Burnley's first BNP mayor, John Cave resigns from position

The man in line to become the first BNP mayor in the country has resigned from his position.

John Cave was serving as deputy mayor of Padiham Town Council this year, but has quit following a row with Labour councillors.

Mr Cave had been due to become the town’s mayor in May and community leaders had expressed fears that the appointment would bring negative publicity on the town. But that scenario will now be averted following Mr Cave’s shock resignation.

Mr Cave said three councillors, Jean Cunningham, Andy Tatchell and John Harbour, were playing politics with the non-political town council, something which they all deny.

The trio represent the Labour group on Burnley Borough Council, but sit as non-political councillors at Padiham Town Council.

Mr Cave wanted to bring in a new rule that could have forced the three of them out. But his motion to create a new standing order was voted out and Mr Cave decided to walk away from the council, and the chance to become mayor, because of what he described as the 'deception' being carried out by the council.

Coun Charlie Briggs, leader of Burnley Borough Council, said: “His reasons for resigning are utterly ridiculous. To suggest that someone with political affiliations can’t stand as a town councillor is just a plain daft. I can’t understand the cheek of it. Is he trying to suggest that he doesn’t have political affiliations? He has tried and failed to be elected as a borough councillor.”

Mr Cave brought his motion before councillors on November 21 but it was voted down 11-2. He wrote his letter of resignation after the vote and it was read to stunned councillors at the town council meeting on Monday.

Mr Cave, who is married to BNP councillor Sharon Wilkinson, said: “We say the council is non-political but we have people on the council who clearly are political.”

Burnley Citizen

Injunction sought against former Burnley council candidate

A former council candidate could be barred from town hall meetings if an application for a county court injunction is successful. Borough council chiefs in Burnley have formally applied for a court order which would prevent British National Party member John Rowe, 52, from attending the local authority’s meetings in future.

The announcement comes as Rowe, of Tennis Street, Burnley, was convicted of causing criminal damage to a fire alarm at the town hall in May. Following the incident, a Burnley full council meeting had to be temporarily suspended as councillors, officers and Mayor, Coun Ida Carmichael, had to be evacuated from the town hall.

Rowe, then of Cowper Street, was originally issued with an £80 fixed penalty notice regarding the offence, which he refused to pay. As a result he was summonsed to appear before Burnley magistrates where he pleaded not guilty to the offence. But he was convicted after a trial and conditionally discharged for 12 months and ordered to pay £200 costs.

Rowe failed to appear in court on one occasion and a warrant was issued for his arrest. He was detained by police while attending another Burnley full council meeting. He also attempted to attend a subsequent full council meeting in October but was turned away at the town hall entrance by police.

The council meeting disruption was condemned at the time by police and council chief executive Steve Rumbelow.

Court officials have confirmed that Rowe, who unsuccessfully stood as a BNP candidate in Rosegrove with Lowerhouse in 2007, intends to appeal against the magistrates’ verdict. But it has now emerged that council officials are taking legal steps to permanently exclude him from town hall meetings.

A Burnley council spokesman said: “We are in the process of applying for an interim injunction against Mr Rowe.”

For the hearing, later this year, Mr Rowe is understood to have called a number of witnesses, including council leader Coun Gordon Birtwistle.

Mr Rowe was unavailable for comment last night.

Lancashire Telegraph