GORDON Savage (right), who was parachuted into Arnhem as part of Operation Market Garden to secure bridges over the River Rhine to aid the British advance into Germany in September 1944, announced his intention to upgrade his existing BNP membership to to “life” status at a meeting in Whitehaven on Wednesday.

Mr Savage, who lives at Kells, was awarded the MBE in the 1992 New Years’ Honours for services to the Parachute Regimental Association. He told the Whitehaven News that he was proud to be a member of the BNP:

“This country has been run down, other political parties don’t seem to care enough about traditions today.”

The meeting was to discuss the General Election campaign in Copeland and local organiser, Clive Jefferson, was very pleased to receive Gordon’s upgraded membership.

“Gordon was angry at the political intervention by the Tory Party’s generals this week and wanted to show his support, as an ex-serviceman, to the British National Party,” Clive told the BNP website.