South Wales Evening Post - 1 March 2007
The leader of the far-right British National Party has launched a bid to represent Swansea in the Welsh Assembly.
The BNP has confirmed that its controversial leader Nick Griffin is to stand as a candidate for South Wales West in May's Assembly elections.
The constituency includes Swansea, Gower, Neath and Aberavon. Mr Griffin is one of 20 BNP candidates across Wales to contest seats in the forthcoming election.
Mr Griffin is the BNP's second candidate for South Wales West, meaning he would only represent the constituency if the party's first nomination were elected, but was then unable to take the seat. The strategy means he is unlikely to represent the city even if the BNP are elected for South Wales West.
But it will see the party's highest-profile member campaigning on Swansea's streets in the build-up to the elections.
Mr Griffin, who lives in Welshpool, told the Post: "I get on very well with Swansea people, and they were looking for people to stand.
"I live in Wales so I am local, but not as specifically local as others, which is why I am the second name. But I will be in the area campaigning.
"We simply can't tell how well we will do, but we are hopeful of one or two seats."
Mr Griffin last stood for election in Keighley, West Yorkshire, during the General Election of 2005, where he polled 4,240 votes, just over nine per cent of the votes cast. More recently, he appeared at Leeds Crown Court where he was cleared of charges of incitement to racial hatred, following a BBC documentary in which he was recorded as declaring Islam was a wicked and vicious faith.
His candidature has led anti-fascist campaigner and Plaid candidate Ian Titherington to call on mainstream political parties to unite in a challenge to the BNP.
Mr Titherington said: "The BNP and their leader have no hope of being elected in May. Their strategy is to raise their profile before the Welsh council elections in 2008. Yet between now and May 3, I dread to think how much intimidation they will create within the minority communities of Wales.
"Whatever differences I have with the other legitimate parties standing this May, I will gladly work with them to expose the racist agenda of this vile organisation."
His stance has been dismissed by Mr Griffin however. "It does not surprise us," he said.
"One key reason people should send the BNP to Cardiff is because other parties are the same on core issues."
The BNP's first-name candidate for South Wales West is Clive Bennett.
