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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| BNP secures two European seats | BNP secures two European seats |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| BNP leader Nick Griffin has been elected to the European Parliament as the party won its first two seats. | BNP leader Nick Griffin has been elected to the European Parliament as the party won its first two seats. |
| Mr Griffin was elected for the North West region while Andrew Brons picked up another BNP seat in Yorkshire and Humber, where it won 10% of the vote. | Mr Griffin was elected for the North West region while Andrew Brons picked up another BNP seat in Yorkshire and Humber, where it won 10% of the vote. |
| Mr Griffin said the BNP was not racist but spoke for "ordinary people" neglected by other parties. | Mr Griffin said the BNP was not racist but spoke for "ordinary people" neglected by other parties. |
| Labour and the Tories expressed their dismay at the result, saying it was a "sad moment" for British politics. | Labour and the Tories expressed their dismay at the result, saying it was a "sad moment" for British politics. |
| 'Great victory' | 'Great victory' |
| Mr Griffin was elected to Brussels even though the BNP polled fewer votes in the region than it had in 2004. | Mr Griffin was elected to Brussels even though the BNP polled fewer votes in the region than it had in 2004. |
| BNP leader Nick Griffin says his party has claimed a "great victory" | BNP leader Nick Griffin says his party has claimed a "great victory" |
| The BNP came fifth in the popular vote in the region but won a seat through the system of proportional representation used in the European elections. | The BNP came fifth in the popular vote in the region but won a seat through the system of proportional representation used in the European elections. |
| "It is a great victory," Mr Griffin said, adding that his party stood up for "indigenous people" who were victims of racial discrimination. | "It is a great victory," Mr Griffin said, adding that his party stood up for "indigenous people" who were victims of racial discrimination. |
| "We go on from here." | "We go on from here." |
| BBC political editor Nick Robinson said the BNP's success was down to the failure of other parties, not because it had appealed to many more people. | BBC political editor Nick Robinson said the BNP's success was down to the failure of other parties, not because it had appealed to many more people. |
| He added that the BNP had appeared to take votes off Labour, whose total vote fell by more than 200,000. | He added that the BNP had appeared to take votes off Labour, whose total vote fell by more than 200,000. |
| 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. | 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". | Successful candidate Andrew Brons, a retired university lecturer, acknowledged that his victory would not be "universally popular". |
| Despite the headlines, money and misrepresentation, we have managed to win through Andrew Brons, BNP | Despite the headlines, 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. | 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 headlines, money and misrepresentation, we have managed to win through," he said. | "Despite the headlines, 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 election was the "first step" towards the UK removing itself from the "EU dictatorship", he added. |
| Car attacked | Car attacked |
| Labour said the victories were a "sad moment" for British politics. | Labour said the victories were a "sad moment" for British politics. |
| "It is not a good night for anybody who campaigns against racism in politics," said Health Secretary Andy Burnham. | "It is not a good night for anybody who campaigns against racism in politics," said Health Secretary Andy Burnham. |
| Mainstream parties must "understand" why people had voted for the BNP, Mr Burnham said, and must "painstakingly" work to win back support. | Mainstream parties must "understand" why people had voted for the BNP, Mr Burnham said, and must "painstakingly" work to win back support. |
| The results showed voters were worried about immigration issues and that these concerns did need to be addressed, he added. | The results showed voters were worried about immigration issues and that these concerns did need to be addressed, he added. |
| The Conservatives said the BNP victories were a "terribly sad moment" and that mainstream parties needed to "rethink" how they countered the BNP's arguments. | The Conservatives said the BNP victories were a "terribly sad moment" and that mainstream parties needed to "rethink" how they countered the BNP's arguments. |
| "All politicians should be asking themselves 'how did we allow this to happen?'," said the party's defence secretary Liam Fox. | "All politicians should be asking themselves 'how did we allow this to happen?'," said the party's defence secretary Liam Fox. |
| Andy Burnham says the win will "redouble our determination to take them out" | Andy Burnham says the win will "redouble our determination to take them out" |
| The BNP targeted the North West during the campaign, having had earlier success in local council elections. | The BNP targeted the North West during the campaign, having had earlier success in local council elections. |
| 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. |
| As Mr Griffin arrived at the North West count - held in Manchester's town hall - on Sunday, his car was surrounded by noisy protesters, who broke one of its windows. | As Mr Griffin arrived at the North West count - held in Manchester's town hall - on Sunday, his car was surrounded by noisy protesters, who broke one of its windows. |
| Mr Griffin was forced to return later and enter the building by the back entrance, accompanied by several minders. | Mr Griffin was forced to return later and enter the building by the back entrance, accompanied by several minders. |
| Police said one man was arrested in scuffles when Mr Griffin tried to get into the building. | Police said one man was arrested in scuffles when Mr Griffin tried to get into the building. |
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