BNP three use 'troops out' name in three Welsh seats

The list of nominees showing the alternative name used by one candidate

Three British National Party (BNP) candidates in Wales will not be using the party's name on ballot papers at the general election, it has emerged.

Instead BNP candidates in Swansea East, Swansea West and Gower will appear as "Support Our Troops Bring Them Home".

The BNP said they had not intended just to use that name, but Swansea council said it was the party's decision.

The Electoral Commission said candidates can use a different name under the regulations.

It confirmed the move was legal, as the alternative name is a properly registered description for the BNP.

Voters will be able to tell that the three are official BNP candidates only from the party logo on the ballot paper.

'Misled' claim

A spokesperson for the commission said: "Our advice to voters is always to scrutinise the ballot paper very carefully."

A BNP spokesperson confirmed all three candidates are standing for the party, and not as a splinter group.

The spokesperson said a Swansea council official misled them when they filled in the candidate forms, which was why he said the three candidates were registered under the "Support Our Troops Bring Them Home" name.

He also said the forms used by the council were more complicated than those used by most other UK local authorities.

In response, the council said: "It was the BNP representative's decision to take [to put Support Our Troops Bring Them Home on the ballot paper] and he was in no way misled by Swansea council."

The council also said nomination papers filled out by the BNP were in a standard form produced for use across the UK.

"There is no material difference between the form used by the BNP and one produced by the Electoral Commission," it added.

'Deeply concerning'

Welsh Conservatives said: "Although these candidates are not breaking the law in appearing under this alternative name on the ballot paper, it is undoubtedly misleading for voters.

"It is deeply concerning and a cynical ploy by a party that thrives on hatred and division in our communities."

Plaid Cymru called it a "deceitful attempt by the BNP to hide the real message of their offensive manifesto.

"The communities of Swansea and Gower will be voting for hope, not hate and will see through this cynical stunt," said Plaid.

Liberal Democrats said they condemned "this disgraceful attempt at hoodwinking the people of Swansea and Gower by the racist BNP".

Lib Dems said candidates "should have the decency to admit who they are standing for" and were confident that voters would "see through this shameless con by a party of unreformed racist thugs."

A Welsh Labour spokesman said: "Any representative seeking to stand for public office has a duty to ensure they make it clear who they are standing for, those who do not are clearly misleading the voters.

"These tactics are an insult both to the brave young men and women who currently serve our armed forces and to our Welsh veterans."