BNP to stand in York by-election

Five parties will be going head to head in York's by-election next month - including the far right British National Party.

Nominations have now closed for the poll, to be held in Heworth Without on September 6. Labour, the Conservatives, the Liberal Democrats, the Green Party and the BNP have all put forward candidates.

The decision by the BNP to stand comes after they fielded nine candidates in May, the first time they had stood in York. Their by-election candidate Michaela Knight stood in Holgate three months ago, finishing last out of 11.

The by-election has been called following the untimely death of Conservative councillor Bill Bennett. Conservative leader Ian Gillies said today: "Having lost a good man as a councillor, the last thing I would want to see it an extremist being elected."

He said the BNP was a "minor organisation that fights by-elections for maximum exposure" and added: "I think people will treat them how they deserve to be treated."

Coun Bennett won the seat by 35 votes on May 3, as the Conservatives went from zero seats to eight on City of York Council. But just two months after being elected, he suffered a suspected heart attack in Bridlington.

The election could have major ramifications for the political make-up of the council. The Lib Dems are currently the largest party with 19 seats, one ahead of Labour, and although Labour was a distant third in May, they regard the seat as winnable this time round.

They have selected Margaret Wells as their candidate; the Conservatives have chosen Adam Sinclair; and the Lib Dems have stuck with Nigel Ayre, who was pipped by Coun Bennett on May 3.

The Greens today announced their candidate as Charles Everett, who polled more than a thousand votes in Micklegate ward in May, when the Greens were narrowly beaten by Labour. Mr Everett, 55, has a young son and has lived in York for more than 15 years. He is a campaigner against animal cruelty and on local issues including the re-use and recycling of waste, better leisure facilities for young people, and cheap home insulation for all.

He said: "The recent flooding shows us the urgency of the need to tackle climate change. Our two Green councillors in York have already started to press for the action necessary on a local scale. The council must work with the people of York to think global and act local. I'm determined to give my all as a councillor to bring Heworth Without a cleaner, greener future."

The Press (York)