'The BNP has nothing to offer the people of Bolton'

The BNP has sparked outrage in Bolton by confirming it will field a candidate in next month's local elections. A candidate will stand in the Tonge with The Haulgh ward.

It is the first time the far-right British National Party has put forward a candidate in Bolton and the news has been greeted with dismay by politicians and campaigners against racism.

Bolton-west MP Ruth Kelly, who is Communities and Local Government Secretary, said: "I would urge everybody to stand up for decent, honourable community values and to vote against the BNP. In my opinion they spread poison and lies. It is down to every single one of us to stand up against that."

This year's local elections will be on Thursday, May 3.

In addition to its candidate in Bolton, the BNP is also fielding eight candidates in Bury. The chairman of the Bolton Against Racism campaign, Ian McHugh, said: "The BNP has nothing to offer the people of Bolton but race hatred and racism.

"The poor meeting attendance record of BNP councillors elsewhere in the region shows their lack of commitment to local democracy and their disregard for those they have been elected to serve. Boltonians have a long history of tolerance and working together to better the town and its citizens and we're confident they will turn their back on the racism and intolerance of the BNP."

Yaseer Ahmed, who lives in Daubhill and is on the national Commission for Racial Equality, urged everyone in the Tonge ward to turn out and use their vote to prevent the BNP getting a foothold.

The ward had a turnout of just 31.1 per cent of voters in the last council elections.

Mr Ahmed, who is also a member of the Bolton Council of Mosques, said: "There's no room for the BNP in Bolton. We should not give a platform to any group or people that would upset this town's diversity and harmony and end up promoting racial hatred and a lack of trust between communities and even neighbours."

Bolton's Labour council leader Cllr Cliff Morris said: "I'm disappointed they are fielding a candidate. We should be doing everything in our power to make sure they do not get any votes."

Cllr Frank White, a Tonge ward Labour member and the council's executive member for community cohesion, said: "I'm totally confident in the good sense of the people of Tonge to vote for one of the democratic parties."

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