BNP man kicked out

A Tipton BNP councillor has been kicked off Sandwell Council for failing to attend a single authority meeting in the last six months.

James Lloyd, who represented the Princes End ward, has been disqualified as a result of his absence and failing to explain why.

The councillor, first elected in 2004, was sent a letter from the authority's chief executive Allison Fraser yesterday informing him of the decision.

In her letter, Dr Fraser said: "You last attended a meeting of the authority on April 12, 2007 when you were recorded as being in attendance at a meeting of the Employment Appeals Panel.

"During six months you have not provided reasons for your failure to attend and have not sought approval from the authority. You have now ceased to be a member of the authority."

The disqualification will be announced to members at a meeting of the full council on October 30. Mr Lloyd said today he was not aware of the council's decision and had been working away from home.

The BNP member was at the centre of a scandal in January when he was asked to quit as licensee of the Lagoon pub in Princes End following a string of violence.

He said today: "Since I lost the business I have been forced to take a building site job in Oxfordshire, working up to 15 hours a day. I have been coming back to Sandwell at weekends, but my phone is on 24/7 for the people who voted for me."