Pastor calls for BNP 'anti-vote'
Wednesday, 27 May 2009 12:00 AM
By politics.co.uk staff
A black London pastor has sought to distance the Church from the British National Party (BNP) as he prepares to challenge them for votes on June 4.
Rev George Hargreaves, leader of the Christian Party and top of their list in London, said he wants their election to be a "virtually one-issue campaign" to distance the Church in every way from the BNP.
"On June 4, every Christian in the UK who is against racism should vote for the Christian Party-CPA and in so doing, will give a specific anti-vote to the BNP," he said.
"Following the 'expenses' fiasco, there is a very real danger that unless Christians and others active in the community turn out in great numbers, the BNP could get elected simply because of apathy. The Church must not let this happen."
On Sunday leading Anglican figures, including the Archbishops of Canterbury and York Dr Rowan Williams and Dr John Sentamu, said it would be "tragic" if voters stayed away from the ballot box or registered a protest vote for radical fringe parties because of the expenses scandal.
BNP leader Nick Griffin responded saying he thought it was "bizarre" the Church wanted to be nasty to the BNP.
He told the BBC: "We think that our vote and our support is now sufficient that it's time the Church of England grew up and decided to sit down and talk with us about the issues that we're getting across to our supporters."
The BNP has been claiming support from churches in recent years according to Rev Hargreaves who said they were "trying to hide under the cloak of the Church".
"Now is the time for the Church to practically show that the racist attitudes of the BNP have no place in the Church," he said.
"We are making this election virtually a one-issue campaign: to distance the Church and all right minded people from the tactics, beliefs and attitudes of a party which seeks to further disintegrate Britain and damage community relations.
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