Croydon BNP election candidate investigated over immigrants rant
EXCLUSIVE
By Aline Nassif
-
UNDER INVESTIGATION: Clifford Le May walking his dog this week
aline.nassif@essnmedia.co.uk
The political career of Croydon Central's BNP candidate is in jeopardy as he is being investigated by his own party after ranting about "violent immigrants" in New Addington.
Clifford Le May is in trouble for his response to a Tory questionnaire encouraging residents to raise any concerns with London mayor Boris Johnson.
His reply was to write: "Stop ruining our community by stuffing New Addington with violent immigrants who have no right to live among decent civilised white people."
In the questionnaire he also refers to his Tory rival for the Croydon Central seat, Gavin Barwell, as a "traitor to his race and nation".
Despite admitting the words were written in "anger", Mr Le May has refused to retract anything and is now hoping he will not be deselected as a result.
"I'm not a racist – I'm a British patriot," he insisted.
"I hope what I wrote won't affect my candidacy."
Mr Le May, a 50-year-old postal worker and dad-of-three, explained the basis for his strong views.
He claims his 15-year-old daughter, Eve, was "pepper sprayed and attacked" by a West Indian immigrant in 2007 and that his mum Marie was punched in the face by two black men at Bayswater station 20 years ago.
He also says his gran was mugged by a gang of young black men who left her with a broken hip. She died during surgery to have it replaced.
Speaking at his home in Redstart Close, he claimed: "There's a problem in this country with aggression coming from young black men.
"I can recount hundreds of incidents – 99 per cent of all violent crime will be at the hands of black youths.
"Everywhere I go I see violent young black men and women.
"I read the New Scientist and they say there's evidence that people in gangs are predisposed to violence.
"They didn't bring race into the equation, but you can read between the lines."
Referring back to his comments on the survey, he denied trying to be inflammatory.
"I was so annoyed and angry to get this survey from a failed party who are not interested in what I've got to say," he said.
"The Tories and Labour have ruined our economy and our prospects.
"My two eldest daughters Natalie (a 20-year-old nightclub waitress) and Jodie (an 18-year-old shop assistant] are working part-time jobs because of this terrible situation.
"I stand by what I wrote. But when I address the electorate when a general election date's set I'll probably use different words."
Mr Barwell, says he was appalled when he read the questionnaire response.
"Mr Le May's comments show the BNP remains a party that judges people not by their actions but by the colour of their skin," he said.
"Hundreds of thousands of British servicemen gave their lives to defeat these views in the Second World War – there's nothing patriotic about them.
"People who are thinking of voting BNP should be aware what kind of people they really are."
Simon Darby, a BNP press spokesman, says the result of the inquiry will be reported in due course to Mr Le May.
He added: "While I agree with the sentiments, he could have put it a bit more politely – he should have couched his language more.
"But what he says is not too far from what's actually happening."
54 Comments
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by Tony1066
Friday, December 30 2011, 12:00PM
“When I took over as Croydon and Sutton Organiser of the British National Party, I started to look into the legality of the Leak and found it looked Illegal under the Data Protection Act 1998. I spoke with the Information Commissioners Office (ICO) and was advised that most data protection issues can be resolved by contacting the organisation responsible without going through the ICO. I wrote to Croydon Conservatives who refused to take the situation seriously and again went to the Croydon Advertiser this time to Gareth Davies.
I wrote to the ICO who looked into the case and contacted the Croydon Conservative Federation (CCF), the CCF has recognised their error and to prevent reoccurrences of the circumstances are considering compiling and retaining a guidance note for staff. They also intend running a data protection/information security awareness programme.
Rather than embracing the opportunity to be trained in information security, Gavin Barwell took the extraordinary decision to condemn the Information Commissioner on twitter "GavinBarwellMP Great story here @Gareth Davies09 Information Commissioner trying to protect privacy of racist standing for public office @tonyleemartin". Ironically he tweeted this the day after attending a Black Minority Ethnic Forum.
When contacted by Croydon and Sutton British National Party about an apology, Gavin Leaky Barwell said "Have no intention of apologising.”
by lloyd, in the house
Tuesday, July 21 2009, 8:11PM
“Aint you lot bored of this frigging story by now its past its sell by date now , been there heard it all before don't wanna hear it again”
by Alan, Forestdale
Tuesday, July 21 2009, 3:59PM
“Why does Mr Le May not defend himself and the BNP in this discussion? It seems that Ms Lewis, being able to string a few words together to construct a sentence, is doing it all. Are we to assume that Mr Le May is unable to contribute? If so, he will hardly make a good candidate if he cannot hold his position in a debate.....”
by Tony, New Addington
Tuesday, July 21 2009, 12:13PM
“No answer other than personal attacks. Typical. No I do not vote Labour. 15 Years on the council list is making you ill. BNP policies make a lot of people ill. If you weren't such an antagonistic neighbour (deliberating annoying neighbours - your words) or assumed all social housing occupants were lowest of the low as you incinuated at the neighbourhood partnership meeting perhaps the council would be happier to help, the fact that you are where you are should tell you something. I look forward to further debates.”
by Charlotte Lewis, Thornton Heath
Tuesday, July 21 2009, 10:57AM
“If you want proof, then go & knock on the doors of 100 Croydon Council owned properties & ask the tenant in each one where they were born. As I said - I've been on the waiting list for 15 years, & my housing situation is making me ill. I'm not alone.
I suppose you vote Labour because your parents did, & their parents. My mother abhors the BNP - but I've got a mind of my own. She's threatened to cut me out of her will because of my membership - but I've got PRINCIPLES.
I look foward to next May, when you will be repesented on Croydon Council by BNP councillors. In the mean time I've got better things to do than debate with the brain-dead.”