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Yorkshire elects BNP's first MEP | |
(about 1 hour later) | |
The BNP has won its first seat in the European Parliament after gaining 10% of the vote in Yorkshire and Humber. | |
The party came fifth in the regional poll, won by the Conservatives, but garnered enough votes to win a seat. | |
Health Secretary Andy Burnham said the BNP's success was a "sad moment" for British politics. | |
Earlier, protesters briefly stopped BNP leader Nick Griffin from entering the building in Manchester where results of European elections are being announced. | |
'Misrepresentation' | |
The BNP won more than 120,139 votes in the Yorkshire region, slightly less than in 2004, but enough to take one of the six seats on offer in the region. | |
Successful candidate Andrew Brons, a retired university lecturer, acknowledged that his victory would not be "universally popular". | |
Despite the lies, money and misrepresentation, we have managed to win through Andrew Brons, BNP | |
He said the party, which is accused by its opponents of stirring racial hatred, something it denies, had survived an "onslaught" by the media and the political classes during the campaign. | |
"Despite the lies, money and misrepresentation, we have managed to win through," he said. | |
The election was the "first step" towards the UK removing itself from the "EU dictatorship", he added. | |
The BNP also hopes to win a seat in the North West region, where its leader Nick Griffin is standing. | |
But as he arrived at the count on Sunday, his car was surrounded by noisy protesters and it drove off without him getting out. | |
Protests | |
Mr Griffin later entered the building through the back entrance. | Mr Griffin later entered the building through the back entrance. |
The BNP leader was accompanied by a number of minders. | The BNP leader was accompanied by a number of minders. |
There is a substantial police presence outside Manchester Town Hall, where the votes for the region are being counted. | There is a substantial police presence outside Manchester Town Hall, where the votes for the region are being counted. |
Police said one man was arrested in scuffles when Mr Griffin tried to get into the building through the front entrance and his car was surrounded by a small crowd of noisy protesters. | Police said one man was arrested in scuffles when Mr Griffin tried to get into the building through the front entrance and his car was surrounded by a small crowd of noisy protesters. |
"Mr Griffin has been driven away to avoid the protests that they have set up at both entrances," a council spokesman said. | "Mr Griffin has been driven away to avoid the protests that they have set up at both entrances," a council spokesman said. |
"Mr Griffin, as one of the MEP candidates, will have to gain access to the town hall at some point for the count," it added. | "Mr Griffin, as one of the MEP candidates, will have to gain access to the town hall at some point for the count," it added. |
The BNP has targeted the North West during the campaign. | The BNP has targeted the North West during the campaign. |
It won one of its three English county council seats in Burnley in Thursday's elections. | It won one of its three English county council seats in Burnley in Thursday's elections. |
The BNP is hoping to improve on its European performance in 2004 when it won just under 5% of the vote. | The BNP is hoping to improve on its European performance in 2004 when it won just under 5% of the vote. |