Zimbabwe style intimidation in Burnley elections
Jack | 16.04.2002 15:02
Mugabe Politics Comes to Burnley
Last night Labour Party campaigners, pretending to be journalists, conned their way into the house of BNP candidate for Rosehill and Burnley Wood, Jim Cowell, before revealing their true identity and demanding that he stand down. There was a noisy altercation and the Police were called. Naturally, Mr Cowell's family were upset by the incident, but Jim told Burnley Bravepages,
"This is what we expect from the Labour Party in Burnley. They have been conning voters in this town for the last ten years."
The Returning Officer admitted yesterday that it would be difficult to stop intimidation at the Polling Stations on Thursday 2nd May. A special team of four troubleshooters has been set up to monitor over 50 voting points in Burnley and Padiham, but even with an "Intimidation Hotline" it appears that opponents of the BNP, seeking to deter voters, will have a relatively free hand.
Home Secretary David Blunkett has called on all parties contesting the election in Burnley to join together in opposing the BNP. Apparently any differences in agenda between the Tories and the Labour Party, and the Liberal Democrats and the Social Alliance are negligible when all are compared to the policies offered by the British National Party.
Last night Labour Party campaigners, pretending to be journalists, conned their way into the house of BNP candidate for Rosehill and Burnley Wood, Jim Cowell, before revealing their true identity and demanding that he stand down. There was a noisy altercation and the Police were called. Naturally, Mr Cowell's family were upset by the incident, but Jim told Burnley Bravepages,
"This is what we expect from the Labour Party in Burnley. They have been conning voters in this town for the last ten years."
The Returning Officer admitted yesterday that it would be difficult to stop intimidation at the Polling Stations on Thursday 2nd May. A special team of four troubleshooters has been set up to monitor over 50 voting points in Burnley and Padiham, but even with an "Intimidation Hotline" it appears that opponents of the BNP, seeking to deter voters, will have a relatively free hand.
Home Secretary David Blunkett has called on all parties contesting the election in Burnley to join together in opposing the BNP. Apparently any differences in agenda between the Tories and the Labour Party, and the Liberal Democrats and the Social Alliance are negligible when all are compared to the policies offered by the British National Party.
Jack
