A FORMER British National Party activist was invited to stand as a Conservative councillor in an ‘alarming blunder’.
But the Conservatives are now taking steps to expel Nick Holt from the party as officials launch an investigation into how he came to be on a shortlist for Darwen Town Council.
Mr Holt, who said he would never renounce the BNP’s principles, said he laughed out of surprise when he was asked.
He stood for the BNP at the last general election, ran the party’s Blackburn office until 2006 and last year stood for another far-right party, England First.
Despite his past, Mr Holt said he had been contacted two months ago by a “long-standing member” who invited him to join the Tory party with a view to standing for the council.
But it is understood Conservative HQ this week stepped in and suspended Mr Holt from the party.
The Darwen and Rossendale Conservative Association has started an investigation in a bid to discover how Mr Holt reached the shortlist for the town council, which is being created after elections in June.
East Lancashire’s sole Conservative MP Nigel Evans said he was “alarmed” that Mr Holt, who polled 2,263 to finish fourth in 2005’s general election, had even been considered as a Tory candidate.
The Ribble Valley MP said officials needed to look at party procedures to ‘close any loopholes’.
He said: “The fact that he’s not renounced the BNP principles says it all.
“That someone was able to get so far in a nomination process who holds distasteful beliefs is alarming.
“He clearly didn’t get enough votes as a BNP candidate so tried to seek refuge in our party.”
A spokesman for Conservative Party central office said: "As soon as Mr Holt's history with the BNP was discovered by the party action was taken to immediately suspend him from the party with the intention of expelling him.”
Mr Holt told of his shock at being approached.
He said: “I had no real interest in the town council but they sort of sold it to me.
“I thought I was standing up until Tuesday.
“I was a little bit surprised they asked me. I never volunteered it.
“I still subscribe to the BNP’s principles, but I was taking a break from it. When the Conservatives approached me it seemed like the right thing to do. But I have never renounced the BNP and I never would.
“They were happy to have me. I laughed at first but they persuaded me.”
The Darwen branch of the local Conservative Party, which is organising the town council campaign, said all local party members had been invited to stand, but a final shortlist had not yet been produced.
Peter Steen, the chairman of Rossendale and Darwen Conservatives, said: “At this moment his membership has been suspended.
“I have called an executive meeting for the next seven days to discuss this. Investigation are ongoing and until they are complete I cannot comment.”
Labour group leader Kate Hollern said: “This is unbelievable. They must have known about his background. They must be so desperate to get in that they’ll stand anyone.”
Fernhurst councillor John Slater, of Darwen Conservatives, said Mr Holt had told them he agreed with the Tories’ stance on the issue of English MPs voting on issues only affecting England.
He said he had not invited Mr Holt to join the party, but was not aware whether another local member had done so.
Coun Slater said: “He is a member of the Conservative Party, but there’s an incubation period for new members and he recently stood for another party.
“I have not given him any impression that he would be selected whatsoever.”
This is Lancashire
But the Conservatives are now taking steps to expel Nick Holt from the party as officials launch an investigation into how he came to be on a shortlist for Darwen Town Council.
Mr Holt, who said he would never renounce the BNP’s principles, said he laughed out of surprise when he was asked.
He stood for the BNP at the last general election, ran the party’s Blackburn office until 2006 and last year stood for another far-right party, England First.
Despite his past, Mr Holt said he had been contacted two months ago by a “long-standing member” who invited him to join the Tory party with a view to standing for the council.
But it is understood Conservative HQ this week stepped in and suspended Mr Holt from the party.
The Darwen and Rossendale Conservative Association has started an investigation in a bid to discover how Mr Holt reached the shortlist for the town council, which is being created after elections in June.
East Lancashire’s sole Conservative MP Nigel Evans said he was “alarmed” that Mr Holt, who polled 2,263 to finish fourth in 2005’s general election, had even been considered as a Tory candidate.
The Ribble Valley MP said officials needed to look at party procedures to ‘close any loopholes’.
He said: “The fact that he’s not renounced the BNP principles says it all.
“That someone was able to get so far in a nomination process who holds distasteful beliefs is alarming.
“He clearly didn’t get enough votes as a BNP candidate so tried to seek refuge in our party.”
A spokesman for Conservative Party central office said: "As soon as Mr Holt's history with the BNP was discovered by the party action was taken to immediately suspend him from the party with the intention of expelling him.”
Mr Holt told of his shock at being approached.
He said: “I had no real interest in the town council but they sort of sold it to me.
“I thought I was standing up until Tuesday.
“I was a little bit surprised they asked me. I never volunteered it.
