BNP VOTERS MISTAKEN SAYS TREVOR PHILLIPS CRE CHAIR
(2 May 2003)

Following yesterday's local elections, in a statement to the press today, Trevor Phillips CRE Chair said that BNP voters were mistaken in their choice. He went on to state that the BNP have won more seats but this has largely been localised in places such as Burnley. In areas where they made the biggest push such as Sunderland and Oldham they did not make any headway showing that there is very little appetite amongst the electorate for racism and division.

However, the result in Burnley should send alarm bells ringing in all the political parties. Whilst I don't believe that the people of Burnley thought that they were voting in favour of racism, I also don't think that they were under any illusions about what the BNP stand for.

The results of the election are an indication of the depth of their disillusionment and disappointment with the performance of mainstream political parties. Anyone who cast a vote for the BNP however angry they are about the other parties made a mistake, the BNP will not offer any real solutions. However all mainstream political parties need to wake up and pay attention to this as unless they sort it out it will happen again and again.

There's nothing special about Burnley, this can happen anywhere as we can see by the results in places such as Broxbourne, Sandwell and Stoke-on-Trent. Each time it will become easier - even one BNP councillor is too many and we must guard against complacency or seeing their election as anything but the aberration that it is.

About the CRE

The Race Relations Act makes it unlawful to discriminate against anyone on grounds of race, colour, nationality, ethnic or national origins. The Commission for Racial Equality was established under the Act to work for the elimination of discrimination, the promotion of equality of opportunity and good race relations generally.

The Commission can advise or assist people with cases before courts and employment tribunals and can conduct its own investigations when it has grounds to believe discrimination may be taking place.

Public bodies have a duty to eliminate discrimination in the way they work and to promote equality of opportunity and good race relations. The Commission is working to help them deliver this duty.

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