abstracts out of this week Socialist Worker pg 2

"I could never understand why all those people were calling the BNP fascists. Well I do now," says Maureen Stowe.

Maureen, aged 65, has a message in the run-up to nationwide elections in June "Don't vote for them. They are not what thet seem". And Maureen should know. She was elected as one of the 8 BNP councillors in Burnley, last May.

"The following day I went as part of the council road show to Danehouse ward. The audience there was largely Asian. They were understandably puzzled wht BNP councillor would turn up."

"When the council leader announced I was a former BNP councillor who would now be sitting as an independent the cheers went up."

"What frightening is that I got elected last May without campainging and on a BNP ticket when I had no idea what they really stand for."

It's is clear that much of the support she got last year came from people who knew her locally. She works in a charity shop and has lived in the area all her life.

She know intends to speak out depite the threats and intimidation.

read more on line