A BNP General Election candidate says she made her membership of the controversial party clear when she joined a York parish council.

The Press revealed yesterday how Cathy Smurthwaite – who is standing in the York Outer seat – joined Heworth Without Parish Council 18 months ago without being elected and with residents unaware of her allegiance to the far-right organisation.

But she says that when co-opted on to the council, she signed a declaration of interests detailing her membership of the BNP – condemned by many for its views on race and immigration – and had joined the parish council because she “wanted to give something back to the local community”.

“I chose to join the parish council of my own accord because I’ve lived and worked in the area for decades,” said Ms Smurthwaite.

“I’ve always liked campaigning on local issues and the parish council was a good opportunity for me to do this. I found out about the councillor vacancy after a fellow BNP member made an inquiry, after I’d expressed an interest in joining.

“All new parish councillors have to sign a declaration of interests upon joining, and I declared my membership of the BNP along with other personal interests. While I don’t bring party politics into the parish council, I’m a proud member of the BNP because they are the only party with the courage to speak up on the important national issues people care about, like protecting British jobs and bringing our troops home from Afghanistan.

“I understand some Heworth Without residents may be concerned about the BNP, but numerous residents have requested BNP information packs over the last year, so obviously not everybody is concerned.

“I want to see changes nationally. However, I also want to be an effective constituency MP and will be keeping much of my campaign local.”

Heworth Without councillor Nigel Ayre claimed residents would be “uneasy” about Ms Smurthwaite’s BNP links.

But she said: “Coun Ayre has known I’m a BNP member since at least September 2009, when I attended the Heworth council by-election count, so why has he chosen to mention this now – is it politically motivated?”

Responding to the claim by Ben Drake, of the York branch of Unite Against Fascism, that “sneaky tactics” were behind her appointment, she said: “He clearly doesn’t understand the process of filling vacancies on parish councils – or has an agenda.

“I would have been happy to stand as a BNP candidate and give residents the opportunity to vote for me, but that’s just how the system works – it’s not ideal, but it’s not my fault.”

Parish council clerk Malcolm Sunderland said: “We were not aware of her (Ms Smurthwaite’s) membership of the BNP when she was co-opted, but we are a non-political organisation and therefore her political allegiances are not relevant.

“During the last 18 months, she has been a valued parish councillor.”