A controversial councillor elected as Stoke-on-Trent’s Deputy Lord Mayor has spoken out after a row erupted over her BNP past.
Melanie Baddeley, who is now a City Independent, today insisted she was 'ashamed' of her previous association with the far right party.
She had served as a BNP councillor between 2008 and 2011, when the far-right party was at its peak in Stoke-on-Trent.
And she also stood as the BNP’s parliamentary candidate for Stoke-on-Trent North in the 2010 general election, when the party was proposing to ban immigration from Muslim countries and encourage some residents to return ‘to their lands of ethnic origin’.
In a startlingly honest letter in today's Sentinel, she now says: "I was naïve and made a mistake."
Ms Baddeley was elected to the Deputy Lord Mayor role during the annual council meeting last month after winning the support of her group and the Conservatives.
Traditionally, the Deputy Lord Mayor for one year is elected as Lord Mayor for the following year, meaning Ms Baddeley would become first citizen in 2020/21.
The Labour group objected to her nomination, saying Ms Baddeley’s previous membership of the far-right BNP meant she was not an appropriate person to represent the city.
But Ms Baddeley defeated Labour nominee Candi Chetwynd in the ensuing vote, 22 to 16.
Here we reproduce her apology letter in full...
'I was naïve and made a mistake...'
I’d like to take this opportunity to respond to coverage of my election as the Deputy Lord Mayor of Stoke-on-Trent, and also comments from some readers regarding my historic involvement with the BNP.
I’m honoured to be representing my community in Abbey Hulton and Townsend for a third term, and second consecutive term as a City Independents councillor.
It is an immense privilege to be elected as Deputy Lord Mayor for the year ahead.
I have lived in Abbey Hulton for 33 years and always worked to support my community and local people.
It was wanting to do something for my community that first led me to stand for election as a councillor.
It is a matter of fact that when I first became a councillor in 2008, I stood for the British National Party. I am ashamed to admit that I was not fully aware of what the BNP stood for. At that time the BNP was active in the community where I live.
I joined that group to stand as a councillor because I thought at the time it was the best way that I could represent and serve local people. I was a member of the group for three years.
I realised that this was the wrong path for me to serve my community, I was naïve and made a mistake.
I regret that I have caused offence with the literature that was put out by the BNP at that time in my name.
I fully renounced the BNP, their views and what they stand four years ago, and continue to do so today.
I am not a member of the BNP or any other far right organisation.
For the last two elections in Stoke-on-Trent I have stood for and been elected as a City Independents councillor.
People in Abbey Hulton and Townsend have put their trust in me to represent them and to do my best for all residents in our community. I am fully committed to doing this.
My role as Deputy Lord Mayor is not political. It is a civic role, supporting the Lord Mayor Jackie Barnes, and promoting all that is good in our city.
It is inclusive, championing equality and supporting and recognising the best of all of the wonderful communities that make up Stoke-on-Trent.
I’d like to use these pages to explain and apologise for my naivety in the past, to give assurances that I will continue to work for the good of everyone, and to thank residents for the opportunity to represent them and our great city.
Cllr Melanie Baddeley
Abbey Hulton
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