Alan Craig
{{About|the British political campaigner|the Scottish footballer|Allan Craig}}
{{short description|British UK Independence Party politician|bot=PearBOT 5}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2017}}
{{Use British English|date=March 2012}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Alan Craig
| image = Alan_craig_cropped.jpg
| office1 = Leader Of The Opposition On Newham Borough Council
| term_start1 = 2 May 2002
| term_end1 = 6 May 2010
| office2 = Member of Newham Borough Council
for Canning Town South
| term_start2 = 2 May 2002
| term_end2 = 6 May 2010
| office = Leader of the Christian Peoples Alliance
| term_start = 2004
| term_end = 2012
| predecessor = Ram Gidoomal
| successor = Sidney Cordle
| birth_date ={{Birth based on age as of date|58|2004|11|04}}
| birth_place =
| death_date =
| death_place =
| nationality = British
| party = Christian Peoples Alliance (2002–2013)
UK Independence Party (2014–2019)
| spouse =
| website = http://www.alansangle.com/
| footnotes =
}}
Alexander Alan Craig is a British politician and community worker who previously served as leader of the Christian Peoples Alliance (CPA) from 2004 to 2012. He stood as a candidate for Mayor of London in 2008 and was a councillor in Newham for eight years. He defected to the UK Independence Party (UKIP) in 2014, where he served as UKIP's spokesperson for families and children from 2018 to around 2019.
Life
Craig was born in 1945 or 1946. He studied for a Master of Business Administration.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/london/content/articles/2008/02/15/profile_alan_craig_feature.shtml|title=Profile: Alan Craig|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080408081850/http://www.bbc.co.uk/london/content/articles/2008/02/15/profile_alan_craig_feature.shtml|archive-date=8 April 2008|accessdate=29 April 2008}} He became an evangelical Christian in his mid-thirties.
Political career
= Christian Peoples Alliance =
Craig first stood for Newham Council in 1998 as an independent candidate in Ordnance ward, and in 2001 he stood in a by-election for Beckton ward for the Christian Peoples Alliance.{{cite news |title= Labour's fortress threatened by a Christian soldier. |url=https://www.questia.com/read/1G1-75314440|work= The Evening Standard | first= Hugh |last= Muir |date= 28 March 2001}}
He was elected to Newham Council for Canning Town South in the 2002 local elections, becoming the only non-Labour councillor. On the same day, he unsuccessfully ran to be mayor of Newham, coming fourth.{{cite news |title= Hospital protesters win control of council|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2002/05/04/nhosp04.xml|work= The Daily Telegraph| first= David |last= Graves |date= 5 March 2002}}{{dead link|date=July 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} In the 2006 elections he was re-elected as a councillor as part of a group of three Christian Peoples Alliance councillors, and unsuccessfully ran to be mayor of Newham, coming fourth again. As a councillor, 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.{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/core/Content/displayPrintable.jhtml?xml=/opinion/2006/09/25/do2502.xml&site=15&page=0|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061002011605/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/core/Content/displayPrintable.jhtml?xml=%2Fopinion%2F2006%2F09%2F25%2Fdo2502.xml&site=15&page=0|url-status=dead|archive-date=2 October 2006|title=The shadow cast by a mega-mosque|last=Johnston|first=Pillip|date=25 September 2006|work=The Daily Telegraph|access-date=2 September 2021}}{{cite news|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=a96oW0MwLsrE|title=Olympic-Size London Mosque May Eclipse Landmarks|last=Allen|first=Nick|date=30 October 2006|publisher=Bloomberg L.P.}} He also opposed the opening of one of the regional casinos in Newham,{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/london/content/articles/2007/01/31/anti_casino_feature.shtml|title=Say no to casino!|last=Saini|first=Angela|author-link=Angela Saini|date=1 February 2007|work=BBC London|publisher=BBC|accessdate=9 February 2008}} campaigned to end the DESO-funded arms fair and played a leading role in the campaign to save the Queens Road Market.{{cite web|url=http://www.friendsofqueensmarket.org.uk/|title=Friend's of Queen's Market|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080507213859/http://www.friendsofqueensmarket.org.uk/|archive-date=7 May 2008|accessdate=29 April 2008}} He lost his council seat in 2010, when he unsuccessfully ran to be mayor of Newham a third time.{{cite web|url=http://www.newham.gov.uk/YourCouncil/VotingAndElections/LocalElectionResults2010-CanningTownSouth.htm |title=Local Election Results 2010 - Canning Town South |publisher=Newham.gov.uk |accessdate=12 May 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100807081216/http://www.newham.gov.uk/YourCouncil/VotingAndElections/LocalElectionResults2010-CanningTownSouth.htm |archive-date=7 August 2010 |df=dmy }}
