Harman warns of BNP poll 'threat'

The British National Party is stronger than ever and could pose a major threat to Labour in the upcoming European elections, the Labour Party's deputy leader has said.

Harriet Harman says the BNP is an electoral threat Harriet Harman says the BNP is an electoral threat

Harriet Harman, who is also leader of the Commons and the Party's chairman, said: "It is a worry. Certainly they (the BNP) are a bigger threat than they have been before."

In an interview with The Independent she outlined Labour's efforts to counter BNP successes ahead of national elections for the European Parliament in June.

Labour is waging a campaign at local level to prevent the far right party from winning its first seats in the European Parliament.

In areas where there is heavy BNP activity, Labour is using the slogan, "fairness not fear", instead of its national banner "winning the fight for Britain's future".

It is also teaming up with anti-fascist groups and sending in anti-BNP "battlebuses".

"The party is focused on the BNP in this election in a way it hasn't been previously," she said.

Speaking on Thursday after a campaign visit to the North West, where BNP leader Nick Griffin is a candidate, Ms Harman added: "Most people are not aware the BNP is standing.

"It is below the radar. There is very low public awareness of these elections. For us, it is a question of pointing out the dangers of the BNP, which now wears suits but whose ideology is as pernicious as ever."

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