Archbishop urges 'anti-fear vote'

Dr Sentamu has the second highest post in the Church of England

The Archbishop of York is urging people voting in the local elections in England this week to shun parties seeking to clamp down on immigration.

Referring to parties like the British National Party, Dr John Sentamu said they espoused the "politics of fear".

Dr Sentamu, who was born in Uganda, described Britain as "a country of immigrants" and said that the country was "most accommodating".

The BNP rejected the comments and said it was the only real opposition.

I know from my own area the damage they can do in terms of community relations, it is a terrible party Phil Woolas Local Government Minister

Dr Sentamu told BBC Radio Four's Sunday programme: "This country has been one of the most welcoming, most accommodating.

"I want to suggest if it lost that because people simply say 'we're going to put a barbed wire around a number of things in order for us to feel safe', that is not actual security, that's fear - and any politics which plays on people's fears in the long run, give it a bit of time, it will fail".

Dr Phil Edwards, national press officer for the BNP, said that Christian clergy should concentrate on filling the churches.

Terrible party

Phil Woolas, the local government minister, reiterated calls for voters not to support the BNP.

Mr Woolas insisted that the BNP was a "terrible party" and expressed his wish that voters support anyone else other than the far right group.

He told Sunday Live on Sky News: "I know from my own area the damage they can do in terms of community relations, it is a terrible party."

Saying 'vote for anybody else' is crazy Phil Edwards BNP

Employment minister Margaret Hodge has warned that as many as eight out of 10 voters in her Barking constituency were considering voting BNP.

Mr Woolas agreed that in some areas of the country the BNP did have "significant support" but stressed that was in a very small number of areas.

He said: "But I think where that is the case the local politicians have a duty to highlight that.

"In most cases of course you would say 'well don't give them the publicity because they don't credit it and don't deserve it', but if you do face that situation you have to hit it head on."

'Message of hate'

Shadow Commons leader Theresa May said the three parties had an obligation to denounce the BNP's "appalling message of hate".

Vince Cable, the Liberal Democrats' Treasury spokesman, condemned Ms Hodge's comments as "naive and foolish" in advertising the BNP.

He added: "What we have to create is a political framework in which people don't scapegoat black and Asian citizens and blame them for underlying problems."

Dr Edwards, however, insisted that these comments "proved" that the BNP were the real opposition.

He said: "Saying 'vote for anybody else' is crazy."