Two years of BNP support

Tamworth's only independent councillor has been defending the far-right wing British National Party's policies for at least two years, the Tamworth Times has learned.

In an interview with the Times on Tuesday, Councillor Cooke said voting for the BNP was 'an option' for him that he would not be ashamed of. And, despite a call to arms in the defence of free speech, he said the organisation Unite Against Fascism should be banned from distributing anti-BNP literature in the run up to elections.

"I would like to see a law against it," He said.

As reported exclusively in the Times last week, Councillor Chris Cooke assisted the BNP's candidate at the Castle ward byelection, by printing and hand-delivering campaign material in the run-up to the poll. Now the Times can reveal that Coun Cooke has been posting pro-BNP comments on websites since at least 2006.

And, in an open letter to his constituents, Coun Cooke launched an attack on the pressure group Unite Against Fascism - branding them as Nazis.

Coun Cooke, who was until 2001 a high-ranking member of the anti-European United Kingdom Independence Party (UKIP) and previously a member of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), told the Tamworth Times this week that he had not voted BNP in the past. Nor had he ever been a member of any party other than the SDP or UKIP. He said UKIP was the last party to which he had a political affiliation, and he left because he felt its members behaved in a way that made it more difficult for Britain to get out of Europe.

Coun Cooke added: "My position now is that I would vote for the person, not necessarily for the BNP as a party. It is certainly an option for me to vote for the BNP, and I would not be ashamed to do so. Neither would I be ashamed to vote for the United Kingdom Independence Party or, at the moment, the Liberal Democrats. I would not vote for either

In one of his internet messages, posted on the BNP's own message board in September 2005, Coun Cooke wrote of NHS salaries: "I hope when the BNP come to power (note - 'when'!) that they allow themselves to dig a bit deeper into such things as the NHS than just the pay of the top guys. The whole edificial empire needs an overhaul."

In response to threats by anti-fascists to disrupt a ballet performance by BNP member Simone Clarke in January this year, Coun Cooke said the campaigners were simply out to wreck the dancer's career. He described them as 'evil fascist bullies'. In September this year, he posted a staunch defence of the BNP in response to criticisms on another website - in which he described party members as 'sincere, brave and intelligent'.

Following a raid on shops selling hardcore pornography in Swindon in March this year, Coun Cooke posted: "I shall be voting BNP too. Not because their policy says boot them all out - it doesn't (bad news for those who want the BNP to kick all immigrants out perhaps?). And I've no wish to hurt innocent people. But it's only the BNP that will be tough on the criminal vermin who deal in this sort of **** and drugs. And if they are not our home grown vermin then - quite right - they should be booted out of the country - and their dependents they must take away with them."

In his letter to constituents, Coun Cooke described the UAF as: "A motley crew of --shall we say - alternative lifestylers and Marxists. It is by their own threatening behaviour and actions that these 'anti-fascists' show themselves to be the much truer Nazis."

Coun Cooke posted a response on the Tamworth Times website following last week's story, denying that he was defending the BNP in his letter. He said: "It was instead rubbishing a bullying leaflet that an obscure United Against Fascism (UAF) group had got delivered in this ward to pervert this by-election result."

He added: "My letter also makes very clear that I don't like bullies, and will always defend people's rights to take part in the democratic process - anybody! I would do the same for any party or individual."

icTamworth

Councillor helped in BNP campaign

Tamworth's only independent councillor has admitted aiding the far-right wing British National Party with their election campaign in last week's byelection.

Councillor Chris Cooke's firm PDQ printed the postal vote letters for the BNP candidate Lynne Smith. Councillor Cooke, representing Glascote, yesterday admitted helping post the letters to voters, prior to the Castle Ward by-election. Coun Cooke also told the Tamworth Times: "I am against the European Union, and I think immigration has gone far too far."

Defending his assistance to the BNP, Coun Cooke said the printing was a business decision. He had helped Ms Smith gain access to blocks of flats, and posted some of the letters himself. He said he had a long-standing friendship with Ms Smith.

He added: "I said I would print material for any of the other parties. I knew the BNP candidate before she was a candidate, so it is quite natural for me to help her. I had no hand in it, apart from helping her get into the high rise flats. I explained to her how to do that and delivered the leaflets."

Coun Cooke denied that there was a conflict of interest between his role as an independent councillor and helping the BNP campaign. He did not believe he had let down the people who voted for him.

He said: "I am what I am. Everyone knows my views as a councillor, and as an independent I am beholden to nobody."

In a recent letter to Tamworth residents, Coun Cooke defended BNP candidates, saying they had become the victims of 'hysterical propaganda' for 'daring to stand for a legal political party that says immigration has gone too far and we must get out of the EU'. On the candidates for the Castle byelection, Coun Cooke wrote: "not one of them would disgrace our council."

Both the leaders of the Conservative and Labour groups on Tamworth Borough Council expressed their disappointment at Coun Cooke's actions. Both stopped short of calling for his immediate resignation, but said he should not stand as an independent again.

Coun Peter Seekings (Lab) said: "I am absolutely shocked that he would deliver leaflets for a party that in my opinion is a racist party. I think he has let down his constituents because he has always claimed to be an independent. It is going to be very difficult for him to be elected again as an independent."

Coun Jeremy Oates (Con) added: "I am very disappointed in his actions. When people voted for him, he was standing as a candidate independent of any political party. If he wishes to align himself with the BNP he should say so when seeking election."

The Castle Ward seat was up for grabs following the retirement of Conservative councillor, Graham Ingley, who stepped down due to ill health. The by-election was won by former Mayor Marion Couchman (Lab) --by just six votes. She took the seat with 619 votes. The Conservative candidate, Ian Stuart, won 613 votes, followed by the British National Party candidate Lynne Smith with 208 votes. Jenny Pinkett, for the Liberal Democrats, won 95 votes.

Overall, 5593 votes were cast. This represented 27.4 per cent of the electorate. The result does not significantly change the make-up of the council. There are now six Labour councillors, 23 Conservatives, and one independent.

icTamworth