Vote No To The BNP

Further to an article I posted yesterday regarding the BNP candidate (below) thanks to a poster on this website who has provided me with the following details which now confirms a BNP candidate has been blocked from standing in the 2010 General Election.

BRITISH National Party candidate Dave Strickson has been banned from standing for election in Peterborough after his nomination was rendered invalid.

Peterborough City Council revealed Mr Strickson, of Grays, Essex, could not stand for city seat because eight of the assentors on his nomination form did not live in the Peterborough constituency area.

Mr Strickson said he and his party are unhappy because they feel they were not given enough time to re-submit his forms.

He said: “The council informed us that they had decided to reject the nomination.

“Despite a last minute effort, we could not complete the re-signing of the forms within that time frame. We are extremely disappointed that the council left it to the last minute to inform us of this.”

The news was welcomed by the city’s other candidates, with Conservative candidate Stewart Jackson saying: “The candidate was from Essex and had no knowledge of Peterborough and clearly did not want to engage the electorate.”

Nick Sandford, standing for the Liberal Democrats, felt that Peterborough is no place for the BNP. He said: “Although people do have concerns about immigration, I think on the whole the different groups in the city live quite harmoniously.”

Labour candidate Ed Murphy said he was happy with the news – even if it could mean more Conservative votes. He said: “My heart is happy but my head is less so given that it could mean more Tory votes. But I wouldn’t want to win this election by votes taken from a right-wing party.”

English Democrat Rob King was also happy that the BNP are not standing.

He said: “I don’t believe there’s any place for the BNP in Peterborough and I hope people don’t think the English Democrats are far right-wing either because we are definitely not.”

Green Party candidate Fiona Radic said: “I’m very happy I won’t be sharing the ballot paper with them. People can now cast their vote with one less thing to worry about.”

Independent candidate John Swallow added: “There is no issue on which I agree with the BNP, but we are a democracy and if the big three are not delivering, it gives rise to parties like the BNP offering quick fixes to complicated issues.”

Mr Strickson will receive his £500 nomination deposit back.

Vote No To The BNP in 2010

©2010 Peterborough Today