidates - 880 as opposed to only 363 last year and a mere 53, 10 years ago. In the Yorkshire and Humberside area BNP is fielding 183 candidates including 33 in Leeds, 17 in Bradford, 16 in Harrogate, 10 in York, seven in Sheffield and three in Hull.

Last May, the British National Party claimed one seat in Leeds.

Cllr Mark Harris (Liberal Democrat) said: "The fact that the BNP are standing in every ward ought to tell us exactly what is going on. This is not flash in the pan stuff. They are confidently starting to use the democratic process to get what they want."

Cllr Keith Wakefield (Labour) said: "We do not want the BNP's form of poison and extremism in our city. People need to be aware that the BNP may now dress in smart suits and wear ties but the message of hatred is still the same."

Cllr Andrew Carter (Conservative) said: "It is a wake up call to all the major parties, particularly nationally. The threat of the BNP must be resisted and exposed for what it is."

Commenting on BNP growth nationally, Board of Deputies president Henry Grunwald said: "This development demonstrates once again the danger of complacency when it comes to the far right. Holocaust denial and Jewish conspiracy theories remain core elements of the BNP's ideology. Any gains in the party's popularity damage society as a whole by stirring up tensions between communities and undermining the values of tolerance that have allowed the Jewish community, and other minorities, to flourish in Britain. Most importantly, this is a wake up call for us to work with other communities in making sure that we get out the vote to oppose the BNP."

Jewish Telegraph (Leeds)