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BNP secures two European seats BNP secures two European seats
(about 2 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 gained votes from other parties because it "spoke openly about the problem of immigration."Mr Griffin said the BNP was not racist, but gained votes from other parties because it "spoke openly about the problem of immigration."
Labour deputy leader Harriet Harman described the BNP result as "terrible".Labour deputy leader Harriet Harman described the BNP result as "terrible".
Mr Griffin was elected to Brussels even though the BNP polled fewer votes in the region than it had in 2004 - the slump in Labour support meant its share of the vote increased.
'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 - but the slump in Labour support meant its share of the vote increased.
This meant that although the BNP came fifth in the popular vote in the region the party won a seat through the system of proportional representation used in the European elections.This meant that although the BNP came fifth in the popular vote in the region the party won a seat through the system of proportional representation used in the European elections.
BNP leader Nick Griffin says his party has claimed a "great victory"
Mr Griffin told the BBC's Radio 4 Today programme: "There's a huge amount of racism in this country, overwhelmingly it is directed towards the indigenous British majority, which is one reason we've done so well in these elections."Mr Griffin told the BBC's Radio 4 Today programme: "There's a huge amount of racism in this country, overwhelmingly it is directed towards the indigenous British majority, which is one reason we've done so well in these elections."
BNP leader Nick Griffin says his party has claimed a "great victory"
He said "the indigenous majority [were] the second-class citizens in every possible sphere, not as a consequence of the immigrants themselves, but because our ruling elite has made them second-class citizens."He said "the indigenous majority [were] the second-class citizens in every possible sphere, not as a consequence of the immigrants themselves, but because our ruling elite has made them second-class citizens."
"The Labour Party, the Lib Dems and the Tories, by leaving the door to Britain open, has forced people to turn to a party which speaks openly about the problem of immigration and says that while there might be a few good things about it there's also a lot of bad things.""The Labour Party, the Lib Dems and the Tories, by leaving the door to Britain open, has forced people to turn to a party which speaks openly about the problem of immigration and says that while there might be a few good things about it there's also a lot of bad things."
'People's fears''People's fears'
With Labour suffering its worst post-war election result across the regions, Ms Harman said: "I think it's a terrible thing that we've now got representing Britain in the European parliament a party that is a racist party, a party that doesn't believe black people should even be allowed to join this party. With Labour suffering its worst post-war election result with just a 15.3% share of the vote, Ms Harman said: "I think it's a terrible thing that we've now got representing Britain in the European Parliament a party that is a racist party, a party that doesn't believe black people should even be allowed to join this party.
"What extremist, far right, racist parties like the British National Party do is that they exploit people's fears and if people are worried about their future they turn inwards. She added: "The British National Party have played on people's fears ...and we'll have to work to tackle the fear that lead to people to vote BNP."
"The British National Party have played on people's fears ...and we'll have to work to tackle the fear that lead to people to vote BNP." Communities Secretary John Denham said that although "an element" of those who voted for the BNP would have been racists, most would have cast their ballots for the party because they felt ignored and excluded.
Despite the headlines, money and misrepresentation, we have managed to win through Andrew Brons, BNPDespite the headlines, money and misrepresentation, we have managed to win through Andrew Brons, BNP
He told BBC Radio 4's The World At One: "There's a set of people who don't at the moment feel that we are addressing the issues in their lives, and secondly, equally, that society has not been fair to them.
"We've got to make it very clear that we want to hear what those voters are saying."
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 acknowledged that his victory would not be "universally popular".Successful candidate Andrew Brons acknowledged that his victory would not be "universally popular".
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 denies stirring racial hatred, 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 attackedCar attacked
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.
Nick Griffin is now an MEP even though he won fewer votes than he did five years ago Nick RobinsonBBC political editor Read Nick's blog in fullNick Griffin is now an MEP even though he won fewer votes than he did five years ago Nick RobinsonBBC political editor Read Nick's blog in full
"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.
Dagenham Labour MP Jon Cruddas said the BNP "have not really moved on" in terms of their share of the vote since 2004.
Mr Cruddas added: "If you pull the plug out and the water drops in terms of the Labour support, it exposes other parties in terms of them getting across the line, and that's what happened here with the BNP.
"There's a long-term legacy here of us failing to bring people with us and deal with some of the issues that concern them, be they around housing, or about employment insecurity or the recession or immigration."
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 returned later and entered 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.