A feared strong performance from the British National Party failed to materialise today as the far-right party made only modest gains in the local and devolved elections. A coordinated effort by the main parties to minimise the electoral threat from the party seemed to have paid off after the BNP was forced to concede "a mixed result".
The BNP fielded a record 750 candidates in a bid to boost its 46 local council seats to around 100, including more candidates in the rural areas where it hoped to use the arrival of workers from Eastern Europe to win support. However, although vote share was up in the North East and support also rose in Windsor and Maidenhead, other anticipated successes fell flat.
Simon Smith, the BNP's deputy leader, told the BBC: "It's disappointing, but we'll be back next year."
The party only managed to retain its four councillors in Sandwell, West Midlands, despite predictions it would add to that tally. Four candidates in the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead failed to win ballots, but claimed victory after soundly beating their Labour counterparts.
Meanwhile, the BNP came fifth behind the major parties in many areas of Wales - and surged to 9.4% in Wrexham - but looks unlikely to have gained any seats on the Welsh assembly. The party lost its council member on Broxbourne borough council in Hertfordshire as the Tories increased their hold.
Guardian
May 04, 2007
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Also two by-elections held in Hastings, BNP gained about 18% of the vote in the town last year. Yesterday's results were:
Here is the full list of election statistics, announced shortly before midnight on Thursday (May 3).
GENSING WARD
Turnout: 37.8%
Cartwright (Lab): 516 votes (34.2%)
Corello (Con): 475 votes (31.5%)
Kennelly (LibDem): 332 votes (22%)
Phillips (Green): 92 votes (6.1%)
Martin (BNP): 55 votes (3.6%)
Turner (UKIP): 38 votes (2.5%)
SILVERHILL WARD
Turnout: 41.9%
Dowling (Lab): 555 votes (39.2%)
Lock (Con): 482 votes (34.1%)
Howard (LibDem): 254 votes (18%)
Prince (BNP): 84 votes (5.9%)
Granger (UKIP): 40 votes (2.8%)
Both wards were gained by Labour from the Conservatives.
The makeup of Hastings Borough Council is now as follows:
Conservatives: 15
Labour: 12
LibDems: 5
The council is 'hung', with no one party having overall control.
Both wards were up for by-election after two Conservative councillors, Michael Lambrechs and Daniel Poulter, resigned for personal reasons.
Hastings residents had not been due to go to the polls until next year. The fact the by-election was held on the same day as scheduled local elections in other areas, including Rother and Eastbourne, is purely coincidental.
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