BNP man in poll form 'blunder'

| Tuesday, 11 May 2004 Source: Preston Today

A candidate for the extremist BNP party has been prevented from standing in next month's local elections because he filled out his nomination form incorrectly.

Tony Bamber, 48, of Greenbank Street, Plungington, Preston, was all set to challenge Labour's Matthew Brown and returning Tory, Margaret McManus, for a seat in the Tulketh ward. However, his plans were thwarted when he failed to declare his party name on his nomination form. Mr Bamber, a divorced carpenter, said he would not be prepared to stand as an independent candidate, the only option now open to him.

Instead, he plans to appeal against the decision today and will continue to leaflet his ward with a view to standing again in future. He said: "I intend to campaign on the basis that the BNP has been denied representation by the city council and the council has refused to allow the people of Preston the opportunity to vote for the BNP and that's a stitch up. "If they think that just by stopping us this time, we'll go away, they're wrong. "We're not going to go away - we're here for the long term and it absolutely makes me more determined." Today, political leaders condemned the far right wing group's attempt to stand in Preston, and that of the England First Party to put forward a candidate in the Brookfield ward. Coun John Collins, leader of the council, said: "They're such a small extremist group, more extreme than the BNP. "I would expect that one to be a paper candidate so I'm not particularly worried about their presence.

"As far as the BNP is concerned, I just don't think they deserve comment." Coun Ken Hudson, leader of the Tory's, said: "Whilst I'm in favour of democracy, I also feel Preston is not a racist city and we shouldn't be bringing these alternative racist things into local politics in what is a multi-cultural city and one where we have got racial harmony." Elsewhere, the Tories were accused of playing "dirty tricks" by putting forward Robert Cartwright, son of mayor and mayoress Neil and Bobby, as their candidate in the Deepdale ward.

The ward dominated by two Cartwright's, husband and wife Independent team, Terry and Joyce, and Coun John Collins believes the move is to cause confusion. Mukhtar Master from the Respect party is standing for the town centre ward, one of five Respect candidates, including new member Elaine Abbot who recently quit the Labour party but will be hoping for continued support in Riversway. Tory Geoff Swarbrick and Liberal Democrat Margaret Marshall are retiring.