Labour won a council by-election after fighting off a strong challenge from the BNP campaigning for "British jobs for British workers".
The far-right party was beaten into second place last night with 889 votes behind Labour on 1,379 votes in the Newton Hyde ward by-election for a seat on Tameside Council in Greater Manchester. The Tories came in third with 485 votes on a turnout of 32%.
Both Labour and the BNP had campaigned hard over the last month, but last night Labour increased its majority over the BNP in the ward since the last local elections in May.
James Purnell, the Work and Pensions Minister and MP for Stalybridge and Hyde, accompanied successful Labour candidate Phillip Fitzpatrick to the count at Dukinfield Town Hall. Mr Purnell, who helped launch Labour's campaign, said: "I think it 's a victory for hope and solidarity over people who want to bring division and hatred."
Mr Fitzpatrick said: "I am absolutely delighted. The people of Newton have voted for a Labour candidate because they don't want the BNP. They are not wanted."
In last May`s local elections in the Newton ward, the BNP polled 846 votes, just 278 votes behind Labour on 1124, on a 33.3% turnout. But with the recession biting and the BNP campaigning on a "British jobs for British workers" ticket, the poll was expected to be close. A BNP victory would have given the party its first foothold in Greater Manchester.
Hyde is predominantly white and working class with a tradition of large manufacturing firms based in the area. It also has a small Asian community.
The local campaign saw Hyde`s church leaders issuing a joint statement telling people to vote for parties that "do not foster fear and hatred". Unions and anti-fascist groups also ran campaigns with a message to "Keep the BNP out."
Rosalind Gauci, the BNP candidate said: "I don't think it has been a fair election, I don't think it has been a clean one. They should not have used USDAW and Searchlight, the extreme left of Labour. They have tried to kill us off."
The BNP last gained a council seat on November 13 last year in the Fenside ward of Boston Borough Council. And last month it narrowly missed winning a seat by just eight votes in the East Wickham ward of Bexley Borough, south east London.
The by-election in Hyde followed the death of Labour councillor Margaret Oldham last month.
The other candidates and their results were; Peter Ball-Foster (Liberal Democrats), 172, Angela McManus (UK Independence Party), 33, Nigel Rolland (Green Party), 69, and John Welsh (Conservative), 485.
24dash
Showing posts with label Tameside. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Tameside. Show all posts
February 06, 2009
October 22, 2008
BNP candidate denies racism
A BNP candidate has appeared in court charged with racially aggravated harrassment. Tameside Magistrates heard that Roy West, 44, of Glenmore Grove, Dukinfield is accused of using racially aggravated words against his German neighbour on August 22 this year.
He denies the charges.
Defending, Kevin Nicholas said that West is alleged to have said "Remember Dunkirk" during an argument with his neighbour.
Mr Nicholas, who disputed whether the words were racist, asked for the trial to be heard out of the Tameside area because of West’s connections with the BNP in Tameside.
"I’m not suggesting any integrity issues, but Mr West is a BNP candidate for this region," he said. "He tells me that on the bench in Tameside there are some Labour councillors or candidates. He has had difficulties with one of them in the past. We would ask the court not to hear this at Tameside, but at a different court."
The court took note of West’s concerns and asked for the case to be heard before the Manchester district judge who comes to the court on a weekly basis.
West will remain on police bail, on the condition that he does not contact his neighbour or the neighbour’s partner either directly or indirectly. A hearing on 12 November will set a date for his trial at Tameside Magistrates’ Court.
West stood as the BNP candidate for Dukinfield during May’s local elections.
He came second behind Councillor Brian Wild with 734 votes.
Labels:
racist abuse,
Roy Kevin West,
Tameside
August 13, 2008
Death threats to councillor
Police are investigating death threats made against a Tameside councillor.
The threats were made after Councillor John Taylor’s details appeared on a violent far right website, Redwatch. The site, which includes pictures of political activists including anti-British National Party demonstrators, anti-deportation marches and Socialist Worker volunteers, lists home addresses and contact details of people featured online.
The 60-year-old Dukinfield councillor, who has been a Labour Party member for 36 years and trade unionist for 40 years, is known for his criticism of the BNP. Since featuring on Redwatch, Councillor Taylor — who is a grandfather — has received countless emails saying that he will be shot in the head.
"Since I was a teenager I’ve been involved in anti-fascist campaigning, so I’ve put up with day-to-day political jibes. I’ve been on marches and had things shouted at me but never anything as serious as this," said Councillor Taylor. "I’ve obviously had to take it very seriously because of my family. They said they were going to shoot me and have identified what gun they’re going to use, so it shows they know what they’re talking about. For people who know Redwatch, when they do identify you, you usually become a victim of violence."
Councillor Taylor was also alerted to a video on the YouTube website, which accused him of being a communist. Fellow Dukinfield councillor, Brian Wild, also had his picture placed on the Redwatch website along with his address and the comment that he is an ‘anti-BNP associate of Councillor John Taylor’.
