BNP 'extremists will fail in resort'

Blackpool's political leaders have hit back at the BNP leader's claims his party will "succeed" in Blackpool.

Nick Griffin, leader of the controversial right-wing party, told The Gazette he believed the town was a prime target for a BNP campaign. He cited the influx of foreign workers as a divisive factor and said people were fed up with the resort losing out on much-needed investment while other towns, with a greater ethnic diversity, received regeneration cash. But the resort's councillors say they do not fear the BNP, which gained three per cent of the vote in the May elections, getting a foot in the door.

Council leader Peter Callow said foreign workers were welcome in Blackpool.

He said: "Many are doing valuable work and I don't think the Blackpool electorate thinks that way. Mr Griffin may think the BNP are making inroads in Blackpool but the only party to come out of the May elections well was the Conservative party with our stunning victory. I can't say I noticed the BNP. I would rather they didn't come to Blackpool with their conference as they are controversial and court trouble. But if they do choose to stand I would hope the electorate would treat them with contempt for the extreme views they hold."

The town's Labour leader Ivan Taylor believes the electorate should be given more credit than to vote for extremism.

He said: "I don't see the BNP as a major force in Blackpool. I think the people of this town are too sensible to be taken in by extremist views. The BNP and National Front have in the past made attempts in Blackpool but fortunately have not had any success. That is partly because we have put to the electorate just how odious their policies really are. Blackpool may have missed out on some recent funding but we have been well supported by the Government on various initiatives over the years."

Doug Green, leader of the town's Liberal Democrats, was even more scathing.

He said: "The BNP is consideredto be the direct descendants of Mosley's Blackshirts
and the natural successor to the National Front. I would like to think the main parties would be able to spot the seats they intended to fight and would be galvanised and denounce them for what they are. They do not have constructive policies, their rhetoric is simply negative with an unsaid agenda of racial hatred. I believe many of their votes come as a protest from people who are disillusioned with mainstream politics not who believe in their extreme views."

He added: "Blackpool has always had seasonal workers and I don't believe they take local jobs or drive down wages. Wages are comparatively low because Blackpool is in competition with resorts abroad, not because of out-of-town workers, whether they are from Poland or Preston."

The BNP's seven candidates won 2,371 vote in Blackpool Council elections in May.

Blackpool Gazette