He became leader of the Christian Peoples Alliance in 2004 and led the party in the 2005 general election and the 2010 general election, in which the party won no seats.{{cite news |title= Rousing the party faithful |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/3959307.stm|publisher= BBC News| first= Brian |last= Wheeler |date= 4 November 2004}}{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/4482833.stm|title=CPA makes cash pledge to couples|date=25 April 2005|publisher=BBC News}}
In 2011 he was criticised for comparing gay rights activists to Nazis in the Church of England Newspaper.[https://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/nov/08/anglican-newspaper-defends-gaystapo-article "Anglican newspaper defends 'Gaystapo' article" The Guardian 8 November 2011] In 2013 Craig became the spokesperson for a campaign group against same-sex marriage called "Gay Marriage No Thanks", and compared same-sex marriage to child abuse.{{cite news |title= New gay marriage no thanks group launches |url=http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2013/06/17/new-gay-marriage-no-thanks-group-launches-with-ten-good-reasons-to-oppose-equal-marriage/|publisher= Pinknews |date= 17 June 2013}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2014/10/07/ukip-christian-alan-craig_n_5944838.html|title=Ukip Defend Man Who Fears 'Gaystapo' Joining Party|date=2014-10-07|website=HuffPost UK|access-date=2019-11-17}}
=UK Independence Party=
In October 2014, Craig joined the UK Independence Party (UKIP). In the 2015 general election, he was the UKIP candidate for Brent North where he lost his deposit, coming fourth with 3.9% of the vote.{{cite web|url=http://brent.gov.uk/media/15362372/Statement-of-persons-nomination-Brent-North.pdf|title=Statement of Persons Nominated, Brent North}}{{cite web|url=http://democracy.brent.gov.uk/mgElectionAreaResults.aspx?XXR=0&ID=95&RPID=10506197|title=Election results for Brent North, 7 May 2015}}
He was due to speak at an event advocating conversion therapy organised by the Core Issues Trust in April 2015.{{Cite web|url=https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2015/04/12/exclusive-ukip-candidate-alan-craig-to-speak-at-gay-cure-event/|title=Exclusive: UKIP candidate Alan Craig to speak at 'gay cure' event|date=2015-04-12|website=PinkNews|access-date=2019-11-17}} The conference organisers later asked him not to speak to avoid associating the event with a political party.{{Cite web|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2015/04/13/ukips-alan-craig-former-christian-peoples-alliance-leader-gets-iced-from-conference-on-unwanted-same-sex-attractions_n_7056420.html|title=Ukip Candidate Dropped From 'Gay Cure' Conference|date=2015-04-13|website=HuffPost UK|access-date=2019-11-17}}
He was selected to be UKIP's candidate for the South West constituency in the 2016 London Assembly election.[https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/andy-mcsmiths-diary-political-incorrectness-ukip-s-way-of-choosing-a-candidate-a6903931.html "Andy McSmith's Diary: Political incorrectness – Ukip's way of choosing a candidate"] The Independent, 1 March 2016 The runner up in the selection, LGBT activist and former parliamentary candidate Richard Hendron, resigned from the party over Craig's selection.{{Cite web|url=https://www.yourlocalguardian.co.uk/news/14259429.ukip-member-richard-hendron-quits-over-homophobic-abuse-and-selection-of-gay-cure-advocate-alan-craig-for-kingston-and-richmond-gla-seat/|title=UKIP member quits over 'homophobic abuse' and selection of 'gay cure' advocate for GLA seat|website=Your Local Guardian|access-date=2019-11-17}}{{Cite web|url=https://metro.co.uk/2016/02/08/ukips-selects-candidate-that-called-lgbt-activists-the-gaystapo-5669528/|title=Ukip's just selected a candidate that called LGBT activists the 'Gaystapo'|date=2016-02-08|website=Metro|access-date=2019-11-17}} UKIP's deputy chair, Suzanne Evans opposed his selection. The party's leader, Nigel Farage, removed her from her position and she was suspended for six months.