“I still subscribe to the BNP’s principles, but I was taking a break from it. When the Conservatives approached me it seemed like the right thing to do. But I have never renounced the BNP and I never would.
“They were happy to have me. I laughed at first but they persuaded me.”
The Darwen branch of the local Conservative Party, which is organising the town council campaign, said all local party members had been invited to stand, but a final shortlist had not yet been produced.
Peter Steen, the chairman of Rossendale and Darwen Conservatives, said: “At this moment his membership has been suspended.
“I have called an executive meeting for the next seven days to discuss this. Investigation are ongoing and until they are complete I cannot comment.”
Labour group leader Kate Hollern said: “This is unbelievable. They must have known about his background. They must be so desperate to get in that they’ll stand anyone.”
Fernhurst councillor John Slater, of Darwen Conservatives, said Mr Holt had told them he agreed with the Tories’ stance on the issue of English MPs voting on issues only affecting England.
He said he had not invited Mr Holt to join the party, but was not aware whether another local member had done so.
Coun Slater said: “He is a member of the Conservative Party, but there’s an incubation period for new members and he recently stood for another party.
“I have not given him any impression that he would be selected whatsoever.”
This is Lancashire
3 comments:
This is the same Nick Holt who accused British pensioners of being parasites for simply drawing on the state pension they had paid for during their working life. Here's a letter to the Lancaster Evening Telegraph rebuffing Nick Holt's stupid anti-pensioner rubbish:
http://archive.lancashireeveningtelegraph.co.uk/2000/2/16/740816.html
We paid for a free societyWednesday 16th Feb 2000.
IN reply to Nick Holt (Letters, February 8) who attacks pensioners for "living off the backs" of taxpayers, yes, we DID pay into a pension scheme for over 50 years - it was a government pension scheme.
But instead of keeping the money in a separate account and investing it as any company would do, they spent it as fast as they got it. Now, they say they can't pay the pensioners a pension befitting the cost of living.
Having contributed for more than 50 years, I do not consider my pension to be a handout.
Who, Mr Holt, do you think was paying the taxes when you received your education? Who paid the taxes that formed the welfare state and kept it going? Who pulled the country through the years of war so that people like you can live in a free society and have the luxury of writing ridiculous letters?
I suggest, Mr Holt, that, before you put pen to paper in future, you do some homework first.
JOHN MATTHEWS, Yew Tree Drive, Lammack, Blackburn.
Here's another letter repudiating Nick Holt's anti-pensioner lies (and this is a person who proudly admits to still subscribing to 'BNP values'):
http://archive.burytimes.co.uk/2000/2/28/739229.html
If you want it, work for itFrom the Lancashire Evening Telegraph, first published Monday 28th Feb 2000.
IN reply to Nick Holt (Letters, February 8) who attacked pensioners for living off the backs of tax payers, my mother and father worked right up to retirement age and paid tax and National Insurance.
In fact, my mother went back to work cleaning after she retired and worked until she was nearly 70, plus she served in the ATS during the war.
My father was in the Army during the war and spent the war abroad fighting for his country.
When I was young mum had to pay someone to look after me and my sister so she could go to work to keep us. They didn't get much family allowance.
My father worked all his working life. Then, when they did retire, they had to pay full rent and full poll tax because they had a pension.
My mother died suddenly when she was 72, so she got back nothing like what she'd paid over the years in insurance stamps. Most pensioners have worked hard all their lives and most of the men went to war to fight for their country.
I'd like to know what Mr Holt's parents and grandparents think of his ridiculous views.
By the way, I've always worked and learned from my mum and dad that if you want something you must work for it - that's what they did and what most pensioners did.
So don't begrudge them what little they do get. They have earned it.
M McDONALD (Mrs), Mosley Street, Blackburn.
Yet another letter attacking Nick Holt's backward views on pensioners:
Pensioners not parasiteshttp://archive.burnleycitizen.co.uk/2000/3/17/737482.html
Friday 17th Mar 2000.
FOLLOWING his earlier scathing view that pensioners weren't owed a living and were living on the backs of taxpayers like himself, Nick Holt claimed (Letters, March 9) that the subsequent letters of criticism were unjustified.
But he still appears to object to any additional benefits that pensioners receive and believes that the State wasn't designed to give them everything they desire. Which pensioners think that?
His statement that the jobless don't complain en masse about their benefits is hardly relevant, as Mr Holt was writing about pensioners.
I hope the provisions he makes for his old age are sufficient and that he lives to a ripe old age. Perhaps then he will realise how vulnerable and frail old people are and that they need all the help they can get, without being treated as parasites on society.
KATHLEEN BULCOCK (Mrs), Wilkie Avenue, Burnley.
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