Can BNP Win a Seat in the General Election?

19 Feb 2010

In spite of their recent change in policies having voted to allow non-white members of the public to join their party, no one is convinced that the British National Party did so for any reason other than to avoid breaking the law. The court ordered the far right political party to change their entry requirements in order to comply with race relations laws, and so now black and Asian individuals are able to become members. It will be decided in March whether this amendment does definitely bring the BNP within the appropriate legislation.

However, the BNP seem unlikely to show any other change in their attitude. At a press conference in the Elm Park pub in Hornchurch, a reporter was forcibly ejected from the venue even though initially invited to attend. The reason given was that Richard Barmbrook, a prominent party member, had taken exception to an article published in the reporter’s newspaper on Saturday. The reporter was accused of telling lies about the party and asked to leave, but was manhandled by BNP security staff, one of whom grabbed his nose to throw him from the building.

In spite of a great deal of speculation and worry that the BNP’s power in Britain is rising, it is still thought unlikely that the far right party will win a seat in the next UK general election. Victor Chandler, Paddy Power and Ladbrokes all offer odds of 1/5 that they will fail, with the odds of contrastingly winning a seat at 3/1 from the same bookies and also from William Hill. Paddy Power also offers odds on the number of votes the BNP are likely to receive in the next general election, with the favourite being less than 500,000 at 1/3. The odds of a higher count are slim. Although it is reassuring to think that the BNP’s chances of gaining power are considered low, it is impossible to deny that support for the party continues to grow.

All odds correct at time of writing and are subject to change