Leading BNP member quits Cumbria party

News and Star by Julian Whittle | Monday, 30 November 2009 | Click here for original article

Alistair Barbour

One of the leading lights in the British National Party in Cumbria has quit saying he is 'sick of defending them.'

Alistair Barbour, 44, of Southwaite, was expected to be the BNP’s General Election candidate in Carlisle.

He says he has become disillusioned with party politics and says he may stand as an Independent in local authority elections.

He is already a parish councillor in Southwaite.

Mr Barbour said: “I joined the BNP two years ago and was perhaps a little bit naive.

“I don’t agree with everything they stand for and I’m sick of defending them.”

Mr Barbour, a gas fitter, stood for the BNP in the Penrith West by-election on Eden Council in October and in Currock, Carlisle, at the county council elections in June.

He has also been a candidate at Carlisle City Council elections in Castle and Upperby. He says he is not a racist and that he disagrees with some BNP policies.

For example, he believes the party was wrong to bar non-whites from joining.

“We are where we are in 21st century Britain,” he said.“You can’t turn the clock back. You need to make the best of what you’ve got.

“The BNP should take a long, hard look at themselves and how people see them.

“I realise now that you don’t have to belong to a party. You can have your own thoughts.”

Searchlight adds

Alistair Barbour was also one of several BNP activists on Nick Griffin's European Parliament payroll.