TWO candidates from the British National Party (BNP) are to battle for seats on East Hampshire District Council in May's election. BNP leaders say the party has tripled its membership in the district over the past year, and that its popularity is climbing everyday in Petersfield, Bordon and Liphook. And Roger Robertson, the party's south-east England organiser, said he was hopeful of success in this year's council elections. He said: "We have had such a swell in popularity, especially in Bordon where we have done a lot of leafleting. "At the moment our organisation is struggling to cope with all the new membership applications," he added. It is the first time candidates from the BNP have stood in East Hampshire. Mr Robertson said the party had observed voting behaviour in the district and, as a result, had targeted wards in Petersfield and Bordon. Early indications, he said, suggested they would run for Petersfield Rother – currently represented by town mayor Bob Ayer – and Whitehill Walldown, represented by Adam Carew. "There are a number of factors for choosing where the candidates will stand, but it is not being driven by us, it is being driven by our members," he said. "At the moment we cannot name our candidates. People are often full of enthusiasm about standing, but are reluctant to put their heads above the parapet straight away." The party has hit the headlines for its outspoken views on immigration and national identity. But Mr Robertson defended the BNP's political stance and blamed the media for giving the party a reputation of far right-wing extremism. He added: "The vast majority of us are Christian people. We are the Tory party of 50 years ago in so far as we stand up for the patriotic concerns of the individual." Bob Ayer and Adam Carew were both unavailable for comment when The Herald went to press.
