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| Nick Griffin concedes European parliament seat as BNP votes fall away | Nick Griffin concedes European parliament seat as BNP votes fall away |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Nick Griffin conceded that he had lost his seat in the European parliament after the British National party's vote plummeted across the country. | Nick Griffin conceded that he had lost his seat in the European parliament after the British National party's vote plummeted across the country. |
| Speaking after his defeat, Griffin blamed Ukip for taking the BNP's vote. Asked whether the people of the north-west had rejected his party's racist and fascist policies, he said: "They've voted for Ukip's racist policies instead." | |
| He said the BNP wasn't finished, pointing to its sole electoral success at the local elections last week, when Brian Parker was re-elected for a third term in the Marsden ward of Nelson, Pendle. "That's the first seat we have won in three years. We are coming back," he said. He said he knew he was going to lose his seat in February when campaigning in the byelection in the Greater Manchester seat of Wythenshawe and Sale East, which was held by Labour. "We put in a really good campaign in Wythenshawe and got a fantastic response from the public and it didn't translate into votes – that's when we knew," he said. The BNP leader was elected in 2009 with 132,094 votes (8% of the total), pipping the Greens into fifth place. | He said the BNP wasn't finished, pointing to its sole electoral success at the local elections last week, when Brian Parker was re-elected for a third term in the Marsden ward of Nelson, Pendle. "That's the first seat we have won in three years. We are coming back," he said. He said he knew he was going to lose his seat in February when campaigning in the byelection in the Greater Manchester seat of Wythenshawe and Sale East, which was held by Labour. "We put in a really good campaign in Wythenshawe and got a fantastic response from the public and it didn't translate into votes – that's when we knew," he said. The BNP leader was elected in 2009 with 132,094 votes (8% of the total), pipping the Greens into fifth place. |
| Asked how he would pay his mortgage now, he said he would be fine on the handsome pension awarded to MEPs after leaving office. Losing his job simply meant he would have more time to devote to grass roots political work, he insisted, saying: "I'm going to spend more time campaigning on the streets." | Asked how he would pay his mortgage now, he said he would be fine on the handsome pension awarded to MEPs after leaving office. Losing his job simply meant he would have more time to devote to grass roots political work, he insisted, saying: "I'm going to spend more time campaigning on the streets." |
| The BNP also lost its seat in Yorkshire, with candidate Marlene Guest failing to retain voter support. Andrew Brons was elected for the far-right party there in 2009 but left in 2012 after falling out with Griffin and decided not to stand for re-election. | The BNP also lost its seat in Yorkshire, with candidate Marlene Guest failing to retain voter support. Andrew Brons was elected for the far-right party there in 2009 but left in 2012 after falling out with Griffin and decided not to stand for re-election. |
| Griffin had earlier admitted defeat on Twitter on Friday night, tweeting: "If anyone can tell me how to change my twitter title without losing the account I'd be obliged! ;-) #we'renotgoingawayyouknow". | Griffin had earlier admitted defeat on Twitter on Friday night, tweeting: "If anyone can tell me how to change my twitter title without losing the account I'd be obliged! ;-) #we'renotgoingawayyouknow". |
| He arrived at Manchester town hall for the count flanked by bodyguards who failed to protect him from a punch thrown by a protester. The demonstrators called "Nazi scum" and waved placards reading "Nick Griffin must go." | He arrived at Manchester town hall for the count flanked by bodyguards who failed to protect him from a punch thrown by a protester. The demonstrators called "Nazi scum" and waved placards reading "Nick Griffin must go." |
| Tim Farron, the Liberal Democrats' despondent chair, said: "The only thing that will make me feel better walking out of here tonight will be knowing that Nick Griffin is no longer my MEP." Helen Pidd | Tim Farron, the Liberal Democrats' despondent chair, said: "The only thing that will make me feel better walking out of here tonight will be knowing that Nick Griffin is no longer my MEP." Helen Pidd |