Scottish Independent Media

By Claire Elliot

RESIDENTS near the Queen’s Balmoral residence have hit out at the British National Party’s decision to put forward a candidate to stand in their local by-election.

The party’s Roy Jones will contest Aberdeenshire Council’s seat for Aboyne, Upper Deeside and Donside, on April 23.

It is the first time the BNP has stood for the area, which incorporates the Royal estate.

The by-election - for which there is no Labour candidate - follows the resignation of former Conservative councillor Bruce Luffman in February.

Mr Jones claimed he and his party have been “very well” received during their campaign so far and was confident voters were looking for an alternative.

Constituents today (Friday), however, hit out at the BNP, known for its radical views on issues such as immigration, saying there was “no place for that sort of politics in this part of the world”.

One 59-year-old woman, who asked not to be named, even called on voters to turn out at the polling stations just to keep the party out.

She said: “I am surprised and shocked that the BNP is standing in this part of the county.

“It’s extremely concerning. Their policies are at odds with the ordinary Scottish people.

“I’ll be sticking to the local candidate along the road who’ll fight to get us a new bin rather than that lot.

“It makes me want to vote just to keep them out and I think other people should do the same,” she

added.

Liberal Democrat councillor Peter Argyle, who currently represents the three-member ward, said Mr Jones was “wasting his time”.

“I cannot imaging anyone is going to vote for him. People in this ward are people of intelligence and discernment and they are not interested in this imported nonsense.

“There is no place for that sort of politics in this part of the world,” he added.

But Mr Jones, who has a “weekend of action and leafleting” planned, said: “As we all know in this political climate there are no certainties anymore and we are hoping for a great response from the

Aboyne and Upper Deeside and Donside ward.

“I feel there is a need for the British National Party throughout Great Britain and we have a democratic right to stand where we wish to.”

The BNP candidate will be up against two Independent candidates, a Liberal Democrat, SNP, and a Conservative

Asked if he thought he would win, Mr Jones, said: “To be perfectly honest, I’d say no.

“We just wanted to test the waters to see what reception we would get up here.

“That part of the world isn’t affected by the same multicultural enrichment as down in England so we are targeting a slightly different angle here.

“We’re not going in on immigration, we’re going in on law and order.

“There is a huge anti-social problem starting in Ballater and Aboyne,” he added.

Ballater resident May Paterson, 62, admitted, like anywhere, there was "minor anti-social behaviour". But she said: “There’s no major crime, let's face it. It’s very quiet.

“And considering it’s mainly Liberals that get in here, it’s very unlikely they’re going to get many votes.”

Her daughter, mother-of-one Rhona McComiskie, 33, said as a parent of a young child she would be concerned if they were to get in.

“I have no interest in what they stand for and I don’t think there’s a place for it here,” she added.