South Oxhey Community Choir snubs British National Party cash

Members of the South Oxhey Community Choir have rejected a much-needed £1,000 donation offered by a British National Party (BNP) councillor.

The group, featured in the recent BBC programme The Choir: Unsung Town, was offered the money by South Oxhey county councillor Deirdre Gates, elected earlier this year. Like all of the council's 77 representatives Councillor Gates has been given £10,000 to distribute to worthy community groups. The choir’s members, however, decided they could not take money from associated with the right wing party.

Committee member Russ Clancy told the Watford Observer why the group decided to reject the offer: He said: “Obviously we would really like this money but we discovered that if we took it that our name would be used in BNP literature in the future. We’ve worked really hard as a group to be inclusive of everybody and promote an ethnically diverse choir. We don’t feel the BNP shares those values so, as group, we decided to turn the money down.”

Councillor Gates was not available for comment this morning. The retired legal secretary has, however, made a £250 donation to the Three Rivers Neighbourhood Watch group, which has been accepted.

Watford Observer

BNP to fight two South Oxhey seats

The British National Party (BNP) has said it intends to fight for two South Oxhey council seats at May's local elections.

The controversial party, which many claim advocates racist and divisive policies, is to put forward candidates in the Northwick and Ashridge wards. Local pair Seamus Dunne and Deirdre Gates will attempt to unseat incumbent Labour councillors David Lake and Len Tippen who are both seeking re-election.

Spokesman Eddie Butler said the party believed South Oxhey provided fertile ground for its anti-immigration and nationalistic policies, adding that door-to-door polling indicated strong support. Despite previous campaigns in the area attracting little support, he feels the time is right for another attempt to gain a seat on Three Rivers District Council.

He said: "People are fed up with what's going on in this country. South Oxhey is an area where a lot of self employed people are suffering from the influx of foreign workers. It fits the profile of the seats we target. If we were to sell our party newspaper door-to-door on the estate I reckon about one in three people would buy it - which is much more than any other party could claim."

At last year's local elections the party achieved 50 councillors at district and borough level and is hoping for more this time out.

Existing councillors, however, are appalled by the announcement.

Labour group leader Kerron Cross, who also represents the South Oxhey area, said: "Everybody who has had dealings with the BNP will know what they are. Racist behaviour and far right extremism is something that everyone needs to take seriously and I am confident that residents in South Oxhey will be appalled to hear that the BNP is standing and I am sure they will reject them at the ballot box, as they always have done when given the opportunity to do so.

Council Leader Ann Shaw added: "The BNP is, of course, entitled to put forward candidates in elections. But South Oxhey people are sensible enough to recognise its divisive and hateful politics. The Liberal Democrats will be fighting a strong campaign with candidates dedicated to working for the local community."

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