Paul and Lynda Cromie stand down for 'personal reasons'
9:20am Monday 20th June 2011 in Queensbury By Tanya O'Rourke
Councillor Paul Cromie
Bradford Council’s two BNP members have quit the party.
Husband-and-wife councillors Paul and Lynda Cromie have stood down from the BNP but will continue to represent the Queensbury ward as Independents along with Conservative Councillor Michael Walls.
The pair said they had quit the party for “personal reasons”.
The decision has been welcomed by other party leaders.
Councillor Ian Greenwood, the Leader of the Council, said: “I am extremely pleased to see they have recognised the BNP does not represent a solution to the problems we have in Bradford.
“I can only hope they have realised the views the party espouses have no place in any society, particularly here in Bradford.”
Councillor Glen Miller, leader of the Conservative group on Bradford Council, said: “They have obviously resigned from the BNP. That is a good indication of the way forward for the Bradford district.
“You don’t usually leave a political party unless you are fed up with it.
“I think it is a positive move. There is no BNP representation in the city of Bradford and that can only be a good thing for the harmony of Bradford district.”
Councillor Jeanette Sunderland, leader of Bradford Council’s Liberal Democrat group, said: “I don’t think leopards change their spots.”
She said the couple could still stand as Independents but that the public would remain aware of their previous allegiance.
Coun Paul Cromie said: “We have made the change for personal reasons.
“We haven’t fallen out with the party and the split was amicable.”
He said he had spoken to BNP party leader Nick Griffin last week and that Mr Griffin had been disappointed but wished the couple well.
“We have made a lot of new friends and worked on community projects,” said Coun Cromie.
“We just felt at this moment in time that not having political ties to any group would serve us better in the village. It is purely and simply to serve the Queensbury community.”
Coun Lynda Cromie echoed her husband’s sentiment that the split was for “personal reasons” and did not want to comment further on the matter.
- Read the full story Monday’s T&A
Comments(18)
proxymoron
says...
11:52am Mon 20 Jun 11
I am not saying I will vote for them now they have shed their links to the party - ultimately, they must have at the very least sympathised with the aims of the BNP, which is in my eyes a completely deplorable outfit - but at least now a vote for them is not also automatically a vote for intolerance.
yorkiewyke
says...
1:50pm Mon 20 Jun 11
MarkPullen
says...
3:33pm Mon 20 Jun 11
puddingandpi wrote:I have to say that whilst I don't support the political party, I'm aware firsthand the hard work that these Councillors have undertaken to at least one community organisation in the village.
Just because they've quit the BNP doesn't make them any nicer. They're still idiot bigots.
MarkPullen
says...
3:35pm Mon 20 Jun 11
proxymoron wrote:Well said
I live in Queensbury, and every election I have voted against the Cromies because of their party allegiance, despite them doing an excellent job for the ward of Queensbury.
I am not saying I will vote for them now they have shed their links to the party - ultimately, they must have at the very least sympathised with the aims of the BNP, which is in my eyes a completely deplorable outfit - but at least now a vote for them is not also automatically a vote for intolerance.
SouthEastAsianBradfordian
says...
4:16pm Mon 20 Jun 11
.
My sentiments exactly, they may be doing good for the community (and fair play to the community for getting things done through them) but their beliefs will always be the same, so my feelings towards them will never change either.
Yorkshire Lass
says...
5:26pm Mon 20 Jun 11
Queensbury according to the Bradford Metro Council site were as follows:
Linda Cromie BNP 1461 = 34.8%
Andrew S Smith Conservative 1136 = 27%
Rosie Watson Labour 994 = 23.7%
Jason P Smith UKIP 412 = 9.8%
Lisa J Clark Lib Dem 197 = 4.7%
I would have thought that if a councillor chooses to resign then another local election should be called. I feel sure that all the people of Queensbury do not necessarily want an Independent vote to replace their chosen first choice.
AlisonVaVoom
says...
5:36pm Mon 20 Jun 11
Mike Strutter
says...
6:15pm Mon 20 Jun 11
One thing I will say is I still think she would have won as an independent as they have both done good things for the community and donate all their councillor salaries to village projects (it does help being a millionaire) .
Patrick Bateman
says...
12:54am Tue 21 Jun 11
.
“I am extremely pleased to see they have recognised the BNP does not represent a solution to the problems we have in Bradford"
.
.
