BNP nominate Tory council candidate

Update: Local Tory MP Louise Bagshawe has responded to a tweet from LabourList asking if she will disown the candidate backed by the BNP. However Bagshawe has responded by accusing Corby Labour Party of “racist smears against our mixed-race candidate”. As far as we’re aware the local Labour Party have made no mention of Mr Taitt’s race. Furthermore, it seems to be stretching credibility to the limit to suggest that asking why BNP members have nominated your candidate is a “racist smear”.

Update: Louise Bagshawe has asked us to update this (and we’re happy to oblige) reflecting that she has answered questions on this subject in recent days on Twitter. That’s true. But she still hasn’t responded to the original letter (below). Furthermore, Bagshawe has argued that the candidate in question collected signatures at a residents meeting, and therefore had no idea that the two signatories were BNP members. However, surely there is someone in the local party who checks the forms? Surely names need to be matched against the electoral register to ensure that nominations come from local residents? And surely during this checking process someone should have recognised the name of a local BNP PPC from less than a year ago?

There’s a great deal of controversy over one Tory council candidate in Corby. It appears that Mark Taitt – the Tory candidate for Shire Lodge ward – has been nominated by the 2010 BNP PPC for the area. He has also been nominated by another known BNP member. CLP Chair Kevin McKeever has written to local MP Louise Bagshawe asking for an explanation, and whether this “a policy or tactical decision by the Conservative Party locally?”. You can read the letter below:

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Louise Bagshawe MP
House of Commons
London SW1A 0AA
Wednesday, 20 April 2011

Dear Ms Bagshawe,

Regarding BNP nomination of Conservative local government candidate

I write as Chair of Corby & East Northants Constituency Labour Party to express our grave concern at the nomination of your Conservative candidate for election in Shire Lodge ward, Corby. We are shocked and appalled that your Conservative candidate, Mark Taitt, has been nominated by the British National Party’s parliamentary candidate at the 2010 General Election, along with a nomination from a known BNP member.

I refer you to the Notice of Poll issued by Corby Borough Council, which clearly states that Roy Davies, the BNP’s parliamentary candidate for Corby, has nominated Mark Taitt to stand for election as a Conservative candidate in Shire Lodge, with a further nomination from known BNP member and activist Denise Sellars.

Can you clarify as a matter of public concern why a Conservative candidate has sought the support of high-profile BNP members? Does this represent a policy or tactical decision by the Conservative Party locally? And if not, will you and your local Association distance yourself from your BNP-backed candidate?

I await your prompt response.

Kind regards,

Kevin McKeever.
Chair, Corby & East Northants Constituency Labour Party