BNP field three in next month’s council elections

| Friday, 7 April 2006 Source: Hastings Today

FAR-RIGHT candidates standing for election in Hastings have been slammed as 'Hitler clones'.

Michael Foster, MP for Hastings, condemned the three British National Party members hoping to get elected in the town's Tressell and Hollington wards.

He said: "These people have what I consider a vile and nasty personal agenda.

"They do not like homosexuals, ethnic minorities and even oppose some disability legislation - they are against anyone who is different.

"There is no place in Hastings for people like this and I am confident the voters will give them a thumping at the polls."

Paul Price and Fay Hughes are touting for votes in the Tressell ward while Michael Lovett is hoping to get elected in Hollington.

This is the first time the BNP has fielded candidates in the town but seven years ago plans to march through Hastings town centre were met with fierce opposition.

The far-right group was dealt a bloody nose as a cross-party coalition joined forces with the Anti-Nazi League making it clear any such march would meet considerable resistance.

Michael Foster was there - as was council leader Jeremy Birch - and the Labour MP is planning stiff opposition once again.

He said: "People fought and died in Europe to defeat fascism and we need to make sure it does not sprout up here."

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