{{Cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/andy-mcsmiths-diary-political-incorrectness-ukip-s-way-of-choosing-a-candidate-a6903931.html|title=A man who once called for war against the 'Gaystapo' is now a Ukip candidate|date=2016-02-29|website=The Independent|access-date=2019-11-17}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2016/mar/23/ukip-suzanne-evans-suspended-disloyalty-nigel-farage|title=Ukip suspends Suzanne Evans for disloyalty|last=Mason|first=Rowena|date=2016-03-23|work=The Guardian|access-date=2019-11-17|issn=0261-3077}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/suzanne-evans-ukip-court-farage_uk_56f2bf2ee4b08af01bea0124|title=Suzanne Evans Suspended By Ukip After She Called For Candidate Who Compared Gays To Nazis To Be Axed|date=2016-03-23|website=HuffPost UK|access-date=2019-11-17}} Craig came fifth in the election for the South West constituency, with 7% of the vote. In 2016, he wrote that he wanted to see "the gay marriage debate reopened".{{Cite web|url=https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2018/09/21/ukip-vows-to-gut-lgbt-rights-in-extreme-new-manifesto/|title=UKIP vows to gut LGBT rights in extreme new manifesto|date=2018-09-21|website=PinkNews|access-date=2019-11-17}}
In the 2017 general election, he was the UKIP candidate for Witney. He finished last and lost his deposit, receiving 1.6% of the vote.{{cite web|url=http://www.westoxon.gov.uk/media/1605138/Statement-of-Persons-Nominated-and-Notice-of-Poll-for-Parliamentary-Election.pdf|title=Statement of Persons Nominated, Witney}} After the election, he was campaign manager for David Kurten's 2017 leadership campaign to be leader of UKIP.{{Cite web|url=https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2018/05/14/ukip-david-kurten-lewisham-east-anti-gay/|title=UKIP picks anti-LGBT candidate who claimed gays were 'abused as children' to run in Lewisham East|date=2018-05-14|website=PinkNews|access-date=2019-11-17}}
In March 2018 Craig was appointed UKIP's first Spokesperson for Families & Children, leading to resignations from the leadership of the party's LGBT group.{{Cite web|url=https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2018/03/29/ukips-lgbt-officials-resign-in-protest-after-anti-gay-gaystapo-campaigner-named-families-chief/|title=UKIP's LGBT officials resign in protest after anti-gay 'Gaystapo' campaigner named Families chief|date=2018-03-29|website=PinkNews|access-date=2019-11-17}} He proposed that far-right activist Tommy Robinson should be allowed to join the party.{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2018/sep/06/ukip-toys-with-lifting-ban-on-tommy-robinson-joining-party|title=Ukip toys with lifting ban on Tommy Robinson joining party|last=Walker|first=Peter|date=2018-09-06|work=The Guardian|access-date=2019-11-17|issn=0261-3077}} He was criticised by groups including Quilliam for claiming that Muslim grooming gangs were orchestrating a "Holocaust of our children".{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/mar/05/far-right-infiltrating-childrens-charities-with-anti-islam-agenda|title=Far right 'infiltrating children's charities with anti-Islam agenda'|last=Halliday|first=Josh|date=2019-03-05|work=The Guardian|access-date=2019-11-17|issn=0261-3077}}{{Cite web|url=https://jewishnews.timesofisrael.com/ukip-spokesman-branded-shameful-over-holocaust-of-our-children-muslim-jibe/|title=UKIP spokesman branded shameful over 'Holocaust of our children' Muslim jibe|website=jewishnews.timesofisrael.com|access-date=2019-11-17}} At UKIP's 2018 conference, he described LGBT-inclusive education as child abuse.{{Cite web|url=https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2018/09/26/ukip-mep-homophobic-anti-islam-extremists-hijacked-party/|title=UKIP MEP says homophobic extremists have hijacked party|date=2018-09-26|website=PinkNews|access-date=2019-11-17}}
Craig stood for UKIP in the Canning Town North ward in the 2018 local elections in Newham and was the last-placed candidate on UKIP's list for the North West England constituency in the 2019 European Parliament election.{{Cite web|url=https://www.timesandstar.co.uk/news/17600061.candidates-revealed-for-european-parliament-elections/|title=Candidates revealed for European Parliament elections|website=Times and Star|access-date=2019-11-17}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.alansangle.com/ Alan Craig's personal blog]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Craig, Alan}}
Category:Councillors in the London Borough of Newham
Category:Year of birth missing (living people)