BNP secure three seats

Three BNP candidates were elected in Burnley, prompting outrage and widespread criticism -- but also delivering a massive vote of no confidence in mainstream politics.

Five recounts took place in Gannow ward today after the fight between the BNP candidate and Labour was deemed too close to call.

And the party came within less than 100 votes of success in two other wards.

The gains were the party's first in the North West and they are the first far right councillors since Tower Hamlets in London voted in a candidate nine years ago.

Today politicians in Blackburn, Hyndburn and elsewhere in East Lancashire spoke of their determination to ensure the surge of support for the party did not spread.

The result came on a night of election shocks, with Labour regaining control of Hyndburn Council by one seat from the Tories and also regaining control of Rossendale.

In Blackburn with Darwen, executive member for resources and former deputy leader Gail Barton lost her seat on a night when the Lib Dems made three gains.

Turnouts across the area rose after pleas for people to show their opposition to extremism in Burnley and a general appeal for the electorate to use their votes.

Today Peter Pike, the Labour MP for Burnley, said: "I do not believe at the end of the day that everyone who voted for the BNP in Burnley is racist.

"I believe people have been conned by the BNP and their racist candidates and leaders.

The leader of Burnley Council Stuart Caddy today vowed not to work with the BNP councillors, who will have to sign a code of conduct which includes a pledge to treat all sections of the community equally before they can take office.

David John Edwards, a civil engineer, won the right to serve for two years by polling 898 votes and finishing second in the battle to elect three councillors for the Cliviger with Worsthorne ward.

And in the Rosegrove with Lowerhouse ward jointly represented by Coun Caddy, mother-of-one Carol Hughes finished joint second, polling 751 votes and will serve for a year.

They were helped by the fact boundary changes in the borough meant all seats on the council were up for grabs in one go and three councillors were elected in each ward.

The BNP's 13 candidates polled 26 per cent of the vote in the 15 wards, just a year after the party's General Election candidate earned 11 per cent of the vote. But the success was not matched in Oldham, the other North West town affected by riots last summer, where the party failed to win a seat despite winning a quarter of the vote.

A report into the causes of the Burnley riots in June blamed an element of racism and the perception among whites that Asian communities were receiving preferential treatment.

Blackburn MP Jack Straw said: "It is very sad. We had the far right in Blackburn 26 years ago when they won two seats in Shadsworth.

"But there the whole community decided they wouldn't have it. You can never say they won't put candidates in Blackburn but we will work hard on community relations."

Bill Taylor, the leader of Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council, said: "There is a dark cloud hanging over Burnley."

He added two years was a long time and that he didn't think Blackburn with Darwen would be affected.

Hyndburn Labour MP Greg Pope said: "The BNP is a disgrace to Burnley. But it also damages the image of the whole of East Lancashire. It's bad news. They are spreading a poisonous message."

Labour Party chairman Charles Clarke said: "In Burnley there are a number of deep-seated problems which have developed over many years. What is unfortunate is that the BNP candidates have no interest in healing these communities, and are intent on tearing them apart.

"But the Labour Government is committed to ensuring the safety of all communities who may feel vulnerable in those areas where BNP councillors have been elected and representatives of all political parties must work together to achieve this.

"It is disappointing that any BNP candidates have been elected, but tonight has shown that they have been rejected in the vast number of seats.

"This is not the first time the threat of the far right has emerged. They won council seats in the 1970s and again in the 1990s.

"This threat has been defeated before and it will be defeated again."

Simon Woolley, the national organiser for Operation Black Vote, which campaigns for people from ethnic minorities to cast their votes, said: "It's a sad day for British politics.

"One BNP seat is one seat too many."

Mr Pike added: "We have got to analyse the final results.

"What happened in June last year was not acceptable. The only way to address the problems is for people to sit down and talk.

"I hope the message goes out for people not to resort to violence on the streets.

"That's the last thing we want."

He added: "I think the fact Burnley will now be known for having BNP councillors is a bad thing for us all. It gives them an official platform to work from and that is not good for Burnley.

"They will have a right to ask questions of the council and make statements but I am sure the other parties will find it difficult to work with them."

Deputy Burnley Council leader Coun Rafique Malik said: "We have got to listen to people and look at the issues in a different way.

"It is a sad day for Burnley and a sad day for Britain. We will do our best to respond to the protest."

BNP leader Nick Griffin said: "It's very good news for us indeed. We have butchered the Tory party in places from Wigan to Sunderland.

"If any other party had been faced with what has been thrown at us they would never have got anywhere near winning a seat.

Lord Ouseley, former chairman of the Commission for Racial Equality, said the Burnley result would put a "severe chill" on community relations in the area.

"I'm very sad for the people of Burnley that a certain part of Burnley have expressed themselves in such a way," he said.

"I wouldn't like to be a member of a minority community living in Burnley during the foreseeable future."