`Nig-nogs'? "That's just an expression I've always used...Is it offensive?"
In mid-April, UKIP's challenge for Salford Mayor and the local council took a hammering when Joseph William Evans, its candidate for Boothstown and Ellenbrook, declared, "I am a supporter of eugenics and am also particularly interested in the ideas of Oswald Mosley and have published two books on Amazon expressing such views".
Evans resigned from UKIP, writing that his thoughts had been "censored" by the Party, and left with a parting shot... "I feel that they, in their essence, are presenting a likeable image to the electorate; when actually, what is lurking behind the curtain of UKIP Salford (and perhaps of UKIP itself) is a detestable club of self-interested, political aspirants; hiding away their skeletons, and of whom, for that reason, are lying to the average voter"... (see previous Salford Star article for full story click here)
The ideas of fascist Oswald Mosley? Supporting eugenics? It's an image that Hammond desperately tried to disown, while being tarred with the brush of harbouring people with such views...
"He had gone through the UKIP vetting procedure" he told the Salford Star "I'm lost for words. We don't support Mosley or eugenics. I'm totally bemused."
A few weeks before this broke, the Salford Star interviewed Hammond about his bid to become Salford Mayor, and the first question had to be immigration, with allegations that UKIP is exploiting the issue...
"I'm not asking for people to vote for me to stop immigration" he explained "We have no control over it locally. I'm sure people are intelligent enough to realise that we can't do anything about it.... I'm married to an immigrant, I don't want her to go home."
Even so, he managed to squeeze into our chat that Salford needs 4,500 new school places..."mainly because of immigration...and I didn't say that, the Council said it", he added.
The Council actually didn't say that. It predicted a need for 4,500 places through `migration and pupil yield from new housing'... `Migration' includes the flow of young professionals into the city. But `We need to control the flow of young professionals!' doesn't sound quite as UKIP.
Hammond's big idea is for direct democracy... "People could vote like they do on Strictly Come Dancing" he decided "I know it's not binding but that's the sort of thing I want to introduce, certainly on big issues like fracking and bus lanes and Greater Manchester. We need the voters to tell us what to do."
So he has no policy on fracking and things like that? "I don't know what the issues are, I'm not a scientist" he responded "Every time you ask me a question I will say I would go back to the people and find out what the majority of them want because that is democracy."
So how would he cope with more Government cuts from the budget? "Let's not spend £19million on Worsley Gardens; let's not subsidise AJ Bell Stadium; let's get our loan back from the owner of the Red Devils...I'm sure this money could be found somewhere. And why are these people not paying fees for planning regulation?"
How would he do it? "I will bring my experience as a businessman and a trained leader in the air force, find out the facts and make a decision" he decides "I'm absolutely certain we could live within our budget and could finance what sick people, disabled people and all the other groups need. On top of that I don't think the Council taps the charity market enough...to supplement it."
His other big idea is for more support to armed forces cadets, and squadrons of non-uniformed city cadets "under the control of the Youth Council" who would be trained by volunteer adults to "go into the community and do something useful", like "litter picking".
Other ideas include opposition to three-weekly bin collections, abolishing the ceremonial mayor and flogging off the city's limo. He also wants to bring the modern cotton industry back to Salford and, "Everyone thinks I'm mad but I've started a petition to move the Houses of Parliament to Salford Quays..."
On more immediate matters, Hammond doesn't support the strikes by junior doctors and wouldn't support Salford trade unions if they took industrial action to protect jobs...
"They do a good job for their workers in terms of sickness but I don't think strikes are effective" he said "I think they're counter-productive and I think they've done our country a lot of damage over the years. I support the doctors but I don't think they should go on strike."
We chatted about Peel Holdings' Port Salford... "A wonderful project but not going according to plan" he explained "Planning was given on condition that all transport links were completed before the Port. Instead, they went back to the Council and got one operator starting this April before the rail link completed.
"At the last meeting they said that Brussels had refused the money for the rail link and they're not building it" he added "My first question is `Why are we asking Brussels, why isn't the Northen Powerhouse paying for it'?
"I've had massive arguments with [Councillor] Roger Jones and the other nig-nogs on the committee..." he adds...
Nig-nogs? "That's just an expression I've always used" he replied "Is it offensive? The Goons used to call people nig nogs."
Straight to the Google dictionaries...First result: `English taboo old-fashioned. A very offensive word for a black person. Do not use this word..."
Second result: `Contemptuous, good humoured, non-racial, slang: A foolish person'... ...Even so, can Salford have a Mayor going around calling people `nig-nogs'?
...And could the former RAF officer who lives in Salford Quays relate to ordinary Salford people?
"I work for several charities, a homeless shelter...I talk to people and knock on doors" he replied "I would open my office for one day a week for people to come and have a chat."
He would take the £69,000 salary that goes with the Mayor job... "I would donate some of it to charity but I should have some reward" he explained.
So is Nigel Farage a help or hindrance in the campaign? "He's a great help, every door we knock on they say `Oh yes we saw Nigel on tv'..."
After the interview was over, Hammond sent over a statement on immigration which included the following paragraph, referring to Nigel Farage ..
"My own dear leader got into trouble recently for jokingly excusing his late arrival at a meeting because immigrants were causing jams on the motorway" he wrote "But many a true word is spoken in jest..."
The full list of candidates standing for Salford City Mayor on 5th May...
Robin Garrido Conservative Party click here for interview
Wendy Olsen Green Party - click here for interview
Paul Dennett Labour Party click here for ass interview
Owen Hammond UKIP
*See also previous Salford Star article Salford Mayor Election on brink of democratic disaster as no-one can name candidates or parties standing click here
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