We're kicking ourselves here in Cumbria over a missed election opportunity, and I'm afraid I must hold my hand up and take most of the blame.
There was an excellent Allerdale BNP meeting at a pub in Maryport the Tuesday before last. Around fifty people present and a collection of over £130 which I can assure you is very, very good for our region.
At the meeting, Cumbria's Press Officer Clive Jefferson, was arguing the case for contesting a county council election in Penrith. The town forms the lion's share of the Penrith & the Borders parliamentary constituency and is in Eden District Council. It would have been a good election to fight as we don't have any organisation within Eden or in Penrith itself and our raised profile would almost certainly have led to a BNP group being set up in the town.
I argued against Clive because I was worried about activists being drawn away from Carlisle, Workington and Copeland where we would be fighting the General Election, or that the Penrith candidate might be left high and dry when there were other more pressing priorities and get a poor vote which might harm our chances in the General Election.
It was decided not to contest the seat - and that was the wrong decision. Nominations have now closed and we have missed the boat. It would have been useful this week to have been blitzing Penrith which would have helped sweep away any remaining non-General Election blues.
There is one local council by-election this Thursday that I'm aware of and that is for Horsham District Council's Holbrook West ward.
The candidates are:
Donna Bailey (British National Party)
Raymond Chapman (Labour Party)
Ronald Vimpany (Conservative Party)
Belinda Walters (Liberal Democrat Party).
Result - May 2007: Con 1018, Con 959, Lib-Dem 712, Lib-Dem 698, Ind 361, Lab 78.
Our candidate Donna, is a well-known local campaigner through her efforts to establish more facilities for youngsters in her community and is featured in the October issue of Freedom regarding her attempt to get on to her local parish council.
This week we might get a ruling from the Royal Courts of Justice on the Rosegrove & Lowerhouse council election result for Burnley Borough Council. It was back in May that our candidate John Rowe, was defeated in the drawing of straws by a Labour candidate after they had allegedly tied. John had been two votes ahead after the first count and one ahead after the second count. The Returning Officer then allowed a vote that had already been rejected as a spoilt ballot 'back into play' to level things. It was this action that John found unacceptable and the reason why he took his case to the High Court.
Yesterday we were hoping to walk in the Lakes at Whinlatter but it was too wet underfoot so we decided on Silloth Promenade instead. It was a grey, dank day and we walked to the Skinburness Hotel which only added to the general feeling of melancholy. On summer evenings 18 months ago it was our favourite walk to this hotel where we would have a drink sitting outside before making our way home.
It is a very imposing place on a tight corner of a country lane and exudes character, mystery and prestige from a time gone by. It was bought by a couple who were changing their lifestyle and was featured in a TV programme called something like 'Changing Lives'. Unfortunately it all ended in tears and the old place is now boarded up and according to locals, wrecked inside. It comes up for auction in London later this month.
* If you know of any other BNP by-elections on Thursday please let me know.
