Poll Shock as BNP Vote Hits 20%One-in-five people now support the British National Party in Burnley. That's if the November council by-elections in the town are anything to go by - and it's an improvement on the one-in-nine who supported the BNP at June's General Election. This steady progress came in spite of an unprecedented campaign waged by New Labour against the BNP in the town. Local MP Peter Pike took two weeks off his duties at Westminster to knock on nearly every door in Rosehill, Lowerhouse and Trinity wards, imploring people not to vote for the British National Party. Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott even visited Burnley during the final week of the campaign, offering the town the possibility of a new government regeneration programme to solve its empty housing crisis. Of course the plan could only be considered as long as there were no BNP representatives on the council. TV celebrity, Tony Robinson, of Blackadder and Timewatch fame was also drafted in to canvass, not only on behalf of Labour, but also against the BNP.
LIB-DEM DEAL But probably the most stunning intervention came from Northern Ireland Secretary of State, John Reid. Speaking at Liverpool University. During a key note address on the troubles in the province, he briefly left Ulster's problems to plead with voters in Burnley not to vote for the BNP. Such an interference in the electoral process of two tiny council wards in one East Lancashire town, by a senior Government Minister, and during such a high profile occassion, just beggars belief. Such a campaign by New Labour against the BNP indicates who they regard as their REAL political opposition in Britain. Simon Bennett, Deputy Organiser for Burnley & Pendle BNP, described the results as "positive" and a further step towards the party's preparation for next May's council elections.
TORIES TROUNCED Taking on the three main parties the BNP came 2nd, shading the Liberal Democrats and trouncing the Tories. In the light of seven days of constant media barrage against the BNP, and an all-out Labour campaign - this was a superb result. Probably the quote of the election came from New Labour candidate Denis Otter who said, "I feel humbled by the effort New Labour has put in on my behalf." That massive campaign by Labour HQ was to keep the BNP out. But next May's local elections will be very different with Denis Otter and colleagues left, in the main, to fend for themselves.
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LOWERHOUSE WARD: | ROSEHILL WARD |
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