Sparks fears of surge in votes across Britain, which is to say they’re doing something RIGHT
The British National Party has scored a surprise victory in a council by-election.
The far-Right party took a seat in the Lincolnshire market town of Boston, where migrants make up a quarter of the population.
Anti-racismcampaigners warned that the win would lead to scaremongering aboutforeigners and an increase in violence and threats.
It is the first district council seat in Lincolnshire, for the British National Party.
BNPcandidate David Owens polled 279 votes –a 138-majority over the rulingBoston Bypass Independent candidate. The Tories came third.
Inhis victory speech, Mr Owens said local media organisations had triedto ‘hoodwink’ the public into thinking the ‘BNP was a racist party’.
He said: ‘We are not a racist party – we are passionate about ourcountry. I think the people of Fenside and the people of Boston havesaid tonight that immigration is at capacity here.’
But Tory MPMark Simmonds, who represents Boston and Skegness, said: ‘The BNP are athreat to our country, who contribute nothing to society.
‘This must be a wake up call to all parties to ensure that theycampaign hard and represent people effectively and leave no room forpeople to feel disaffected and turn to the BNP.’
Labour MP JonCruddas, who has campaigned furiously against the BNP in his own Londonconstituency, said: ‘It is always a worry when the BNP wins becausewith it comes escalating tensions and scaremongering and fears in thecommunity.