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BNP's Assembly member to be shunned by all parties
Katharine Barney06.05.08
The Mayor has refused to speak to the newly elected London Assembly member for the British National Party.
Boris Johnson is drawing up a "coping strategy" to deal with Richard Barnbrook, which could include extra police in case of violent demonstrations.
The BNP member gained 130,714 votes in last week's "London-wide" ballot, winning one of 11 seats reserved for candidates who attract more than five per cent of the vote. But Mr Barnbrook is likely to be shunned by all four parties after winning the highest office achieved by a BNP candidate.
Len Duvall, leader of the eight-strong Labour group on the Assembly, said: "All the parties want to isolate and ignore him. If civil servants refuse to work with him I expect they will be supported in their decision. Even at the results count he was out on a limb. The fact that he got in is an insult to our parents and grandparents who fought and lived through the war."
Sources close to Mr Johnson said he would not talk directly to Mr Barnbrook. The source said: "[The Mayor] has responsibilities to the wider electorate. He needs to represent those who don't agree with his views as well as those who elected him."
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Reader views (26)
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130,714 people voted for him. This is Democracy in action - and now he is being ignored? What kind of democracy is that?
- Jon Belling, LONDON
They're scared of him, and after watching his acceptance speech I don't blame them for running away. This guy has passion, honesty and believes every single word he says. How many gravy train politicians could you say that about? None.
- Robert, Westminster
I could understand it if the BNP advocated suicide bombing or something (you know, like one of Ken's backers).. Even then, surely it would be unlawful to ignore him. This is going to backfire badly. Like it or not, a very large number of people in London voted for Richard Barnbrook to represent them, how dare the other parties ignore that?
- Jason, Pimlico
