Protests as BNP reveals plan to run in Granton by-election

A PROTEST is set to be launched in north Edinburgh after the British National Party announced it will stand in next month's council by-election.

Union leaders and politicians from all major parties were united in anger today after the news was revealed.

It will be the first time the far-right BNP has stood for election to the city council.

Scottish anti-fascist groups recently campaigned against the BNP candidate in the Baillieston council by-election in Glasgow and there were protests outside some polling stations on election day. The party came sixth, beating the Greens.

John Stevenson, Unison branch president at the city council, today said he would speak to colleagues about how to tackle the BNP in the Capital and said a similar campaign was likely to take place.

"It is a very sad day when the politics of hatred are brought into Edinburgh," he said.

"There are so many important issues we're facing and we need sensible politics, not the diversion that this will bring. The issues we're facing are financial and organisational, and are not the fault of any racial group.

"We have lots of experience campaigning (against the BNP] in north England, and having heard this, I will now raise it with colleagues."

In last year's Holyrood regional list for the Lothians, the BNP came ninth out of 23 parties, with 2637 votes, or 0.92 per cent, beating the Scottish Socialist Party in the process. But a BNP candidate has never appeared on city council ballot papers, despite a threat to stand at the 2003 elections.

In 2004, the party raised its profile in the Lothians by launching a local branch at a secret location in Bathgate. The same year, supporters also publicly campaigned against a ban on flying the Union flag inside Tynecastle.

Ahead of the Forth ward by-election on November 6, BNP Scottish secretary Gary Raikes said today: "We will be standing a candidate in this election. At this time we are going through the selection process."

The party has an estimated 58 elected councillors in local government in England, but none in Scotland.

Lib Dem council leader Jenny Dawe said: "This is something we've always avoided in Edinburgh. Officially, they are a political party, but we would hope that what they stand for doesn't find any favour – and I wouldn't expect it to."

Labour group leader Andrew Burns added: "I'm very saddened to hear they're standing in Edinburgh – it is the first time it has happened in recent memory.

"I completely and absolutely abhor their ideology and I hope everyone will ignore them."

SNP group leader Steve Cardownie said: "This is the price we pay for living in a democracy, but I'm sure the BNP will get the number of votes it deserves."

Tory Forth ward councillor Allan Jackson added: "Personally, I don't see any place for that kind of politics in Edinburgh. It's their democratic right to stand, but I'm surprised because I doubt there will be very much support."