A NEWLY elected British National Party councillor is predicting the party will sweep through councils across north Kent.

Paul Golding says his election as a councillor in Swanley “is the first of many BNP victories to come in the area”.

The 27-year-old won the Swanley St Mary’s ward in the Sevenoaks District Council by-election on February 19, receiving 76 more votes than the second-placed Labour candidate.

Councillor Golding says the party is now gearing up to challenge for council seats across north Kent at the next elections, as he believes “people everywhere are turning to the BNP”.

He said: “The people of Swanley felt they were being treated like second class citizens in their own country, and there are people across the county who feel the same way.

“We are the only party that wants to put British people first in their own country.

“My election was our first victory in the south east and Kent, and is an example of the way things are going in this country. It is the first of many BNP victories to come in north Kent.”

Many people have opposed the BNP victory, with around 50 people holding a protest in Swanley on February 28.

Responding to this, Cllr Golding said: “The people who protested in Swanley are mainly from outside the area. They are all far left-wing, anti-British cranks, who have no support in the Swanley area.”

He added: “The BNP is not a racist party. Racism is hate of other races and ethnic groups. BNP simply wants to maintain Britain as a homeland for British people.

“We disagree with mass immigration because we are a tiny, overcrowded island where there is barely enough space and resources for our own people.”

In 2002 Cllr Golding’s mother was served with an eviction notice to leave her home in Slade Green after anti-social behaviour.

His brother Jamie has been convicted of stealing cars and committing more than 150 burglaries in the Bexley and Kent area.

When asked whether this would hinder his political career, Cllr Golding said: “Absolutely not. My brother is like a lot of young people these days, being sucked into a life of crime because there are no prospects in this country any more.

“If the law had come down heavily on him at a young age most of his problems would not have come about, but he was just given a slap on the wrist. Typical liberal British justice.

“If young people turn into persistent offenders they should be sent into the army.”

Dartford Council councillor Tom Maddison, who is a Labour party member, says the BNP “divides rather than unites people” and believes it would be wrong if the party won more council seats in north Kent.

He said: “During these difficult economic times, young white working class people may be attracted to the drastic change the BNP offers.

“But a change to the BNP would be a change for the worse, so the other parties have to work hard to listen to what people want and represent them.”