BNP scraps plans to fight for Granton seat

| Thursday, 16 October 2008 Source: The Scotsman

The far-right British National Party has scrapped plans to stand in next month's Forth ward council by-election.

It would have been the first time the BNP had stood for election to Edinburgh Council, and politicians from all main parties were united in anger at the announcement when it was revealed in the Evening News. Union officials also said they would consider mounting a campaign against the party's presence in north Edinburgh.

In a statement, the party said: "We were going through a selection process to find a candidate (for Forth ward), but we decided to concentrate our efforts on the Baillieston election in Glasgow."

Scottish anti-fascist groups recently campaigned against the BNP in Baillieston in the election to fill the seat left vacant by SNP councillor John Mason, who won the Glasgow East Westminster by-election in July. However, a fellow councillor for the ward has since died, so another by-election will soon be held.