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Quit demands for councillor on BNP list
A BARNSLEY councillor is facing demands to quit after her name appeared on a leaked list of BNP members.
But Independent Coun Donna Hollins has denied being a member of the far right political party.
She was included in a list of 12,000 alleged members posted online.
Three months ago rumours swept the town hall that she was in the BNP.
Barnsley has never had a BNP councillor but in recent years the party has seen its vote increase. It came second in eight wards in elections earlier this year.
Coun Hollins has served on the council since 2004. She has represented Kingstone ward since May 2006. Her term of office expires in 2010.
A councillor, who asked not to be named, said if she was a BNP member she had deceived voters and should resign.
He added: "She's very meek, never talks to anyone. I can only remember her once standing in the council chamber and that was to second a motion against asylum seekers."
Miss Hollins, aged in her 40s, sits on the Regeneration Scrutiny Commission, Joint Employees' Consultative committee and Appeals and Awards Regulatory Board. She is also on the Friends of Locke Park committee and a Cooper Art gallery trustee.
She lives in Barnsley town centre and works part-time in a dry-cleaners.
Coun Hollins said she was aware her name was on the BNP list of members but when asked how it came to be there said: "No comment."
Ward colleague Independent Coun Geoff Bowden said: "We confronted her about this three months ago and she denied it."
Barnsley Council borough secretary Andrew Frosdick said: "I can confirm Coun Donna Hollins has contacted me as the officer responsible for the Register of Members Interests and she has confirmed that her entries on the register, which make no reference to membership of any political party, are accurate and up to date."
Town hall records show Coun Hollins seconded a motion lodged on June 26 calling for the council to, 'give immediate notice to terminate its contract with the Home Office for the provision of accommodation and related services to asylum seekers'.
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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