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Racist party wins 'war' in Oldham

The racist British National Party may have lost the battle for a seat in parliament, but it won the war of white political protest in Oldham, securing its highest number of votes in a parliamentary election.

The BNP, which supports a ban on all immigration and fought the election on a racist platform, attracted massive support following the Oldham race riots at the end of last month, the worst that Britain has seen for 15 years.

It was small consolation that Oldham's two sitting Labour MPs managed to retain their seats with smaller majorities because the BNP's two candidates polled an astonishing 11,643 votes to finish third in Oldham west and Royton and fourth in the Oldham east and Saddleworth seat.

It was only the third time that the right-wing party's candidates had not lost their deposits in a general election.

BNP's Cambridge-educated national chairman Nick Griffin captured 6,552 votes and vowed that the party would fight the Oldham civic elections next year. Local party organiser Mike Treacey attracted 5,091 votes in Oldham east.

In the run-up to the election, Griffin advocated building a so-called "peace wall" to physically separate Asian and white communities. After results were declared, he denied his party had inflamed racial tension to encourage a white backlash.

"Asians have nothing to fear from us," he said in a statement carried by news agencies. "We are not fascists, we are a serious political party. White people have lodged their protest against racist attacks through the ballot box.

'We are not in the business of inciting violence and winding up the Asian community. If Asian youths want to over react, it's up to them."

But against a backdrop of high racial tension, the two BNP activists were clearly able to exploit local white fears over alleged discrimination in social housing, as well as other inequalities that supposedly favour ethnic minorities.

A white resident from Oldham, Lisa Burman, told a local newspaper, "I wouldn't describe myself as racist. How can I be? My mum's boyfriend is black. But I believe blacks, whites and Asians should be treated the same -- not get special treatment.

"It's nonsense to call us racists, but many of us are against privileged treatment for certain groups. Everyone needs to be treated the same."

Another white woman, Rhona Norton, spoke of how she resented the better recreational facilities and road maintenance in the Asian neighbourhood of Glodwick. "You go up to Glodwick and there are speed ramps and bollards on roads and they have parks. Nobody has been speaking up for us."

Labour's Environment Minister Michael Meacher, who saw his 16,201 majority in Oldham cut by nearly 3,000, was asked about racial problems in the town and has promised there will be a full inquiry. He has said he will ask for the prime minister's support to deal with local race issues.

Asian community leaders in Oldham say they are shocked by the BNP's success. A spokesman for the Pakistani Cultural Association said in a statement to India Abroad, "I think the result is appalling and I am shocked. I couldn't believe it when I heard last night how many votes the BNP had won. It's a real concern and its frightening. I don't think this is going to be a very safe town.

"Things had started to calm down but I think Asian youths may be angry at this. We never thought there would be so many people who would vote for them."

Asked to explain his party's appeal, Griffin said his party was able to respond to many young whites' sense of alienation from the political process. "Young men feel there is nothing for them in the political process," he said. "Now they know there is someone standing up for them. It means these youngsters can get involved in the political process and have a voice."

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