Far Right fails to take London seat

Attempts by the British National Party to gain a foothold in London ended in failure. Despite running 23 candidates in eight constituencies, the far-Right party failed to win a single seat.

The failure was most noticeable in Bexley in south-east London where seven candidates fought a high-profile campaign.

In Newham, a senior member of the BNP contested the mayoralty but was soundly beaten by Blairite council leader Sir Robin Wales.

While a large contingent of BNP supporters attended the count in Bexley, the party failed to turn up for the results in both Newham and Tower Hamlets, which were once viewed as fertile ground.

Both counts had been picketed by anti-racism activists and members of the Anti Nazi League.

While the results fell well short of what the extremists were hoping for, the major parties will be deeply concerned about the scale of the votes picked up by the BNP.

There is evidence to suggest most of its resources were channelled into the fight for seats in the North of England.

In Harefield ward in Hillingdon, BNP candidate Ian Edwards secured 10.3 per cent of the vote. In Hainault, Jason Douglas, who was banned from Leyton Orient football ground for hooliganism, won 9.13 per cent support.

The party's three candidates in Bexley's Northend ward each came second to Labour, pushing the Conservatives into third place. Jay Lee, 33, gained 7.15 per cent of the vote. Yesterday the Evening Standard revealed that Bexley police are investigating criminal allegations against him.

Colin Smith won 7.72 per cent and James Seadon gained 7.16 per cent of the vote.