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BNP wins seat in London Assembly | BNP wins seat in London Assembly |
(about 9 hours later) | |
The British National Party has won its first seat on the London Assembly after passing the 5% voter threshold. | The British National Party has won its first seat on the London Assembly after passing the 5% voter threshold. |
Candidate Richard Barnbrook, leader of the BNP group on Barking and Dagenham Council and a mayoral candidate, will take up one of the 25 assembly seats. | Candidate Richard Barnbrook, leader of the BNP group on Barking and Dagenham Council and a mayoral candidate, will take up one of the 25 assembly seats. |
BNP spokesman Simon Darby welcomed the win: "We've witnessed the first major politician elected not for telling lies but for telling the truth." | BNP spokesman Simon Darby welcomed the win: "We've witnessed the first major politician elected not for telling lies but for telling the truth." |
But critics said it was a victory for "hatred, violence and stupidity". | But critics said it was a victory for "hatred, violence and stupidity". |
London voters elected 14 of the London Assembly members directly, and the remaining 11 divided between the parties in proportion to London-wide votes. | London voters elected 14 of the London Assembly members directly, and the remaining 11 divided between the parties in proportion to London-wide votes. |
Mr Barnbrook, who came fifth in the mayoral race with 69,000 votes, had promised to give the "real people of London" a voice. | Mr Barnbrook, who came fifth in the mayoral race with 69,000 votes, had promised to give the "real people of London" a voice. |
He said he believed immigrants who have arrived in the past 15 years were taking more than they were giving. | He said he believed immigrants who have arrived in the past 15 years were taking more than they were giving. |
The BNP have had a number of councillors elected in recent years, but until these elections had never had anyone elected to a higher profile position. | |
The BNP campaign had prompted other politicians to call for voters not to elect the party. | The BNP campaign had prompted other politicians to call for voters not to elect the party. |
Campaign group Hope Not Hate said: "A BNP victory means hatred, violence and stupidity." | Campaign group Hope Not Hate said: "A BNP victory means hatred, violence and stupidity." |