A BLACKBURN with Darwen councillor is taking on a national role for the English Democrats Party.

Michael Johnson, who has represented the far-right England First Party, the For Darwen Party, and is the Fernhurst ward councillor on Blackburn with Darwen Council, has taken over the role of chairman of the North West English Democrats.

He said he joined the party to stop the British National Party getting a foothold in the area.

BNP leader Nick Griffin is standing for a North West seat in the European Parliament elections in June.

The English Democrats are a Euro-sceptic party which campaigns for England to be recognised and treated as a nation in its own right, as is the case with Scotland and Wales.

The party also wants England to leave the European Union and to rejoin the European Free Trade Association.

Mr Johnson, 48, of Dean Street, Darwen, said: “Nick Griffin stands a very good chance of getting in.

"Him getting into Europe on a Lancashire ticket will be a nightmare and will spark a BNP revival.”