I’m a counting assistant today for the City Council Elections. I get to go to the count and even get paid for it, but have to do a fair bit of work in the process.

My own Ward where I live is Morley South but I’ll be counting for Morley North. There is likely to be some fireworks at this as assuming the incumbent Robert Finnigan wins again, the BNP have implied that they will be issuing an election challenge based on him possibly not being entitled to stand. (He gave his address as the MBI party office which is the flat of another Councillor and claims he works in Morley whereas he is thought to live in Batley and until recently worked in Cleckheaton). I imagine that he will be technically in the clear as it would have been straight-forward enough for him to get a casual job in Morley between the nomination date and yesterday, the only qualification required apparently. However, it is hardly whiter than white and he is coming to be regarded as damaged goods in some quarters previously supportive of him.

The downside is that if people don’t want to vote for independents (or neo-independents) then they may well vote for the BNP instead. The MBIs have been banging on about this in their leaflets (& online) to the point of tedium and whilst it is certainly true to an extent, the shrill tone smacks of desperation.

I don’t see a resurgence in Labour locally though, they haven’t even bothered putting up any “vote Labour” signs in the Labour Buildings in Town.