Inspector Tony Alogba, of Stalybridge police, said: "We are investigating a threat to kill recently made on a website. We are following a number of inquiries and working closely with the victim to trace the person or people responsible. If anyone has any information about the threat please contact us on 856 9255."
Tameside Advertiser
The threats were made after Councillor John Taylor’s details appeared on a violent far right website, Redwatch. The site, which includes pictures of political activists including anti-British National Party demonstrators, anti-deportation marches and Socialist Worker volunteers, lists home addresses and contact details of people featured online.
The 60-year-old Dukinfield councillor, who has been a Labour Party member for 36 years and trade unionist for 40 years, is known for his criticism of the BNP. Since featuring on Redwatch, Councillor Taylor — who is a grandfather — has received countless emails saying that he will be shot in the head.
"Since I was a teenager I’ve been involved in anti-fascist campaigning, so I’ve put up with day-to-day political jibes. I’ve been on marches and had things shouted at me but never anything as serious as this," said Councillor Taylor. "I’ve obviously had to take it very seriously because of my family. They said they were going to shoot me and have identified what gun they’re going to use, so it shows they know what they’re talking about. For people who know Redwatch, when they do identify you, you usually become a victim of violence."
Councillor Taylor was also alerted to a video on the YouTube website, which accused him of being a communist. Fellow Dukinfield councillor, Brian Wild, also had his picture placed on the Redwatch website along with his address and the comment that he is an ‘anti-BNP associate of Councillor John Taylor’.
Inspector Tony Alogba, of Stalybridge police, said: "We are investigating a threat to kill recently made on a website. We are following a number of inquiries and working closely with the victim to trace the person or people responsible. If anyone has any information about the threat please contact us on 856 9255."
Tameside Advertiser
Labels:
BNP,
Councillor John Taylor,
Dukinfield,
Redwatch,
Tameside
April 19, 2007
Backlash against BNP
Church leaders have come together to condemn the BNP over the far-right party’s latest attempts to claw their way into the town hall. Eight candidates are standing in next month’s local elections, the largest contingent ever in Tameside.
The Rev John Holland, of Christ Church, Ashton, said: "I cannot support anything that breeds division and resentment between people of different cultural backgrounds. It is disappointing to see Waterloo as one of the wards chosen to field a candidate. We enjoy a very good relationship with people of other faiths. In fact, the church is being used this weekend for a Hindu funeral. The BNP are a divisive element. We are all God’s creation and although we may know him by different names, humanity is about wholeness. The BNP want to destroy that."
Waheed Ahmed, Imam at the Katherine Street mosque, Ashton, said: "In my time here, racial aggravation has never reared its ugly head. Certainly not on the scale of nearby towns such as Oldham and Burnley. People should support political parties which are working for the good of all people, be it in relation to race, colour and class or trying to create harmony and peace among all. I’d urge everyone not to vote for the BNP or anyone else who advocates hate and violence."
The Rev Philip Burrows, of Mottram Church, said: "I am not shocked by the amount of candidates standing. I have spoken out about this in the past. I don’t think membership of the BNP is compatible with a loving Christian faith."
Dr Phil Edwards, BNP national press spokesman, said: "The church seems to have forgotten that they’re here to preach the gospel, not to interfere in the democratic process. There is nothing un-Christian about being a member of the BNP. It is a shame the Muslim leaders in this country are expanding their religion while Christian leaders are allowing our religion to wither away."
Tameside Advertiser
The Rev John Holland, of Christ Church, Ashton, said: "I cannot support anything that breeds division and resentment between people of different cultural backgrounds. It is disappointing to see Waterloo as one of the wards chosen to field a candidate. We enjoy a very good relationship with people of other faiths. In fact, the church is being used this weekend for a Hindu funeral. The BNP are a divisive element. We are all God’s creation and although we may know him by different names, humanity is about wholeness. The BNP want to destroy that."
Waheed Ahmed, Imam at the Katherine Street mosque, Ashton, said: "In my time here, racial aggravation has never reared its ugly head. Certainly not on the scale of nearby towns such as Oldham and Burnley. People should support political parties which are working for the good of all people, be it in relation to race, colour and class or trying to create harmony and peace among all. I’d urge everyone not to vote for the BNP or anyone else who advocates hate and violence."
The Rev Philip Burrows, of Mottram Church, said: "I am not shocked by the amount of candidates standing. I have spoken out about this in the past. I don’t think membership of the BNP is compatible with a loving Christian faith."
Dr Phil Edwards, BNP national press spokesman, said: "The church seems to have forgotten that they’re here to preach the gospel, not to interfere in the democratic process. There is nothing un-Christian about being a member of the BNP. It is a shame the Muslim leaders in this country are expanding their religion while Christian leaders are allowing our religion to wither away."
Tameside Advertiser
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