Labour calls on voters to reject BNP

| Saturday, 26 June 2004 Source: The Sentinel

A Labour stalwart believes voters in a Stoke-on-Trent community will reject the British National Party when they go to the polls on July 22. Terry Crowe says he is "deeply disturbed" the BNP has decided to contest the Burslem South by-election, which is being held following to the death of Conservative candidate Marilyn Ibbs before the June 10 city council elections.

The far-right party had originally decided not to nominate a candidate for the Labour-held seat - but has taken advantage of the delayed poll and put forward its Stoke-on-Trent organiser Michael Coleman to challenge Mr Crowe, who is seeking re-election, and five others.

Mr Crowe said: "I am deeply disturbed that the BNP has nominated a candidate.

"I am confident the people of Burslem South will give them a resounding 'no'. I think they have put a candidate forward just to cause aggravation but they will not, because the people of Burslem South are too sensible to get involved with hate politics."

Mr Coleman, who came third behind Conservative and Labour candidates in Meir Park and Sandon on June 10, has been nominated after former BNP city councillor Barry Cuthbertson decided not to stand.

He said: "There is a big ethnic minority population and we know we will not get their votes. But there are disenfranchised and disaffected working people in Middleport and Sneyd Green, and that is where we will concentrate our campaign."

The candidates include Tory Don Smith, who unsuccessfully stood in East Valley on June 10, Liberal Democrat George Salmon, former Independent leader Ted Owen, Mohammed Ayub, who is unaffiliated, and radio presenter Mike Farrington, of Christian station Cross Rhythms.