Surgeon's BNP bid
Vince Gledhill | 24.01.2004 23:40
Cosmetic surgeon Alan Patterson wants to represent the North East in Europe as a member of the far right British National Party.
Surgeon's BNP bid
By Vince Gledhill, The Evening Chronicle
Cosmetic surgeon Alan Patterson wants to represent the North East in Europe as a member of the far right British National Party.
Dr Patterson, who runs cosmetic clinics in Newcastle, Leeds and Consett, stood against Tory MP Peter Atkinson at Hexham in the 2001 General Election for the UK Independence Party.
But today he said he has switched to the BNP because the UK Independence Party is too focused on Europe.
He said: "I do agree with their views on Europe, but when I went out on the doorstep it was domestic issues that the ordinary people were concerned about."
Dr Patterson, 49, who lives with his wife and three children in Ponteland, said the issues he will campaign on will include a return of capital punishment for murder, a clampdown on immigration and a cut in benefits spending.
Dr Patterson said he quit his job in the NHS because he was fed up with treating foreign patients.
He said other doctors in the NHS think as he does but are afraid to speak out.
Dr Patterson, who was a member of the Ulster Unionists when he lived in his native Northern Ireland, said he fears Christianity in Britain will be diluted and overwhelmed by incoming religins.
He said: "I lived in the mixed culture of Northern Ireland and attended victims of bomb blasts. I do not want that over here. I believe that we should only accept a small number of persecuted people into this country.
"Any that come into this country should accept this country's culture and traditions and I would want them to drop their false religions."
The BNP fielded nine candidates in the 2002 local elections and 54 in last year's local elections. In the 1999 Euro elections the party took 3,505 votes and came seventh.
The organisation Unite Against the BNP, spearheaded by trade unions is working to stop the BNP gaining its first council seat in the North East.
Clare Williams, Unison spokesman, said: "The BNP is a party trying to convince people they are the voice of the working classes, but they are very dangerous.
"The region must unite against them. All they do is promote hatred and division."
By Vince Gledhill, The Evening Chronicle
Cosmetic surgeon Alan Patterson wants to represent the North East in Europe as a member of the far right British National Party.
Dr Patterson, who runs cosmetic clinics in Newcastle, Leeds and Consett, stood against Tory MP Peter Atkinson at Hexham in the 2001 General Election for the UK Independence Party.
But today he said he has switched to the BNP because the UK Independence Party is too focused on Europe.
He said: "I do agree with their views on Europe, but when I went out on the doorstep it was domestic issues that the ordinary people were concerned about."
Dr Patterson, 49, who lives with his wife and three children in Ponteland, said the issues he will campaign on will include a return of capital punishment for murder, a clampdown on immigration and a cut in benefits spending.
Dr Patterson said he quit his job in the NHS because he was fed up with treating foreign patients.
He said other doctors in the NHS think as he does but are afraid to speak out.
Dr Patterson, who was a member of the Ulster Unionists when he lived in his native Northern Ireland, said he fears Christianity in Britain will be diluted and overwhelmed by incoming religins.
He said: "I lived in the mixed culture of Northern Ireland and attended victims of bomb blasts. I do not want that over here. I believe that we should only accept a small number of persecuted people into this country.
"Any that come into this country should accept this country's culture and traditions and I would want them to drop their false religions."
The BNP fielded nine candidates in the 2002 local elections and 54 in last year's local elections. In the 1999 Euro elections the party took 3,505 votes and came seventh.
The organisation Unite Against the BNP, spearheaded by trade unions is working to stop the BNP gaining its first council seat in the North East.
Clare Williams, Unison spokesman, said: "The BNP is a party trying to convince people they are the voice of the working classes, but they are very dangerous.
"The region must unite against them. All they do is promote hatred and division."
Vince Gledhill
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