Arrest warrant issued for Burnley politician

 

The BNP's John Rowe, smirking as he's nicked for being a moron

A warrant has been issued after a political campaigner failed to attend court over allegations that he used a fire alarm to disrupt a town hall meeting.

Councillors and Burnley Mayor Coun Ida Carmichael, along with chief executive Steve Rumbelow and his directors, were forced to abandon the town hall after the alarm interrupted a full council meeting in May. Rowe, formerly of Cowper Street, Burnley, was later arrested by Lancashire Police and taken to the town's police station for questioning after allegedly being found trapped inside a town hall compound, following the incident.

Police later issued British National Party council candidate John Rowe, 52, with an £80 fixed penalty notice, in relation to an offence of criminal damage.

Rowe was summonsed to appear before Burnley Magistrates Court, to face a full criminal hearing after he was alleged not to have paid the charge. His case yesterday had originally been adjourned from August 11, to enable him to attend court. But when he did not appear magistrates issued a warrant backed by bail for his arrest.

Following his arrest in May, Rowe said he would be seeking legal advice about the matter, claiming that the council's chief executive had acted illegally in barring him from the authority's meetings. Council sources have previously confirmed that Rowe can only attend meetings with prior written consent, following a number of angry stand-offs at previous council sessions.

Police and council bosses hit out after the incident in May, saying that vital resources could have been diverted from a genuine emergency.

Rowe has twice stood unsuccessfully for the Rosgrove with Lowerhouse ward on Burnley council. His first attempt for political office ended in an High Court battle, after the BNP candiate tied with Labour councillor Paul Reynolds. Law lords rejected his claim that a single vote, cast in Coun Reynolds' favour, should have been discounted as it was marked with a diagonal stroke instead of a full 'X'.

Lancashire Telegraph

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