Council chief hits out at BNP

Burnley Council's Chief Executive Steve Rumbelow has blasted the British National Party for appealing a "tied" local election result which has left four people facing massive legal costs. High Court judges ruled the result of the May 3rd Rosegrove with Lowerhouse election result will stand in favour of victorious Labour candidate Paul Reynolds over his BNP rival John Rowe whose four supporters face £30,000 in costs.

The disputed election result was declared a tie by the Returning Officer Mr Steve Rumbelow who then drew lots resulting in Paul Reynolds emerging victorious.

Four voters – Michelle Pilling, Scott Atkinson, Susan McDevitt and Iain Smith – challenged the result of the poll, but now face £30,000 in legal cost bills after judges Mr Justice Tugendhat and Mr Justice Blake ruled the disputed ballot paper had been rightly counted in Mr Reynolds' favour.

Burnley Council Chief Executive Mr Rumbelow claimed the petitioners did not get proper legal advice and had been "cajoled into going on a fishing trip".

He said: "Four citizens of Burnley have been put in a position where they face substantial costs, which could have been avoided. The fact that it's four individuals means the British National Party isn't liable for any of the costs despite the fact they've been using this for party political means."

The four petitioners had originally disputed the validity of three ballot papers, but the challenge of two ballots was withdrawn. The disputed ballot paper had a diagonal mark in the left hand column beside the number of the Labour candidate – rather than a cross in the right hand column – but judges ruled the Returning Officer had rightly discerned the voter's intention to cast his vote for Labour.

Labour group leader Coun. Andy Tatchell said: "We are understandably pleased at the decision. Paul Reynolds has done a good job despite the distractions. We were happy on the day that everything was done within the regulations and were rather bewildered that an appeal was made."

Defeated Mr Rowe said: "I'm not sorry we brought this case. I think it is good we brought it because it establishes what the law is. I don't want to be on bad terms with Mr Reynolds because a time may come when we will both be councillors. Until I see the reasoned judgement, I don't know whether we're going to appeal."

Burnley Express