BNP leader Nick Griffin today insisted the party was moving towards becoming a mainstream party and accused people of refusing to forget their old attitudes.

He denied his party exploited areas under racial tension and claimed a number of Asian people in Burnley had voted for them because they are concern about immigration.

He also denied his party was racist but admitted its policy objective was still to create an all-white Britain.

However, he said the policy had changed and it now wished to achieve that aim "through negotiation and consent".

He added: "If it can't be done through negotiation and consent, then we'll stop short of our objective."

He said: "It is only two seats and is not that much but it is a start. We have a long way to go and it is a step on the road.

"Now we have a voice for the whole majority. Now it is a level playing field. We are moving as a mainstream political party and we will work with other people. Figures show British people will be in the minority in 60 years. A number of the Asian people in the towns voted for us while there is an asylum seeker problem because they are paying taxes and they see immigration flow disguised as asylum seekers too."

He accused the media of 'living in the past' by reporting only the BNP's old attitudes and not letting any progress be reported.

He added: "I don't think us gaining two seats will have any difference on businesses in Burnley."