They write:

With the demise of Cllr Caddys’ regime some may have thought it possible for a power sharing deal between all the political parties that would have properly represented the wishes of the voting public of Burnley but this was not to be.

The political parties DO all share power in the running of the town. The BNP are as entitled as any to vote and have their say in both full council meetings and committees. If some of their councillors choose not to frequent such gatherings, as has all too often been the case, then sadly, their voices will not be heard.

Its website is http://www.nw-enquirer.co.uk/.

I don't personally have much affinity to my 'region'; I'm a Lancashire lad, a Northerner even, an Englishman, a great Briton, but never a 'North Westerner'. So don't let its title put you off. It's worth checking out.

The sooner Mr Cameron moves into Number 10 and cleans this mess up, the better.

Sadly, my awareness of local politics in this period is somewhat limited due to my not having been born, but if any readers with longer memories can confirm this, please let me know.

Secondly, a reminder that the Summer Draw stubs and monies should be returned to Ida at the office asap.

A number of observations:

• It might be better asking the Liberals. There are 16 of them, and they will invite whom they please.
• There is a need for someone who understands finance. Peter Doyle meets this requirment. Sorry to harp on about this, but the BNP have not got the best track record when it comes to analysing and presenting budgets.
• Thirdly, if the number of seats was the primary condition for being on the executive, then the Liberals would surely be sharing their bed with Labour

I have contacted them, to ask if there is any difference between them.

I received the following:

We are English nationalists - BNP are British/UK nationalists. We support an Independent England and an English parliament - the BNP are Unionists and support the UK/Union and Westminster rule. The BNP are now a God-Save-the-Queen Christian Righist anti-aboration (sic) type party - we are not left - not right - just English.

A response from the BNP would prove interesting.

This rather confirms my suggestion made in the previous blog that parties of all shades are struggling to find:

a) good candidates and

b) any candidates at all.

I was not really suggesting that BNP candidates and councillors are any thicker than anyone else's. We all know that some of Labour's lot aren't the sharpest tools in the box, and we Tories certainly don't have any monopoly on brain cells; I know 12 year old lads who are far brighter than I will ever be. 

Rather, the problem lies with election candidates in general. A Daily Telegraph Editorial for 30th April put the point rather well:

Local democracy in this country is in the worst kind of downward spiral. Because we do not vote, dullards are returned, who are unable to prevent their officers from running the council for their own benefit, which further disheartens the voters, puts off decent candidates and depreciates turnout yet further.

Burnley Borough Council is in need of intelligent men and women, of whatever political persuasion. This is why I welcome the election of first-timer Jonathan Gilbert for Whittlefield and Ightenhill.

I do not know if luck is against Mr Cave. But I of all people have a certain sympathy for folk who have lost every election they have ever contested!

Yet if any of them were to be elected, it seems disappointing that Mr Cave was not one of them. Known by the other parties as the 'brains' behind their operation, alledgedly responsible for penning their speeches and writing some articulate and thoughtful letters to the paper, it seems a pity that they could not have put him in a more winnable seat.

If we must have these people representing us, at least give us intelligent ones.

Nationally, most would agree that the Conservatives did best, the Lib Dems flat-lined, and much of Labour's support evaporated. The BNP, though starting from a smaller base, did well.

In Burnley, the Conservatives won two convincing victories at Ightenhill and Cliviger. Although they were in areas where  Conservatives councillors already sit, they worked hard and got what they deserved. Their vote in other wards either stayed the same or dropped, with a few that increased, notably Briercliffe.

The Lib Dems have done well, and are likely to form some kind of minority administration in the town hall. It will be interesting to see which parties they ask to join them. They did very well in areas they worked, but like us, retained a small core vote in areas where they did not.

The BNP have done well in two of the wards where they have previously proved to have strong support. The voters of Hapton were not put off voting for the BNP, even though their candidate lived 6-7 miles outside the ward's boundaries, and failed to leaflet parts of the area. This suggests that Hapton is their strongest pad.

The current BNP councillors do not have a good record when it comes to budget debates and other gaffes, yet this does not seem to have hindered them so far. The Conservatives took a seat off them in Ightenhill (which was being fought by one of their leading lights), and they took a seat off the Lib Dems and Labour.

Labour lost its leader and his chief lieutenant. There will be some rejoicing at their departure, and some speculation as to whether the current cohort of Labour councillors will have the abilities and skills to replace them.

They are both diligent men whose abilities will benefit the borough at large.

As Deputy Chairman (political), I'd like to take this opportunity to thank all of this year's candidates, supporters and voters.

And to whoever wins control of the council, or of individual wards- the Conservative and Unionist Association of Burnley gives you its best wishes and hopes the Borough's fortunes will improve under your care.