The British National Party’s North West regional organiser, Clive Jefferson, has been nominated as the party’s parliamentary candidate in its key Cumbria target seat of Copeland.

The announcement was made in a press release issued by the BNP in Cumbria. “The first-ever entrance of the BNP in a general election in Copeland will be the most explosive issue in next year’s campaign,” the press release said.

“In the June County Council elections, the BNP stood a full slate of candidates in Copeland in our first-ever outing and came a clear third place with just under 17 percent of the vote. This translated to 3,250 BNP votes on a 30 percent turnout.

“Clive Jefferson was the highest-polling county council candidate in Cumbria, with a healthy 29 percent of the vote in the Frizington and Cleator Moor ward. His confirmation as parliamentary candidate for Copeland was confirmed at a group meeting last Thursday during which a further £200 was raised to add to the growing war chest,” the BNP group said.

“We intend to make Copeland the target seat for Cumbria next year and manpower and money will be focused there. The Labour Party have abandoned 20 seats due to lack of finance. Copeland is one of these seats which has been thrown to the wolves by Labour head office and the BNP is determined to stage its best fight ever.”