March 06, 2007

Dinner lady to stand for BNP in may elections

A dinner lady has been selected by the far-right British National Party to fight for the South Wales West seat in the Assembly elections.The move is being seen as an attempt by the party to shed its skin-head image and show it has a broad membership. The dinner lady who will represent the party is Tracy Si'Ree, a mum-of-four.

The party was unable to confirm more details about where she worked or lived yesterday. But it is known she will join fellow BNP candidates for the South Wales West seat, Clive Bennett, and controversial party leader Nick Griffin in the May 3 elections. Mr Bennett is the party's first choice candidate for the seat, which means that Mr Griffin would be unlikely to become an AM unless Mr Bennett was elected, but could not take up his seat for some reason.

Because the BNP will eventually put forward four candidates in each of Wales's five regional seats, it will be entitled to a free party political broadcast on BBC television. It will also get a taxpayer-funded mail-shot to every home. The party's bid to represent the region in the Assembly has been attacked by Plaid candidate Ian Titherington.

He said: "I dread to think how much intimidation they will create within the minority communities of Wales."

But Mr Griffin, who lives in Welsh- pool, said he liked the people of Swansea. "I get on very well with Swansea people and they were looking for people to stand. I live in Wales so I am local, but not as specifically local as others, which is why I am the second name. But I will be in the area campaigning. We simply can't tell how well we will do, but we are hopeful of one or two seats."

This is South Wales

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