Non-voters blamed for BNP success

NORTH-WEST Euro-MP Chris Davies claims those who failed to vote played a big part in the British National Party gaining its first European seat.

Nick Griffin, leader of the far right party, is now a Euro-MP after scoring 8 per cent of the North-West vote.

Despite the BNP polling 5,435 votes in Oldham, Liberal Democrat Mr Davies, who was re-elected on Sunday, said: “There will be a lot of good people who wanted to make a gesture of protest so did not bother to vote. As a result, they woke up to find they had a BNP representative.

“In the European Parliament, the BNP will join a small group of racists and hate-filled extremists from other countries. The vast majority of Euro-MPs know from Europe’s history that their ideas lead only to death, destruction and misery.”

Labour’s Oldham East and Saddleworth MP Phil Woolas, the border and immigration minister, vowed that the Government would not scapegoat immigrants.

He added: “Our shake-up of the immigration system is bringing better border controls, visa management and citizenship policies to manage migration and help genuine immigrants to integrate better.”

Former Failsworth School pupil Lee Jasper (50), who was former London Mayor Ken Livingstone’s race adviser, said the BNP’s success posed a huge threat to the black community.

He added: “It’s a critical moment. We are suffering a national crisis in confidence in race relations.”

The BNP also won a seat in Yorkshire and Humberside when Andrew Brons won 10 per cent of the vote.

Defiant Mr Griffin said: “It’s a great victory and we’ll go on from here. The country is a bankrupt slum — we have 30 years to turn things around and save this country.”


Church election views

GREENACRES Reverend Neil Chappell is inviting Oldhamers to share their thoughts on the European elections.

Reverend Chappell will travel to Lyon in France this summer for the 13th Assembly of the Conference of European Churches where he will represent the Congregational Federation Churches of England, Scotland and Wales.

The meeting will take place at Greenacres Congregational Church next Tuesday at 7.30pm and everyone is welcome.

There will be a short presentation on the assembly followed by an open discussion.