At the annual meeting of Stoke-on-Trent city council two candidates were put forward for the city’s seat on the Staffordshire Police Authority, Clive Brian (Conservative) and Michael Coleman (BNP), Councillor Brian won by 37 votes to twenty.

Deep concern was expressed by local anti-fascist group NORSCARF when it was revealed that 12 non BNP councillors had supported Michael Coleman, described by NORSCARF as ‘an old style Nazi and holocaust denier’, in the past he is alleged to have boasted to the Sentinel of being proud to be a racist.

B. Beeston (City Independent Group}
M. Bell (City Independent Group)
J. Bridges (Conservative)
J. Davis (City Independent Group)
T. Follows (City Independent Group)
D. Hall (City Independent Group)
A. James (City Independent Group)
P. Kent-Baguley (Potteries Alliance)
I. Mitchell (City Independent Group)
R. Naylor (City Independent Group)
A. Rigby (Conservative)
B. Ward (City Independent Group)

Commenting on this show of support for the far right by a majority of the Independent Group a NORSCARF source said of Coleman ‘He is not fit to serve on the Police Authority, and it is a disgrace that so many councillors, particularly so-called Independents voted for him.’

In a further unwelcome development Councillor Coleman was also elected Chair of the Children and Young People’s Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

While the law as it stands gives even the loathsome representatives of the BNP the right to claim key positions on the council the fact that they have managed to do so should be seen as a dramatic wake up call to Labour councillors and activists in the city.

Righteous indignation alone will never clear the council chamber of the menace posed by the far right and the ‘useful idiots’ such as the members of the Independent Group who supported the odious Mr Coleman, the job can be done in only one way; by defeating the BNP at the ballot box in two years time.