Outrage at BNP candidate (From Haringey Independent)

Outrage at BNP candidate

9:30am Friday 19th September 2008 in

By Elizabeth Pears »

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Politicians have spoken of their disgust after it was declared a member of the BNP will stand in a by-election to find a new councillor.

The nomination of BNP member Frederick Halsey, of Wood Green, in the contest for Alexandra ward is a first in the borough’s history and has shocked the community.

Hornsey and Wood Green MP Lynne Featherstone said: “I am sure many people will be as horrified as I am that the BNP is fielding a candidate in the Alexandra by-election.

“Any party whose fundamental message is one of hate is unlikely to strike a chord with voters in Haringey.”

Haringey Council leader George Meehan said he was “disappointed”.

Mr Halsey, a father-of-four who describes himself as a family man and a builder by trade, said: “People might not like us running but it’s all part of democracy.

“They might ask why I’m running in a borough like Haringey but I live here too. The borough needs someone who’s prepared to look after our own.

“I don’t have a problem with immigrants — some of them are all right. They have been here for years and pay their taxes but it’s just getting a bit too much.

“When people say we are racists I let it go in one ear and out the other and tell them to take a look at our policies.”

Some of the BNP’s policies include a halt to immigration, abolition of positive discrimination laws, a ban on foreign aid and a withdrawal from NATO.

The Alexandra by-election, to be held on October 9, follows the departure of Liberal Democrat councillor Wayne Hoban.

The four other candidates all condemned Mr Halsey’s candidacy.

What the other hopefuls stand for:

Labour candidate Joanna Christophides, 39, has lived in the area since she was a child.

The mother-of-two said: “As a councillor your role is to represent the views of residents and I am prepared to do that even if it’s not always popular in the chamber.”

She works as a senior case worker for Labour MP Ann Keen and is an experienced campaigner.

Her main priority was making Alexandra Palace train station safer for residents, she said.

Conservative David Douglas, 44, who has lived in Muswell for 18 years, was part of a successful campaign to save Muswell Hill and Alexandra Park libraries. He said: “I have been committed to Muswell Hill since I worked with former MP Hugh Rossi. I have experience in helping residents and I would like to do this as their councillor.”

The cycling enth-usiast makes a 32-mile round trip to the Tory offices in Westminster for work. His plans include better cycle routes and recycling facilities.

The Green Party’s James Patterson, 30, of Bedford Road, said he would offer voters a less partisan approach to politics.

He said: “As a councillor I would really listen to residents and stay away from Lib Dem and Labour party politics.

“We have some marvellous green spaces in Haringey, like Alexandra Palace and Park and the Albert Road recreation ground, that are used by a div- erse range of residents which I would work to improve.”

Liberal Democrat Nigel Scott is a founding school governor at Alex-andra Park School, Bidwell Gardens. He has campaigned on planning, traffic and road safety issues in Muswell Hill and is opposed to overdevelopment.

Mr Scott said: “Alexandra certainly needs action on traffic. I also want to play a part in steering the iconic Ally Pally away from the disastrous mismanagement of the Labour years and its multi-million-pound bill to residents.”

Comments(12)

poodle1234 says...
6:42pm Fri 19 Sep 08

Credit crunch!, jobless numbers rising!, knife crime! 24000 people missed off the housing waiting list in Haringey and officers working for the Council queried on anomolies on how they allocate housing points to some and not to others!...
second highest council tax in London! and dirtiest streets says GMB!
Is the BNP really a threat at all? I really think NULABOR is. Afterall when Labour MP Lammy is more likely to jet across to the USA to meet Baracka (to get some election tips) and goes on about building another centre for another excluded group who may number several hundred thousand more (they say) than census statistics carry...does one wonder that the world is becoming on the whole a rather nastier place? Do we actually need ratepayers to build another community centre? WIth so many "excluded" communities unable to speak English do they really expect us to believe that encouraging more isolation from integration is not about creating voting bloc groups? Have you counted how much council taxpayers give to such places? and not all groups are represented - nor the support groups, there isnt a real equality of service because they dont count everyone in the same way. And we all know that counting people as black and white is "sleepwalking into apartheid" as CRE boss said. Has anyone mentioned the UK flood barriers might need the money rather than the "nulabor" voting blocs? If Mr Lammy saved the ozone by not using planes to fly to USA and cared a little less about his long term political ambitions and more about the voters who have a legal right to be here, then maybe the BNP threat would never have appeared. When NULABOR get thrashed at the Polls, I for one, will say they brought it on themselves.....and lets hope its the LIB DEMS who get in. And no, its an insult to those suffering under the huge taxation to pay for yet another "excluded" community centre or all-expenses paid flights to USA.

Credit crunch!, jobless numbers rising!, knife crime! 24000 people missed off the housing waiting list in Haringey and officers working for the Council queried on anomolies on how they allocate housing points to some and not to others!... second highest council tax in London! and dirtiest streets says GMB! Is the BNP really a threat at all? I really think NULABOR is. Afterall when Labour MP Lammy is more likely to jet across to the USA to meet Baracka (to get some election tips) and goes on about building another centre for another excluded group who may number several hundred thousand more (they say) than census statistics carry...does one wonder that the world is becoming on the whole a rather nastier place? Do we actually need ratepayers to build another community centre? WIth so many "excluded" communities unable to speak English do they really expect us to believe that encouraging more isolation from integration is not about creating voting bloc groups? Have you counted how much council taxpayers give to such places? and not all groups are represented - nor the support groups, there isnt a real equality of service because they dont count everyone in the same way. And we all know that counting people as black and white is "sleepwalking into apartheid" as CRE boss said. Has anyone mentioned the UK flood barriers might need the money rather than the "nulabor" voting blocs? If Mr Lammy saved the ozone by not using planes to fly to USA and cared a little less about his long term political ambitions and more about the voters who have a legal right to be here, then maybe the BNP threat would never have appeared. When NULABOR get thrashed at the Polls, I for one, will say they brought it on themselves.....and lets hope its the LIB DEMS who get in. And no, its an insult to those suffering under the huge taxation to pay for yet another "excluded" community centre or all-expenses paid flights to USA. poodle1234