Shortly after midday yesterday, the returning officer in Burnley announced that Labour had gained the Padiham and Burnley West seat on Lancashire Council from the British National Party (BNP). In doing so, Burnley became BNP-free for the first time in 2002.
It is an incredible achievement, and one only made possible by the hard work and dedication of the small team of people in Burnley who have consistently campaigned against them.
The BNP, under Nick Griffin’s leadership, made their first breakthrough in Burnley back in 2002. Within a year they were the second largest party on the council. It is fitting that today’s result mirrored the electoral collapse of the fascist party.
The BNP’s problems began with their heavy defeat in Barking & Dagenham in 2010. Since then they have been consumed with internal strife, huge debt and demoralised activists. In yesterday’s elections they only managed just over 100 candidates and only a handful managed to poll above 10%.
What does a BNP-free Burnley mean for you?
We should absolutely celebrate the electoral demise of the BNP because we have played a part in their downfall. However, this joy is tempered by the surge of support for UKIP.
UKIP fought the election on an increasingly hostile position to immigration. While the media became fixated with a few Nazi and overtly racist candidates, we should actually be focusing on the party as a whole, its assault on immigration and multiculturalism and its long term significance.
Just as importantly, we need to assess UKIP’s impact on the mainstream parties and ensure that they do not begin an anti-immigration arms race.
Whether you want to celebrate a BNP-free Burnley or express your concern over the rise of UKIP, please get in touch. Your views will help shape what we do next
Whatever the problems we will face in the future, let us also take this moment to celebrate. The BNP once had 67 councillors but they are now down to just two, and they are up for election next year. That, in itself, is reason to cheers.
Thanks to your continuing support and I look forward to working with you all in future battles.
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