BNP on Greg

In a press statement Mr Prince said: "The Hastings, Bexhill and Rother British National Party Group, being a party that promotes and aims to rekindle traditional British family values, are naturally sorry to hear of the split between Bexhill and Battle MP Greg Barker and his wife.

"However, the allegations that have been made concerning Mr Barker leaving his wife and children for a gay man, if true, are totally appalling.

"We would normally take no notice but I would hardly call the Daily Telegraph, dated Thursday, October 26, 2006, as being part of the gutter press and I generally believe almost everything that a newspaper of such quality reports.

"Should the recent allegations be true, and only Mr Barker, his estranged wife and William Banks-Blaney will know the whole truth, The British National Party ask both Mr Barker and the Bexhill and Battle constituency Conservative Party group to consider his future when it is time for his re-selection.

"The main point that we wish to make is that Greg Barker went to the polls as a decent family man and a great deal of Bexhillians, especially many of the more mature ones, would have given their vote.

"The thought of a decent family man with a nice wife and a lovely young family would have appealed to many who believe in saving what remains of traditional British family values.

"I reiterate that should these allegations be true, many voters will feel that they have had the wool pulled over their eyes somewhat. At one election they vote for a family man, and a gay one at the next. Had Bexhill been presented with a gay candidate, there would not have been too much doubt of a problem, had he kept his private life to himself.

"We again ask for Mr Barker and the local association to re-think his future because this, if true, could be looked on as a form of political deception."