MORE leading members have left the British National Party (BNP) in Kirklees.

Last week the Examiner revealed that former Colne Valley Parliamentary candidate Barry Fowler and ex-Heckmondwike councillor Roger Roberts had quit the party.

The pair, who have joined the English Democrats, issued a statement likening BNP leader Nick Griffin to Zimbabwean dictator Robert Mugabe.

And now the Examiner can reveal that another former BNP member of Kirklees Council has joined the defection.

David Exley served as a councillor for Heckmondwike from 2003 to 2008. The Birstall man also stood for the BNP in Batley and Spen in last year’s general election.

Mr Exley has now joined the English Democrats, which campaigns for an English parliament.

His younger brother, Stuart, who stood for the BNP in Newsome in last year’s council election, has also joined the defection.

The party’s former Yorkshire spokesman Nick Cass is also believed to have joined the English Democrats.

The BNP is running four candidates in the Kirklees elections on May 5: Rachel Firth in Denby Dale, Skye Turner in Golcar; Carol Dixon in Kirkburton and Tony Leach in Almondbury.

The party stood in 21 of the 23 wards of Kirklees at last year’s council elections.