Alan Craig

Alan Craig
Leader of The Christian Peoples Alliance
In office
2004–2012
Preceded by Michael Elmer
Succeeded by Sidney Cordle
Councillor for the London Borough of Newham
In office
2 May 2002 – 6 May 2010
Personal details
Nationality British
Political party Christian Peoples Alliance (2004-13)
UK Independence Party
(2014-)
Spouse(s) Sally
Religion Christian
Website http://www.alansangle.com/

Alexander Alan Craig is a British political campaigner who was leader of the Christian Peoples Alliance from 2004 to 2012. He stood as a candidate for Mayor of London in 2008 and was a councillor in the London Borough of Newham for eight years. He joined UKIP in 2014 and has twice stood for the party.

Craig was director of the Mayflower Centre in Canning Town between 1995 and 2004.

Political career

Craig first stood for Newham Council in 1998 as a Christian Democrat candidate in Ordnance ward and in 2001 he stood in a by-election for Beckton ward.[1]

He was elected to Newham Council for Canning Town South in the 2002 local elections becoming the only opposition councillor.[2] In the 2006 elections he was re-elected with an increased majority as part of a group of three Christian Peoples Alliance councillors. However he lost his council seat in 2010.[3]

He stood in the elections for directly elected mayor of Newham in 2002, 2006[4] and 2010, coming fourth each time.

He became leader of the Christian Peoples Alliance in 2004 and led the party in the 2005 general election and the 2010 general election.[5][6]

In 2008 London mayoral election Craig stood as a "Christian Choice" candidate, representing the Christian Peoples Alliance and the Christian Party. He received 39,249 first choice votes (1.62%) and 80,140 second choice votes (4.00%),[7] finishing sixth in the first round of voting, and being eliminated for the second.[8]

Craig opposed the building of the London Markaz Mosque; he said that while he supports the right to worship, he had fears over the impact upon the community and on security.[9][10] He also opposed the opening of one of the regional casinos in Newham,[11] campaigned to end the DESO-funded arms fair[12] and played a leading role in the campaign to save the Queens Road Market.[13]

In 2011 he was criticised[14] for referring to the "Gaystapo" of "gay-rights storm troopers" with "Nazi expansionist ambitions".[15] In 2013 Craig became the spokesperson for a new group called 'Gay Marriage No Thanks'.[16] In July 2009, Craig described the Bishop of Rochester, the Rt Revd Dr Michael Nazir-Ali, as 'saintly' and 'honourable' for stating that homosexuals should "repent and be changed".[17] In 2013, he compared gay rights activists in the UK to Pakistani fundamentalists, claiming that 'away from the spotlight gay activists in the UK are as up for criminal violence as any turbaned Muslim militant'.[18]

Craig has served on the Council of the Movement for Christian Democracy, the Canning Town Partnership Board and the Council for Racial Equality in Newham.[19]

In October 2014, Craig joined UKIP.[20] In the 2015 general election he was the UKIP candidate for Brent North[21] but lost his deposit.[22] His selection as UKIP candidate[23] for South West constituency in the London Assembly election, 2016 prompted the resignation of the runner-up, LGBT activist and former parliamentary candidate, Richard Hendron, who described Craig as "a nasty, homophobic individual who is driven by hatred of the LGBT community".[24] He came fifth in the election for the South West constituency, gaining 7% of the vote.

References

  1. ↑ Muir, Hugh (2001-03-28). "Labour's fortress threatened by a Christian soldier.". The Evening Standard.
  2. ↑ Graves, David (2002-03-05). "Hospital protesters win control of council". The Daily Telegraph.
  3. ↑ "Local Election Results 2010 - Canning Town South". Newham.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 7 August 2010. Retrieved 2010-05-12.
  4. ↑ "Election results 4 May 2006". Newham.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 8 September 2009. Retrieved 2010-05-12.
  5. ↑ Wheeler, Brian (2004-11-04). "Rousing the party faithful". BBC.
  6. ↑ Staff (25 April 2005). "Labour's fortress threatened by a Christian soldier.". BBC.
  7. ↑ Mayoral Results
  8. ↑ "Mosque critic brands himself the 'Christian choice' for mayor News". Thisislondon.co.uk. Retrieved 2010-05-12.
  9. ↑ Johnston, Pillip (2006-09-25). "The shadow cast by a mega-mosque". The Daily Telegraph.
  10. ↑ Allen, Nick (2006-10-30). "Olympic-Size London Mosque May Eclipse Landmarks". Bloomberg L.P.
  11. ↑ Saini, Angela (2007-02-01). "Say no to casino!". BBC London. BBC. Retrieved 2008-02-09.
  12. ↑ "Profile: Alan Craig". Archived from the original on 8 April 2008. Retrieved 2008-04-29.
  13. ↑ "Friend's of Queen's Market". Archived from the original on 7 May 2008. Retrieved 2008-04-29.
  14. ↑ "Anglican newspaper defends 'Gaystapo' article" The Guardian 8 November 2011
  15. ↑ http://www.alansangle.com/?p=851
  16. ↑ "New gay marriage no thanks group launches". Pinknews. 2013-06-17.
  17. ↑ http://www.alansangle.com/?p=194
  18. ↑ http://www.alansangle.com/?p=1366
  19. ↑ Christians Peoples Alliance - People
  20. ↑ Asa Bennett, "Ukip Defend Controversial Ex-Christian Party Leader Alan Craig Joining Party", Huffington Post UK
  21. ↑ Statement of Persons Nominated, Brent North
  22. ↑ Election result on Brent Council website
  23. ↑ "Andy McSmith's Diary: Political incorrectness – Ukip's way of choosing a candidate" The Independent, 1 March 2016
  24. ↑ "Ukip gay rights organiser quits attacking "vile" candidate who compared LGBT campaigners to Nazis" Daily Mirror 8 February 2016

External links

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