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BNP could win seat in European elections, warns former minister
THE British National Party is on the verge of winning a Yorkshire seat in June's European elections and politicians and businesses need to wake up to the fact, a former Government minister warns today.
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With turnout likely to be "very, very small" and the BNP winning seats in last year's local elections, former Europe Minister Dennis MacShane says the chance of the party winning its first parliamentary seat is very real as it taps into frustration with other parties and the recession fuels discontent.
The BNP won two seats in Rotherham, Mr MacShane's constituency, in last year's local elections and polled more than 125,000 votes in the last Euro elections, winning eight per cent of the vote.
He has appealed for mainstream politicians to unite in an anti-racist campaign urging voters to cast their ballot for anyone but the BNP, while calling on businesses to "wake up" to the damage far right representation in Brussels could wreak.
The BNP threat is also acknowledged by Liberal Democrats and Tories in the region, but Labour, which holds two of the six seats and is fearing election meltdown, could be most threatened by the far right.
"Because it's proportional representation you only need 13 per cent of the votes to win a seat," said Mr MacShane. "The BNP are doing well in Yorkshire as a whole – they've come out of West Yorkshire and are now in South Yorkshire.
"I would like all three party leaders to sink their differences and to just urge people to participate in the European Parliament elections and vote for the mainstream democratic parties.
This year's European elections are on June 4, the same day as many voters go to the polls for county councils, including North Yorkshire.
Both Labour and the Tories are defending two seats, while the Liberal Democrats and UK Independence party each have one in the region. There was alarm five years ago when the BNP polled 126,538 votes – more than half of the Lib Dem total.
As the recession deepens, unemployment increases and tensions rise, the BNP believes it is poised to benefit from disgruntlement at the Government and caution about the Tories. It has also reported growing support since the row over British jobs for British workers, where workers at oil refineries and power plants went on strike over the use of foreign labour.
Lord Wallace of Saltaire, president of the Liberal Democrats in Yorkshire, said the prospect of the BNP winning a seat was "a real fear".
Conservative Party chairman Eric Pickles said: "That people are considering voting BNP is symptomatic of the neglect that the Labour Party has shown in their heartlands.
"We recognise that BNP are busy trying to talk up their chances in the European elections, but voting BNP would be a backward step for Yorkshire."
BNP deputy leader Simon Darby said: "Yorkshire didn't start off six months ago as a specific target, but it certainly is now. We got eight per cent last time and need about 11 per cent this time – that's not such a big ask."
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Sunday 12 February 2012
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