BNP's new councillors owe thousands in rent

Andrew Gilligan | Friday, 26 May 2006 Source: Evening Standard

Three of the BNP's new councillors in Barking and Dagenham have been taken to court for owing thousands of pounds in rent and council tax.

The local authority has secured county court judgments against two, a third is being threatened with bailiffs, and a fourth is involved in a council probe into a potential £10,000 housing benefit fraud.

The disclosures will be hugely embarrassing to the racist party, which has claimed ethnic minorities and asylum seekers are being given a "free ride" by "suffering council-tax payers".

They come after the BNP's group leader on the council, Richard Barnbrook, was exposed as the director of a gay porn film, despite his party's anti-gay stance. Robert Buckley, the new BNP councillor for Mayesbrook ward, appeared at Ilford County Court yesterday after failing to pay his rent for five months. After the hearing, Mr Buckley said his attendance allowance as a councillor would help him repay his debt. He said: "I had an ongoing battle with the council and eventually I gave up and decided not to pay."

Claire Doncaster, one of the new BNP councillors for Alibon ward, was taken to court last year. Rent arrears of £2,280 have still not been paid. Ms Doncaster said: "We are actually getting the money now."

The BNP took 11 seats in Barking and Dagenham in the local elections.