UKIP councillor denies BNP Link

Cllr Vines, who won the recent by-election in Rawmarsh, admitted to the Advertiser that he attended one BNP meeting at Catcliffe pub The Waverley “about ten years ago” and once worked alongside party organiser, Marlene Guest, but denied any political sympathies, past or present.

Cllr Vines said that he was doing research on behalf of watchdog group Council Watch when he quizzed BNP leader Nick Griffin at the meeting.

He worked with Ms Guest on Council Watch up until she joined the BNP, he added, but has not associated with her since 2003.

Council-bashing blog Rotherham Politics published a letter from Cllr Vines in which he disavows the far-right party.

It reads: “I, Caven Vines, have never been a member of the British National Party.

“I have not had any association with the BNP or any of its members ever.”

But Ms Guest contacted the Advertiser to dispute the councillor’s claims. She insists that the Catcliffe meeting happened “about five years ago”, after Council Watch had folded and she was campaigning on behalf of the party.

Staff at The Waverley and BNP press officers confirmed that Mr Griffin did once speak at the pub, but neither could confirm when the visit took place.