How Greenwood arrived at that conclusion is a mystery. According to the report the Cromie's quit for 'personal reasons': nothing was mentioned of any political motivation.
.
.
Still, don't let the facts get in the way of how you'd rather see things eh, Greenwood? Yet another depressing response from our council 'leader'.
Wanpablo
says...
1:46pm Tue 21 Jun 11
Wanpablo
says...
1:49pm Tue 21 Jun 11
The 39th Step
says...
3:15pm Tue 21 Jun 11
The 39th Step
says...
3:23pm Tue 21 Jun 11
Wanpablo wrote:And I want to be able to walk through my city-centre in daytime without being shoved and intimidated by loutish (white - English) chavs, as happened to me very recently in Bradford.
im not a bnp member but have to admit something needs doing you people are all talking crap, because i want my kids to be safe not peddled with drugs and be able to walk round bradford town centre not being scarred of large groups of asian/easturn european gangs ?? or the fact they treat white women like pieces of meat?? beating them prostituting them etc but im a racist for wanting my country safe get a grip you people are killing our country and when the day comes when your son or daugter get attacked/raped you will realise
Andy2010
says...
3:25pm Tue 21 Jun 11
Wanpablo wrote:This ^^
im not a bnp member but have to admit something needs doing you people are all talking crap, because i want my kids to be safe not peddled with drugs and be able to walk round bradford town centre not being scarred of large groups of asian/easturn european gangs ?? or the fact they treat white women like pieces of meat?? beating them prostituting them etc but im a racist for wanting my country safe get a grip you people are killing our country and when the day comes when your son or daugter get attacked/raped you will realise
yangy8
says...
3:55pm Tue 21 Jun 11
ask anyone who is asian/east european if they like the english and they will say no.
they hate us and don't mind who knows it but i don't hear you lot denouncing them?
what about flag burning on tv every other day?
make me sick the lot of you.
free country last time i checked (well to anyone who is not english!)
bnp is no worse thany any muslim group.
they are both the same, looking out for their own people but this is britain so they have a god given right to do so.
as the saying goes, love it or leave it.
rule britannia.........
http://www.youtube.c
om/watch?v=25zynTTl-
sU
Wanpablo
says...
5:31pm Wed 22 Jun 11
yangy8 wrote:Well said lad people need to realise that more and more people are getting peed off with feeling like a second rate citizen in our own country
so easy to bad mouth bnp and call them nazis and racists.
ask anyone who is asian/east european if they like the english and they will say no.
they hate us and don't mind who knows it but i don't hear you lot denouncing them?
what about flag burning on tv every other day?
make me sick the lot of you.
free country last time i checked (well to anyone who is not english!)
bnp is no worse thany any muslim group.
they are both the same, looking out for their own people but this is britain so they have a god given right to do so.
as the saying goes, love it or leave it.
rule britannia.........
http://www.youtube.c
om/watch?v=25zynTTl-
sU
Wanpablo
says...
5:42pm Wed 22 Jun 11
The 39th Step wrote:I agree but these loutish chavs you speak of are probably **** off becuase they cannot get a job because of immigrants thats work for next to nothing or sponge every penny out of the goverment. when there fathers grand fathers etc have always paid tax and they probably cant get a penny from goverment thats why people have had enough,
Wanpablo wrote:And I want to be able to walk through my city-centre in daytime without being shoved and intimidated by loutish (white - English) chavs, as happened to me very recently in Bradford.
im not a bnp member but have to admit something needs doing you people are all talking crap, because i want my kids to be safe not peddled with drugs and be able to walk round bradford town centre not being scarred of large groups of asian/easturn european gangs ?? or the fact they treat white women like pieces of meat?? beating them prostituting them etc but im a racist for wanting my country safe get a grip you people are killing our country and when the day comes when your son or daugter get attacked/raped you will realise
my friend is indian and he has a full time job his dad does his mum does and his gran and grandad did, always paid tax and they get discriminated for these spongers, its not about race its about ways of life , if someone asks my friend if he likes english people he says yes because i am one! you need to get a grip pal
Albion. says...
11:39am Mon 20 Jun 11
“I can only hope they have realised the views the party espouses have no place in any society, particularly here in Bradford.”
Even though they were voted in (twice) as representatives of said party?
What will happen to the Phillips rubberstamp response after this?
Apparently members have been deserting the BNP in droves, but most have joined similar groups.