FEARS have been raised that the British National Party may target York in the run-up to next year's local elections.

York Unite Against Fascism has discussed the possibility the extreme right party may become active in the city, with the hope of putting up candidates.

Ben Drake, chairman of York Unite Against Fascism, said: "It is almost certain they will run candidates in York for the first time next year.

"There may be one or two local people who are sympathetic to their cause, so they might have someone local stand or, if not, they'll airlift someone in."

During the European Union elections, many BNP voters were from the York area, it is claimed, as the party targeted people disillusioned with the Government, or worried about local issues.

The far-right group was criticised for distributing leaflets in Clifton following plans to move the Arc Light homeless centre there, and for targeting Haxby and Bishopthorpe, just as the new Archbishop Dr John Sentamu was enthroned.

Mr Drake added: "The BNP are looking at extending into North Yorkshire, following their electoral successes in West and South Yorkshire.

"They put a candidate for the first time in Harrogate last week, who didn't come last.

"I wouldn't be surprised if they ran at least one candidate in the York local elections next year.

"York is not as vulnerable as other areas, but they would love to get into York, and I would have thought they will go for at least one seat."

Speaking at the annual meetingof York Unite Against Fascism, at the Priory Street Centre in the city, he said if the BNP targeted an area, members would counteract this by sending out their own leaflets.

The group, which has nearly 100 members, also holds stalls and supports demonstrations in other cities, such as the protests in Leeds to counteract a gathering of BNP supporters during the trial of the party's leader Nick Griffin on race-hate charges.

"In the build-up to next year's elections we should be more prepared," said Mr Drake.

"We should have regular meetings and take specific action."

Dr Phil Edwards, BNP press officer, said: "I have spoken at two BNP meetings in York over the last couple of years and there is fantastic support already.

"Of course, we will we put up a candidate. We want to put up candidates everywhere.

"But we are not fascists - multiculturalism is compulsory, and if you don't believe in it, you're called a racist - but our beliefs are not compulsory, so we are the real democrats."

Some councils unfair, claims Dr John

THE ARCHBISHOP of York, Dr John Sentamu, has criticised the policies of some local authorities which he said failed to support "the indigenous population".

The Ugandan-born churchman said: "Some local politics has not been very good at actually supporting the indigenous population. That must be acknowledged.

"If you go in some areas where I have worked, it looks sometimes that migrants have appeared to be getting the things the indigenous population is not getting."

He referred to areas of South and East London, where he worked in the 1980s and 1990s as a priest and a junior bishop.

Speaking to Radio Four's Today programme, Dr Sentamu said: "In Tulse Hill it was quite obvious that the housing policy by Lambeth Council was not actually fair to the indigenous population. This was also true in Tower Hamlets."

Updated: 09:47 Saturday, May 13, 2006