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| Hain voices fear over BNP victory | Hain voices fear over BNP victory |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| A former minister has warned that the UK's main parties are "complacent" about the British National Party, after the BNP won a local election victory. | |
| Labour MP Peter Hain told The Independent Britain's recession offered "fertile" territory for the BNP. | Labour MP Peter Hain told The Independent Britain's recession offered "fertile" territory for the BNP. |
| He was speaking after the BNP won a seat at a by-election for Sevenoaks District Council in Kent. | He was speaking after the BNP won a seat at a by-election for Sevenoaks District Council in Kent. |
| The party has hailed what it described as its "first breakthrough" south of the River Thames. | The party has hailed what it described as its "first breakthrough" south of the River Thames. |
| Mr Hain said: "Everybody across the political spectrum - especially the Labour Party - has to prioritise beating the BNP with a vigorous strategy based on grassroots politics to win local trust and also making sure we deliver on affordable housing and deliver on jobs. | Mr Hain said: "Everybody across the political spectrum - especially the Labour Party - has to prioritise beating the BNP with a vigorous strategy based on grassroots politics to win local trust and also making sure we deliver on affordable housing and deliver on jobs. |
| "There is very fertile territory for [the BNP] now. When people are losing their jobs and there is an economic downturn... it's heaven-made for them." | "There is very fertile territory for [the BNP] now. When people are losing their jobs and there is an economic downturn... it's heaven-made for them." |
| His comments to the newspaper followed the BNP's victory in a council seat previously held by the Labour party in the Swanley St Mary's ward. | His comments to the newspaper followed the BNP's victory in a council seat previously held by the Labour party in the Swanley St Mary's ward. |
| BNP candidate Paul Golding received 408 votes, beating Labour's Mike Hogg by 86 votes. | BNP candidate Paul Golding received 408 votes, beating Labour's Mike Hogg by 86 votes. |
| Councillor Golding said local young people found it "almost impossible" to get a council house. | Councillor Golding said local young people found it "almost impossible" to get a council house. |
| He blamed a policy that allocated council houses to "foreigners and asylum seekers". | He blamed a policy that allocated council houses to "foreigners and asylum seekers". |
| The local Conservative MP for Sevenoaks, Michael Fallon, described the BNP's victory as "worrying". | The local Conservative MP for Sevenoaks, Michael Fallon, described the BNP's victory as "worrying". |