What Liberal Democrats say and what they mean, part 2: The BNP

"We are going to be, as Liberal Democrats, the party that people should vote for to keep the BNP out"

Lib Dem Cllr Martin Smith, Burnley, here

"IN reply to Coun. Mark Townsend's letter regarding Liberal Democrat councillors voting for the British National Party candidate.The Lib Dems are, by their very name, liberal-minded and democratic. We vote how we think the needs of the people are best-served. At the full council meeting on December 13th, a position came up for renewal. This was on the board of Padiham Life, which comes under the Small Towns Initiative and backed by the North West Regional Development Association to the tune of £1m.When it came to the vote, there was a choice of only two candidates – Sharon Wilkinson, BNP, who represents Hapton and Park ward, and Linda Gauton, Labour. Coun. Wilkinson is quite passionate about her ward members and was indeed shown in the Express recently supporting old people who had received threatening notices from the town council for not recycling properly. As the spokesman for her party she speaks up regularly for what she feels is right. To my mind, she is actively doing her job for the people who voted for her."

Lib Dem Cllr John Jones, Burnley, here

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