Simon Darby
Encyclopedia
Simon Darby is a British
politician
and former Deputy Chairman of the British National Party
.
, most of whose activity was centred around his West Midlands base. Darby joined the BNP when his local National Democrat group defected to the party en bloc; he 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.
Darby's involvement in local politics led to him being elected to Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council in 2003, although he lost the seat in a round of elections the following year. Despite this loss, Darby remained one of the leading figures in the BNP, to the extent that Griffin, who in 2005-06 faced jail before being cleared of inciting racial hatred
, designated Darby as party leader should he have been imprisoned.
Darby stood in the 2007 Welsh National Assembly Elections
in the North Wales region but was not elected.
following the latter's election as the BNP's representative on the Greater London Authority
in May 2008. In this capacity Darby in November 2008 faced criticism after admitting to carrying out BNP party political work from his office as Barnbrook's assistant at City Hall; Darby denied that he used GLA resources and said that he always made up any office hours spent on party activities.
Darby was in 2009 criticized after pictures showed a member of an Italian political rally giving a Fascist style salute while Darby spoke on stage. When asked about the incident, Darby responded, "I can't do anything about that. There were 500 people and three of them were caught doing that stupid behaviour." In May of the same year he clashed with archbishop Dr John Sentamu: Sentamu had condemned the BNP for labelling British citizens of African and Asian descent as "racial foreigners"; Defending his comments Darby insisted that "If I went there and preached down to those indigenous people in the same way that Sentamu does to us then I’d be attacked. If I was derogatory, condescending and arrogant - because that’s what John Sentamu is - I would be attacked. And rightly so."
On Thursday 1st of July 2010 Simon resigned his role as Deputy Chairman citing impartiality regarding the then forthcoming 2010 BNP leadership election challenge, stating on his blog "I didn’t really want to be drawn into the leadership question, however, it seems the inevitable has happened, with adversaries of Nick Griffin raising the issue of the position of Deputy Leader in general, and referring to me in particular. As you know, the position carries absolutely no constitutional weight, and I feel it totally unfair and underhand, in a potential contest that involves solely the leader
of the party
, that some are seeking to confuse matters by bringing up the position of Deputy". He continues to play a leading role in the party alongside Nick Griffin as National Media spokesman.
and ornithologist, Simon has a Bsc (Hons) in Biology & Chemistry.
Welsh Assembly elections (Additional members region; party list)
European Parliament elections
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
and former Deputy Chairman of the British National Party
British National Party
The British National Party is a British far-right political party formed as a splinter group from the National Front by John Tyndall in 1982...
.
Background
By occupation a computer communications consultant, Darby began his political career in the National DemocratsNational Democrats (UK)
By the beginning of 2002 the party had ceased political activity. It continued as a pressure group under the name Campaign for National Democracy until 2008; the party officially ceased to exist after the death of its leader at the beginning of 2011....
, most of whose activity was centred around his West Midlands base. Darby joined the BNP when his local National Democrat group defected to the party en bloc; he soon became associated with the modernising wing of the party led by Nick Griffin
Nick Griffin
Nicholas John "Nick" Griffin is a British politician, chairman of the British National Party and Member of the European Parliament for North West England....
. He was appointed local organiser following Griffin's election as leader, and was courted for membership by the Freedom Party
UK Freedom Party
The Freedom Party was a right wing political party in the United Kingdom.The party was founded in December 2000 by former members of the British National Party , dubbed "ultra-Tories" by BNP leader Nick Griffin, who were disaffected with the party's refusal to moderate its position on race...
upon their foundation, although he refused to leave the BNP.
Darby's involvement in local politics led to him being elected to Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council in 2003, although he lost the seat in a round of elections the following year. Despite this loss, Darby remained one of the leading figures in the BNP, to the extent that Griffin, who in 2005-06 faced jail before being cleared of inciting racial hatred
Inciting racial hatred
Incitement to racial or ethnic hatred is a crime under the laws of a number of countries.-United Kingdom:Under the Law of the United Kingdom, "incitement to racial hatred" was established as an offence by the provisions of §§ 17-29 of the Public Order Act 1986. It was first established as a...
