december 19th 2002 - daily mail

Concern was expressed at both the low turnout and the strong showing of the so called far right BNP in the elections for directly elected mayors in several towns. In Stoke the BNP received around 20% of the votes cast, the New Labour candidate was pushed into second place by Gay rights campaigner, Mike Wolf. Coming on top of the 16% polled by the party in Oldham West at the general election in 2001 and three council seats won in Burnley, this result set alarm bells ringing in the three main parties.

Of the twelve directly elected mayors so far, only six have come from the major parties. The people of Hartlepool made monkeys of the New Labour London elite by electing the local football mascot, Stuart Drummond, as their first mayor in May, while robust former police chief “Robocop” Ray Mallon became mayor of Middlesbrough.

Editor's comment: If the main parties are serious about reducing support for the BNP and others of their ilk, they have only to do what Thatcher did in 1979. In the years before her election the NF had enjoyed widespread support, by the time of her removal by the pygmies in 1990 they were irrelevant. She simply reduced immigration to manageable levels and treated all citizens of this country alike, refusing to kow tow to PC pressure.

The years since Blair’s election have seen a sharp rise in immigration and PC policy initiatives. These have been mirrored by rising public concern about immigration and support for the BNP, it really isn’t rocket science.

The main parties seem upset by the success of unconventional candidates and low turn outs at elections, they bleat on at length about “voter apathy”. They should not mistake antipathy for apathy; if they do not pull their socks up the hostility of the people will do more than embarrass them.