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% of the North West vote.

Despite the BNP polling 4,905 votes in Rochdale, 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 Milnrow and Newhey 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.”

The BNP also won a seat in Yorkshire and Humberside when Andrew Brons won 10% 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.”