campaign news from Sedgefield

From The Northern Echo

Christian Party attacks Cameron

THE Christian Party's representative in the Sedgefield by-election has launched an attack on Tory leader David Cameron, accusing him of headline grabbing statements.

Tim Grainger said Mr Cameron had recently issued a politically correct message in his support for same-sex couples and gay adoption.

But now, he said, he favoured the traditional family model as being the bedrock of society.

Mr Grainger said: "David Cameron's message of same-sex couples and gay adoption was an attack on our Christian heritage and common sense.

"Now he launches an initiative on marriage and agrees wholeheartedly that the family is the bedrock of society.

"While we applaud this initiative, we wonder whether this is simply another headline-grabbing statement.

"Could the real David Cameron please stand up."

Mr Grainger said: "There is much evidence to say that the traditional family model provides a safe and stable environment for our young people.

"This fact should be recognised by the tax and benefits system."
The Northern Echo


BNP candidate says car tyres slashed

BRITISH National Party candidate Andrew Spence said the tyres of his pick-up truck had been slashed.

Mr Spence said the vehicle was attacked outside his family home, between Tuesday night and Wednesday morning.

The Consett farmer said the cost of replacing the tyres and having the vehicle off the road for the day would run into several hundred pounds.

"We are out to run a professional and political campaign, our supporters aren't Nazis or skinheads, they are family men, and we are the fastest-growing political party in the UK," he said.

Mr Spence went on to say that his party did not deserve the reputation he said it has been given by the media.

Mr Spence said he replaced the tyres the next day and contacted the police. When The Northern Echo contacted the police yesterday, they said that they had received no reports about the allegation.
The Northern Echo

Founder of Anti-Crime Party given ticking off

THE Anti-Crime Party candidate himself earned a ticking off from police yesterday when he tried to campaign outside a supermarket.

Party founder, secretary and Sedgefield candidate Norman Scarth had travelled from Bradford to campaign outside Tesco, in Newton Aycliffe.

Mr Scarth said he asked the manager for permission to campaign outside the store, and then found that police were on their way.

"The policeman who came was very nice and asked me to get in the car with him otherwise he said he would have to put the handcuffs on me," said Mr Scarth.

Mr Scarth, 81, served in the Second World War on the Arctic Russian Convoy, and cites politicians, lawyers and the police as some of the country's biggest criminals.

"Everything we fought against is here now in Britain, hidden by the pretence of democracy and the pretence of the rule of law," he said.

A police spokesman said: "The police were contacted by staff at Tesco's shortly after half-past ten.

"They asked for assistance in removing a man from the front of the store they considered to be causing a nuisance to shoppers.

"An officer went to the scene and talked to the man, a candidate in the forthcoming by-election.

"He was given suitable advice and agreed to leave the area and continue his campaigning in Ferryhill. He had not committed any offence and at no stage was he arrested."
The Northern Echo