A BNP General Election candidate has been on one of York’s parish councils for nearly 18 months, despite never having been elected.

Party member Cathy Smurthwaite was recruited on to Heworth Without Parish Council with many residents never knowing, and is now standing for the party in the General Election, in York Outer.

The Press understands the parish council did not know Ms Smurthwaite was a member of the right-wing BNP (British National Party), meaning many residents could have been oblivious to her political views until now.

The BNP, led by Nick Griffin, has been at the centre of controversy, due to its extremist views on immigration and repatriation. It won a Yorkshire seat in last year’s European Parliament elections, but has never won a council or Westminster seat in our region.

Malcolm Sunderland, the parish council’s clerk, said Ms Smurthwaite’s party allegiance did not matter, but mainstream politicians and Unite Against Fascism reacted with dismay.

Nigel Ayre, who represents Heworth Without on the city council, said: “It is important that anyone seeking to represent our local community is open and honest about their views. “Being a member of the BNP wouldn’t necessarily prevent someone from becoming a parish councillor, but I am sure that many people in the ward will be uneasy that they are being represented by someone associated with the BNP, especially given that this was a co-opted appointment to the parish council and local people did not have the chance to vote.”

He said parish councillors had to be able to represent everyone in their community and said that would be “very difficult” for someone whose views excluded many.

Ben Drake, of the York branch of Unite Against Fascism, said: “It is typical of the BNP to use sneaky tactics to try to advance their extremist agenda.

“I would imagine the voters of Heworth Without will take a dim view of being misled.”

Ms Smurthwaite was co-opted on to the council in November 2008, when a position became vacant and there was not enough interest to spark a by-election.

Mr Sunderland said there was no need for applicants to declare party loyalties, and said locals should not be concerned by the councillor’s allegiance.

He said: “We are a non-political organisation. I must stress that.”


Election issues

In her General Election campaign literature, Ms Smurth-waite says she “enjoys being an active parish councillor”.

She said she wanted to stand for the BNP because she felt other parties had failed to do enough about the decline of York’s heavy industry.

She also calls for more to be done to protect local amenities, such as buses.

Her literature does not touch on the BNP’s national policies, which include an immediate ban on all immigration and refusing aid to developing countries unless their nationals in Britain are repatriated.

The Press tried repeatedly to contact Ms Smurthwaite, but was unable to contact her by phone or in person.