MP “saddened” by BNP European Election success

Jun 10 2009 by John Siddle, Formby Times

FALLING turnout and the decimation of the Labour vote in Sefton has allowed the far-right British National Party to snatch a seat in Brussels.

Saddened MP Claire Curtis Thomas, along with Sefton Central general election candidates, has today denounced the North West European election of Nick Griffin – a man convicted of inciting racial hatred.

Just 29.27% of the Sefton electorate turned out to vote in the elections, with Labour support in the borough falling 13,000 from the previous ballot in 2004 to 11,230.

Smaller parties were boosted by the swing in vote with the BNP taking the last of the eight MEP seats available in the North West.

Conservatives took three, Labour two, and the Liberal Democrats and UKIP each with one.

Mrs Curtis Thomas said: “I am appalled and desperately sad at the news of support for the BNP in the European elections.

“I find their prejudices abhorrent and wish never to be associated with their views. This marks a sad day for British politics.

“I understand people's anger but am dismayed to see successes for a party whose stance is so deeply out of touch with that of the majority of British people.

“I could never associate myself with the Britain that the BNP advocates, this is no Britain at all.”