, designated Darby as party leader should he have been imprisoned.
Darby stood in the 2007 Welsh National Assembly Elections
National Assembly for Wales election, 2007
The 2007 National Assembly election was held on Thursday 3 May 2007 to elect members to the National Assembly for Wales. It was the third general election. On the same day local elections in England and Scotland, and the Scottish Parliament election took place...
in the North Wales region but was not elected.
Later party career
Newspaper reports identify Darby as the BNP's deputy leader in 2007. He became a personal assistant to Richard BarnbrookRichard Barnbrook
Richard John Barnbrook is a British politician and member of the London Assembly. Having been elected as a British National Party candidate, he resigned the BNP whip in August 2010. Barnbrook was a councillor, and leader , then deputy leader , of the BNP group on Barking and Dagenham London...
following the latter's election as the BNP's representative on the Greater London Authority
Greater London Authority
The Greater London Authority is the top-tier administrative body for Greater London, England. It consists of a directly elected executive Mayor of London, currently Boris Johnson, and an elected 25-member London Assembly with scrutiny powers...
in May 2008. In this capacity Darby in November 2008 faced criticism after admitting to carrying out BNP party political work from his office as Barnbrook's assistant at City Hall; Darby denied that he used GLA resources and said that he always made up any office hours spent on party activities.
Darby was in 2009 criticized after pictures showed a member of an Italian political rally giving a Fascist style salute while Darby spoke on stage. When asked about the incident, Darby responded, "I can't do anything about that. There were 500 people and three of them were caught doing that stupid behaviour." In May of the same year he clashed with archbishop Dr John Sentamu: Sentamu had condemned the BNP for labelling British citizens of African and Asian descent as "racial foreigners"; Defending his comments Darby insisted that "If I went there and preached down to those indigenous people in the same way that Sentamu does to us then I’d be attacked. If I was derogatory, condescending and arrogant - because that’s what John Sentamu is - I would be attacked. And rightly so."
On Thursday 1st of July 2010 Simon resigned his role as Deputy Chairman citing impartiality regarding the then forthcoming 2010 BNP leadership election challenge, stating on his blog "I didn’t really want to be drawn into the leadership question, however, it seems the inevitable has happened, with adversaries of Nick Griffin raising the issue of the position of Deputy Leader in general, and referring to me in particular. As you know, the position carries absolutely no constitutional weight, and I feel it totally unfair and underhand, in a potential contest that involves solely the leader
Nick Griffin
Nicholas John "Nick" Griffin is a British politician, chairman of the British National Party and Member of the European Parliament for North West England....
of the party
British National Party
The British National Party is a British far-right political party formed as a splinter group from the National Front by John Tyndall in 1982...
, that some are seeking to confuse matters by bringing up the position of Deputy". He continues to play a leading role in the party alongside Nick Griffin as National Media spokesman.
Personal Life
A keen anglerAngling
Angling is a method of fishing by means of an "angle" . The hook is usually attached to a fishing line and the line is often attached to a fishing rod. Fishing rods are usually fitted with a fishing reel that functions as a mechanism for storing, retrieving and paying out the line. The hook itself...
and ornithologist, Simon has a Bsc (Hons) in Biology & Chemistry.
