Race Equality Committee in BNP Row Disbanded

By Nick Foley, PA News | Wednesday, 14 July 2004 Source: PA News

A council which controversially appointed a British National Party councillor to a race equality committee announced today it was scrapping the panel following fierce criticism from MPs and fellow councillors.

Adrian Marsden was appointed to the Race Equality and Community Cohesion Working Group of West Yorkshire-based Calderdale Council last week.

But the move was immediately branded "mad" and "a joke" by angry Labour and Liberal Democrat councillors who threatened to boycott the race relations panel.

A Commons motion was also signed by a group of West Yorkshire MPs, who backed calls for the BNP councillor to be ousted.

Today the council said it was disbanding the group earlier than anticipated following the criticism.

Conservative councillor Amanda Byrne, who has special responsibility for the council's community services, said she had carried out a review of the working group and decided it was no longer needed.

"Once the race equality scheme had been approved by the Commission for Racial Equality and a social cohesion plan devised, I felt there was no longer any reason for the working group to continue.

"My decision was not influenced by the media's criticism but it probably moved it forward.

"I hope this now draws a line in the sand. There was no pressure on me from anyone to come to this decision."

Mr Marsden was appointed by the council's cabinet last week after he was nominated by his party.

He was one of three BNP representative on the unitary Calderdale authority who were re-elected at the recent local elections.

The working group, which had eight members from across the political divide, was aimed at bringing the communities in the Calderdale area closer together.

Mr Byrne said she would be recommending the disbanding of the group at a cabinet meeting on Monday.