The British National Party has experienced a dramatic increase in support, and nationally polled about 14% of the vote in last week’s elections, according to Labour Party MP Jon Cruddas, a deputy leadership candidate for that party.
Speaking at a rally in Trafalgar Square, Cruddas said that “the BNP achieved very significant levels of support in some parts of the country, polling in excess of 27% of the votes cast in the wards they contested in Stoke-on-Trent and close to a quarter of the votes in Rotherham, Burnley, Sandwell and Thurrock. An extra 2,500 votes in North Wales would have seen the BNP gain a seat in the Welsh Assembly.”
The BNP polled an average 14% to 15% of the result nationally after fielding 743 candidates in district and borough council wards and over 130 candidates in Welsh, Scottish and parish council elections.
The Labour Party MP said the results “are especially worrying given evidence that the BNP did not actively campaign in many areas.”
“The BNP stood more candidates in last week’s elections than they had members just a few years ago and despite the fact they actively campaigned in only a handful of wards, they have polled consistently around 15% of the vote.
“We have to accept that something palpable is happening here. The BNP is tapping into people’s latent fears and disillusionment with the mainstream parties. The fact that the BNP achieved these levels of support despite the fact that the vast majority were paper candidates who did not put out a single leaflet or knock on a single door is particularly worrying.”
“There must be no complacency. The BNP are on course to win seats on the Greater London Assembly and several Members of the European Parliament. If they achieve this then they have broken into the mainstream,” he said.
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