Racists and xenophobes bring up the rear

| Thursday, 27 January 2005 Source: Searchlight

The British National Party came last in council by-elections last month in Hull and Durham.

The election in Derringham ward in Hull, Yorkshire was called after the previous election, which appeared to have been won by the United Kingdom Independence Party, was declared void. A court ruled that a new election should be held when it was discovered that some ballot papers had been issued to residents of another ward as well as those of the correct ward. The BNP, which did not contest the original election, was roundly condemned for its unwelcome intervention.

In Wheatbottom and Hemlington Row Ward of Wear Valley District Council the BNP took just 42 votes although only two other parties fielded candidates.

A split in the BNP in west London has resulted in Peter Shaw putting his nomination in for the National Front in the Cavendish ward by-election, Hillingdon, on 17 February. Shaw stood for the BNP in the 2002 council elections but was cast out from the BNP recently alongside Ian Edward, one of the BNP's best local organisers. Last year the BNP polled 13.5% in a by-election in the neighbouring South Ruislip ward.

Derringham ward results, 13 January 2005

Turnout 18.1%

Wheatbottom and Hemlington Row Ward results, 20 January 2005

Turnout 21.8%