THE English Democrat Party has hit back after a Wirral trade unionist accused it of 'racism and homophobia'.

Party chairman and founder Robin Tilbrook said the claims were 'downright lies'.

Last week, Alec McFadden said Wirral TUC and the Merseyside Coalition Against Racism Fascism and would campaign against the ED candidate for the Pensby and Thingwall by-election, which will take place on February 28.

Mr Tilbrook, in a letter to the Globe, which we are treating as a right of reply, said: "The English Democrats are certainly not a racist or homophobic party and have never had any history whatsoever of violence, and nor has our candidate. All of that is pure invention.

"Alec McFadden claims to represent an organisation, Labour's Trade Union Congress, which is, however, just like the Labour Party itself, institutionally anti-English, being happy to have a Scottish TUC and a Welsh TUC - but opposed to an English TUC.

"The English Democrats' campaign is a moderate and sensible one to improve England's democracy.

"We are England's answer to the Scottish National Party and Plaid Cymru."

He continued: "We campaign for a Parliament for England, First Minister and Government, with at least the same powers as the Scottish ones within a Federal UK [and] for St George's Day to be England's National holiday."

He said the English Democrats' greatest electoral success includes winning the directly-elected executive mayorality of Doncaster.