BNP polls strongly in Oldham

The far-right British National Party has recorded its best-ever general election result in a constituency plagued by recent racial unrest.

BNP leader Nick Griffin came third in the Oldham West and Royton constituency, behind Labour Environment Minister Michael Meacher and the Conservative candidate.

Mr Griffin polled 6,552 votes, pushing the Liberal Democrats into fourth place.

The BNP share of the vote was 16.4%

The party also recorded a strong result in the neighbouring constituency of Oldham East and Saddleworth.

Taxi driver Mick Treacy collected 5,091 votes, some 11% of the total vote.

White people have lodged their protest against racist attacks, through the ballot box

Nick Griffin

It is the first time the party has saved its deposit in the north of England.

The BNP concentrated its efforts on a strong showing in Oldham following recent clashes between young Asians and the police in the city.

Protest vote

Mr Griffin claimed victory for the party saying: "White people have lodged their protest against racist attacks through the ballot box."

Some have accused the party of deliberately inflaming a tense situation.

Members of the Anti-Nazi League staged a protest in Oldham.

Around 80 Anti-Nazi League demonstrators stood outside the hall where the Oldham counts took place, waving placards as the count got under way.

The chief executive of Oldham Council, Andrew Kilburn, banned candidates from addressing the counts for fear that a demonstration by the BNP might incite further racial tension.

Gags

Both BNP candidates wore gags in protest at the ruling.

Mr Griffin denied the BNP was inflaming racial tension.

He said: "It's not going to incite violence. White people have felt there is no-one standing up for them, they don't have a political voice.

"Young men feel there is nothing for them in the political process. Now they know there is someone standing up for them. It means these youngsters can get involved in the political process and have a voice."

Mr Griffin added: "There are thousands and thousands of white people who feel intimidated by the violent Asian minority."

Mr Meacher blamed the strong BNP showing partly on William Hague's recent speech about the dangers of Britain becoming a foreign land.

He said such sentiments had driven people into the arms of the far right.

Mr Meacher said: "This vote comes on the back of the deliberate stirring up of violence, intimidation and hatred over the past month or so which has destroyed local politics."

Recently released figures show that 572 racist attacks have occurred in Oldham over the last year with 60% of victims white.