CHURCH leaders across West Yorkshire today united to condemn the BNP.
They gathered to sign a statement deploring the "racist" policies of the Party and called on Christians to vote for candidates who wanted unity.
News of the church action came on the day it was confirmed the BNP - which has one councillor in Kirklees - intends to fight in many wards.
The party is hoping to field candidates in at least 15 of the 17 seats in June's elections.
Clr David Exley (pictured) , chosen to represent Heckmondwike, said the party were hoping to win several seats in June. He said a lot of hard work was being done across Kirklees.
Seats likely to be contested by the BNP are: Mirfield, Kirkburton, Denby Dale, Heckmondwike, Batley West, Batley East, Birstall and Birkenshaw, Thornhill, Dewsbury West, Dewsbury East, Colne Valley, Dalton, Liversedge and Gomersal, Cleckheaton and Almondbury.
The church statement has been drawn up by the West Yorkshire Ecumenical Council, which comprises of leaders of all the major church denominations. It calls on Christian people to only vote in forthcoming elections for candidates whose policies "reflect a spirit of inclusive welcome" for people of all races and faiths.
It is backed by church leaders including the Bishop of Ripon and Leeds, Rt Rev John Packer, the Rt Rev Arthur Roche of the Roman Catholic Church, Chairman of the Methodist Church in Leeds, Rev Michael Townsend, the Moderator of the United Reformed Church, Revd Arnold Harrison, the Regional Minister of the Baptist Church, Rev Ernie Whalley, Pastor Gloria Hanley of the West Yorkshire African-Caribbean Council of Churches, and Eva Pinthus, this year's chairman of WYEC, representing the Quaker movement.
Executive secretary Dr Stephanie Rybak, said: "If people of goodwill do not vote, there is a real danger that candidates with extremist views can be elected by a minority."
