ROTHERHAM AND ROTHER VALLEY: Veterans see off challenge of 'bigots'

BNP candidates failed to make headway against two veteran Labour politicians in the Rotherham and Rother Valley constituency, with both Denis MacShane and Kevin Barron holding their seats.

Dr MacShane, a former Europe minister under Tony Blair, faced a challenge from BNP member Marlene Guest, who was beaten into fourth behind Tory Jackie Whiteley and Lib Dem Rebecca Taylor.

Mrs Guest's colleague Will Blair, Rotherham Council's only elected BNP member, also took fourth place in Rother Valley, which was held by Mr Barron with a majority of 5,866.

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Dr MacShane, whose majority after the count stood at 10,462, said "parties of bigots had been pushed back into the undergrowth" in the town's poll.

But he added: "In a sense all three main parties have been defeated and the two-party system is over.

"Labour have lost a number of seats, but David Cameron has been in charge of the Conservatives at a time when Labour have been extremely unpopular but he has failed to capitalise."

Dr MacShane described the picture in Rotherham as positive for Labour and said: "Rotherham is traditionally a Labour town and we have maintained that tradition. Two of the constituencies have been held with majorities of more than 10,000 and this shows that Rotherham has stayed true to Labour."