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Former BNP member disowned by Ukip Former BNP member disowned by Ukip
(5 months later)
Ukip has been forced to withdraw support for a council candidate who joined the anti-EU party three weeks ago after it emerged she was once a member of the BNP.Ukip has been forced to withdraw support for a council candidate who joined the anti-EU party three weeks ago after it emerged she was once a member of the BNP.
Sue Bowen, a retired sheep farmer from Boscastle in north Cornwall, had been selected to stand in the Tintagel ward on 2 May.Sue Bowen, a retired sheep farmer from Boscastle in north Cornwall, had been selected to stand in the Tintagel ward on 2 May.
But Bowen was once a BNP activist and had spoken at a far right meeting in 2010, which is captured on footage on YouTube.But Bowen was once a BNP activist and had spoken at a far right meeting in 2010, which is captured on footage on YouTube.
The withdrawal will embarrass Nigel Farage as he seeks to shake off the party's image, reinforced by David Cameron, that some of his members are closet racists.The withdrawal will embarrass Nigel Farage as he seeks to shake off the party's image, reinforced by David Cameron, that some of his members are closet racists.
The party's Cornwall chairman, Tom Hobbs, said that he had been placed under pressure by central office to put forward as many candidates as possible as the party seeks to capitalise upon its 15% showing in national polls.The party's Cornwall chairman, Tom Hobbs, said that he had been placed under pressure by central office to put forward as many candidates as possible as the party seeks to capitalise upon its 15% showing in national polls.
"The truth is that the party did want us to field as many candidates as we could. It is not easy to get candidates to stand. When you are looking to fill 20 seats in my division, there's a lot to do," he said."The truth is that the party did want us to field as many candidates as we could. It is not easy to get candidates to stand. When you are looking to fill 20 seats in my division, there's a lot to do," he said.
Bowen approached the party, he said, at the end of March and a few days later became a member. He had never met her when she was confirmed as a candidate two weeks ago, he added.Bowen approached the party, he said, at the end of March and a few days later became a member. He had never met her when she was confirmed as a candidate two weeks ago, he added.
Hobbs said that when Bowen joined his party, describing herself as a "disillusioned Tory", she was asked to sign a document stating she had never belonged to the British National party or any other organisation that might adversely affect Ukip's reputation.Hobbs said that when Bowen joined his party, describing herself as a "disillusioned Tory", she was asked to sign a document stating she had never belonged to the British National party or any other organisation that might adversely affect Ukip's reputation.
"As soon as I was made aware that she had been a member of the BNP I asked her and she said she had been," said Hobbs. "I told her that her membership of Ukip would be terminated.""As soon as I was made aware that she had been a member of the BNP I asked her and she said she had been," said Hobbs. "I told her that her membership of Ukip would be terminated."
Bowen did not respond to a request from the Guardian for a comment. But she told a local reporter she had joined the BNP for six months three years ago.Bowen did not respond to a request from the Guardian for a comment. But she told a local reporter she had joined the BNP for six months three years ago.
"I joined for the same reasons I joined Ukip – because I felt they would do something for the country."I joined for the same reasons I joined Ukip – because I felt they would do something for the country.
"I am no Nazi and I was duped into joining the BNP. I didn't like my country being given away to foreigners," she told the Western Morning News on Tuesday."I am no Nazi and I was duped into joining the BNP. I didn't like my country being given away to foreigners," she told the Western Morning News on Tuesday.
She said that while she was unhappy at being dropped by Ukip, she accepted the party's decision.She said that while she was unhappy at being dropped by Ukip, she accepted the party's decision.
"I was just printing off my election leaflets when they told me. I can't withdraw from the election now my name is on the ballot, but I will not be canvassing," she told the newspaper."I was just printing off my election leaflets when they told me. I can't withdraw from the election now my name is on the ballot, but I will not be canvassing," she told the newspaper.
In a statement, Ukip said that the party's rules do not permit former members of the BNP to join the party or stand as candidates.In a statement, Ukip said that the party's rules do not permit former members of the BNP to join the party or stand as candidates.
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