Elections contested
UK Parliament elections| Date of election | Constituency | Party | Votes | % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 United Kingdom general election, 1997 The United Kingdom general election, 1997 was held on 1 May 1997, more than five years after the previous election on 9 April 1992, to elect 659 members to the British House of Commons. The Labour Party ended its 18 years in opposition under the leadership of Tony Blair, and won the general... |
Dudley North Dudley North (UK Parliament constituency) Dudley North is a parliamentary constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election.- Boundaries :... |
NDs National Democrats (UK) By the beginning of 2002 the party had ceased political activity. It continued as a pressure group under the name Campaign for National Democracy until 2008; the party officially ceased to exist after the death of its leader at the beginning of 2011.... |
469 | 1.0 |
| 2001 United Kingdom general election, 2001 The United Kingdom general election, 2001 was held on Thursday 7 June 2001 to elect 659 members to the British House of Commons. It was dubbed "the quiet landslide" by the media, as the Labour Party was re-elected with another landslide result and only suffered a net loss of 6 seats... |
Dudley North Dudley North (UK Parliament constituency) Dudley North is a parliamentary constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election.- Boundaries :... |
BNP British National Party The British National Party is a British far-right political party formed as a splinter group from the National Front by John Tyndall in 1982... |
1,822 | 4.7 |
| 2005 United Kingdom general election, 2005 The United Kingdom general election of 2005 was held on Thursday, 5 May 2005 to elect 646 members to the British House of Commons. The Labour Party under Tony Blair won its third consecutive victory, but with a majority of 66, reduced from 160.... |
Dudley North Dudley North (UK Parliament constituency) Dudley North is a parliamentary constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election.- Boundaries :... |
BNP British National Party The British National Party is a British far-right political party formed as a splinter group from the National Front by John Tyndall in 1982... |
4,022 | 9.7 |
| 2010 | Stoke-on-Trent Central | BNP British National Party The British National Party is a British far-right political party formed as a splinter group from the National Front by John Tyndall in 1982... |
2,502 | 7.7 |
Welsh Assembly elections (Additional members region; party list)
| Date of election | Region | Party | Votes | Percentage of votes | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 Welsh Assembly election National Assembly for Wales election, 2007 The 2007 National Assembly election was held on Thursday 3 May 2007 to elect members to the National Assembly for Wales. It was the third general election. On the same day local elections in England and Scotland, and the Scottish Parliament election took place... |
North Wales | BNP British National Party The British National Party is a British far-right political party formed as a splinter group from the National Front by John Tyndall in 1982... |
9,986 | 5.1 | Not elected |
European Parliament elections
| Date of election | Constituency | Party | Votes | % | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | Merseyside West Merseyside West (European Parliament constituency) Prior to its uniform adoption of proportional representation in 1999, the United Kingdom used first-past-the-post for the European elections in England, Scotland and Wales... |
NDs National Democrats (UK) By the beginning of 2002 the party had ceased political activity. It continued as a pressure group under the name Campaign for National Democracy until 2008; the party officially ceased to exist after the death of its leader at the beginning of 2011.... |
718 | 1.2 | Single member constituencies |
| Year | Region | Party | Votes | % | Results | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | West Midlands West Midlands (European Parliament constituency) West Midlands is a constituency of the European Parliament. For 2009 it elected 6 MEPs using the d'Hondt method of party-list proportional representation. The constituency will also elect a "virtual MEP" who will be able to sit in the Parliament if the Treaty of Lisbon comes into effect... |
BNP | 14,344 | 1.7 | Not elected | Multi member constituencies; party list |
| 2004 | West Midlands West Midlands (European Parliament constituency) West Midlands is a constituency of the European Parliament. For 2009 it elected 6 MEPs using the d'Hondt method of party-list proportional representation. The constituency will also elect a "virtual MEP" who will be able to sit in the Parliament if the Treaty of Lisbon comes into effect... |
BNP | 107,794 | 7.5 | Not elected | Multi member constituencies; party list |
| 2009 European Parliament election, 2009 (United Kingdom) The European Parliament election was the United Kingdom's component of the 2009 European Parliament election, the voting for which was held on Thursday 4 June 2009, coinciding with the 2009 local elections in England. Most of the results of the election were announced on Sunday 7 June, after... |
West Midlands West Midlands (European Parliament constituency) West Midlands is a constituency of the European Parliament. For 2009 it elected 6 MEPs using the d'Hondt method of party-list proportional representation. The constituency will also elect a "virtual MEP" who will be able to sit in the Parliament if the Treaty of Lisbon comes into effect... |
BNP | 121,967 | 8.6 | Not elected | Multi member constituencies; party list |