2008 Trade union anti-fascist election campaign successful

The British National Party are weak in Wolverhampton and getting weaker. This was only the third time they have put up candidates. Just Wednesfield North two yeras ago, then six wards in Wolverhampton North East last year and just two in 2008: Wednesfield North & Bushbury North. There are no council elections here in 2009.

Bushbury North Ward 2008 Result -Conservative gain, fascist votes dropped by 28% on 2007

Carl Husted Conservative Party 1723 maj.699
Paula Brookfield Labour Party 1024
Simon Geoffrey Patten British National Party 580 (16.1%)
Susan Bem Liberal Democrat 269
Ballot papers issued 3601 Electorate 9151
poll 39.17 % 2nd highest in constituency to Wednesfield N – Bushbury S was a 22% turnout
Searchlight national leaflets were initially delivered and then our own postcards were delivered to complete the ward and re-leaflet ward

2007 Result – Conservative hold
Leslie Pugh Conservative Party 1312 Majority 368
Mike Hardacre Labour Party 944
Simon Geoffrey Patten British National Party 790 (22.4%)
James Lindly Liberal Democrat 466
Ballot papers issued 3522 Electorate 9105 poll 39%
Searchlight national leaflets were delivered covering the entire ward

2006 result:
Neville Anthony Patten Conservative Party 1571
Paul Allen Labour Party 1154
James Lindly Liberal Democrat 569
Ballot papers issued 3338 37% turnout
Fascists did not stand

Wednesfield North Ward 2008-Result Conservative gain – fascist support has consistently dropped, 33% down on 2007 and 40% down on 2006
Hazel Keirle Conservative Party 1699 maj.403
Phill Bateman Labour Party 1296
Dennis Anthony Organ British National Party 578 (15.3%)
Colin Ross Liberal Democrat 186
Ballot papers issued 3785 Electorate 9005
poll 42.03 % highest in constituency by some way- Wednesfield S was a 36% turnout
Searchlight were initially delivered and then our own postcards were delivered to complete the ward then re-leafleted ward

2007 Result
Charlotte Emily Quarmby Conservative 1327 Majority 187 (gain)
Dave Jones Labour Party 1140
Arthur Charles Newman British National Party 844 (22.7%)
Irene Dodd Independent 513
Ballot papers issued 3730 Electorate 9032 poll 42%
Searchlight national leaflets were delivered covering the entire ward

2006 result:
David Bourne Conservative Party 1225
Gwen Stafford Good Labour Party 1157
Dennis Anthony Organ British National Party 1016 (25.6%)
Arthur Charles Newman Independent 563
Ballot papers issued 3973
44% turnout. 3rd highest numbers (and % turnout) voting in any ward, significantly higher than any other ward in the constituency. 1st time BNP stood in Wolves council election, no other fascists stood in Wolves
locally produced leaflets were delivered covering the entire ward

Wolverhampton, Bilston & District Trades Union council has run campaigns against the fascists each time and is again this month. We will again leaflet the wards to encourage voters to turn out and vote for any of the other parties. The policies that the BNP put forward are not compatable with a decent democratic society.

We are pursuing HOPE, NOT HATE in our campaign. The BNP is not a normal political party. It is a racist and fascist organisation that peddles fear, loathing and division. It preys on people`s insecurities, offering cheap solutions to complex questions. More importantly, it stands against basic British traditions of fairness, tolerance, democracy and equality.