A HARDLINE stance by the Fire Service against racists and bigots has been scrapped before it even began.

Members of Dorset Fire Authority voted unanimously to withdraw a proposed statement from the chief fire officer dissuading members of the British National Party from applying for jobs.

The rejected statement said: "Anyone holding and expressing the views and opinions of the BNP would not be capable of meeting our core values and the range of personal qualities and attributes we require of our employees."

It sparked anger locally from members of the BNP and civil rights organisation Liberty and Law.

Speaking at the Fire Authority meeting yesterday Col Geoffrey Brierley recommended the statement be withdrawn. He added: "It is totally inappropriate to single out one political party in this way.

"If any member of the Fire Authority behaves in an improper way he will be dismissed. I don't see why we should single out this particular political party - it's not proscribed as a political party."

Cllr Anson Westbrook added: "It is the right of any individual to stand up and speak whether one agrees with his views or not."

And he urged the chief fire officer to ensure in future that the chairman and vice chairman of Dorset Fire Authority better scrutinise agendas before they are released to the press and public.

Chief Fire Officer Martin Chapman warned members that this issue is likely to arise again in the form of policy from the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister. And he said: "We would not have been the first fire authority in the country to issue this statement.

"As a Fire Authority you need to understand that and you might find yourselves having to revisit this issue."

Members voted in favour of a race equality scheme, which will be published online and distributed to libraries throughout the county and chairman Cllr David Fox concluded it is comprehensive enough to protect the authority against any possible problems.

First published: October 25