Simon Darby
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Simon Darby (born 1965) is a leading member of the British National Party, currently serving as both Director of Information Technology and West Midlands organiser.
A computer communications consulatant by trade, Darby began his political career in the National Democrats, most of whose activity was centred around his West Midlands base. When the local group defected en bloc to the BNP in 1998 Darby also made the move and soon became associated with the 'modernising' wing of the party led by Nick Griffin. He was appointed local organiser following Griffin's election as leader and was courted for membership by the Freedom Party upon their foundation, although he refused to leave the BNP.[1]
Darby courted controversy when he was filmed on Panorama wearing what was referred to by the BBC as a National Alliance t-shirt. Darby later claimed that it was in fact a BNP-made t-shirt with the tree of life symbol on it, although the BBC countered that no such garments had been made by the party.[2]
Darby's involvement in local politics saw him elected to Dudley council in 2003, although he lost the seat in a round of elections the following year. Despite this loss, Darby remains one of the leading figures within the BNP, to the extent that Griffin designated him as stand-in leader were Griffin to be imprisoned during his 2005-6 trials for inciting racial hatred.[3]
[edit] General elections contested
| Date of election | Constituency | Party | Votes | % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | Dudley North | NDs | 469 | 1.0 |
| 2001 | Dudley North | BNP | 1822 | 4.7 |
| 2005 | Dudley North | BNP | 4022 | 9.7 |
[edit] References
- ^ N. Copsey, Contemporary British Fascism: The British National Party and the Quest for Legitimacy, Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan, 2004, p. 121
- ^ BNP: Under the Skin
- ^ BNP Targets the Heart of England The Guardian
