The leader of the PVV Freedom Party in the provincial assembly of Friesland has left the party and will continue as an independent member.

Jelle Hiemstra said his dissident views on ‘Islamisation’ were not appreciated by the national leadership in The Hague. Last month Mr Hiemstra said the Friesland branch of the party is not merely concerned about [Muslim] 'headscarves' but also with purely Frisian issues such as the controversial Omrin waste incineration plant in the town of Harlingen and subsidies for the annual Oerol music and theatre festival on the island of Terschelling.

Mr Hiemstra argues that Frisian issues receive inadequate support from the national party. “Our provincial bloc has different priorities. Here we work together with the Labour Party and the Green Left Party.”

In September this year Mr Hiemstra was attacked in his home by masked men. In relation to that incident he has now said, “I never received any support whatsoever from either the PVV in The Hague or the PVV in Friesland.”

(gsh/tf)