Why the BNP won in Burnley

Submitted by AWL on 14 May, 2002 - 11:54

Mark Catterall discusses why the fascist BNP was able to get three councillors elected in Burnley on 2 May.
The conditions for the rise of far right politics have been present in Burnley for some time. The manufacturing and employment base of the town has been declining for years. The traditional textile industry has declined out of sight. manufacturing jobs have also disappeared: the Prestige pan factory closed over a year ago; just this year the Michelin tyre factory closed with the loss of hundreds of jobs. There are thousands of young people who no longer have employment opportunities. Many now look to leaving Burnley.
With so many leaving the town, empty and derelict houses abound. It has been estimated that 2,000 houses could be demolished with out producing any housing shortage within the town. Private landlords own large stocks of terraced housing and prefer to leave them empty rather than renovate them, waiting for the day when they will be bought out by the council or local government. Daneshouse with Stoneyholme ward, where a large number of Asians live, according to government figures has the eighth worst level of income deprivation in the country and the sixth worst level of child poverty in the country
The division within the town between black and white is deep. Most of the Asian population of the town is concentrated in two wards of the town. Making up less than 10% of the population, the Asian community feels extremely isolated.
Unfortunately, east Lancashire has a tradition of racism. During the 1970's Blackburn, just down the road, elected a National Front borough councillor. Local football teams supporters are notorious for their racism.
With the divisions in Burnley, racism has been allowed to fester unchallenged within the town over many years. Even the local labour movement is not immune. Harry Brookes, a Labour councillor for many years and then "Independent" councillor for Trinity ward, has over the years used the local press to attack the division of resources between "white" and "Asian" wards, stoking up divisions. Up to the recent elections there had been 10 "Independent" councillors on the council. A number have followed a similar trajectory.
The riots of last year and the council elections on 2 May have focused much attention on Burnley. Since the riots and the large vote for the British National party (BNP) in the general election, there has begun a battle for the soul of Burnley. The BNP - and much of the nation's press - looked to Oldham for a breakthrough for the fascists. The conditions in Burnley have led to that breakthrough.
However that breakthough has in part come about through a particular set of circumstances around these elections.
As a result of recent boundary changes, in each ward three councillors were to be elected simultaneously. Observers at the count noted that many did not vote three times, some deliberately, others no doubt in confusion. While Labour stood three candidates in all wards, Liberal-Democrats and Conservatives stood less than their quota. Further confusion arose due to the tradition in Burnley of "Independent" candidates standing; voters were faced with a large number of relatively unknown names.
Labour in Burnley has much to be held responsible for. The council and the towns MP have been Labour for years. The appalling conditions that many in Burnley have to live in, is in large part their responsibility.
Many working people in Burnley hate Labour for this. This was reflected in the voting on 2 May. Observers at the count noted that many could not bring themselves to vote Labour. Ballot papers reflected both that hatred and confusion over who could change things.
Many ballot papers were marked Liberal-Socialist Alliance-BNP. While there was a hardcore racist vote that solely voted BNP, many voted "Any but Labour". Peter Pike, Labour MP for Burnley, said at the traditional May Day rally at Townley Park on 6 May that "Labour's failure to deliver for the people of Burnley, had led to the vote for the BNP".
Burnley Socialist Alliance has in the last year attempted to offer an alternative for the people of Burnley. Fighting over cuts in old peoples' care homes and giving a clear alternative to the racists of the BNP they have with few resources been able to gain reasonable votes in both by-election and on 2 May. Tess McMahon gained 273 votes, 6.1% of the vote in Trinity and Steve Worden gaining 314 votes, 5.3% of the vote in Rosehill with Burnley Wood ward. In Gannow ward Ian Alderson, in extremely difficult conditions, gained 151 votes, 2.8% of the vote. These elections with an extremely high turn out saw over 54% of the town vote. The "Independents" still gained large votes, though, their original 10 seats have been reduced to two.
The gaining by the BNP of three seats is cause for extreme concern. However in two of the wards Gannow and Rosegrove with Lowerhouse they came third and will be up for election again next May. In the third ward, Cliviger with Worsthorne, an overwhelming middle class, traditionally Conservative ward, they will be up for re-election in two years. The adoption by the BNP of "Liberal Focus" "dog shit politics" and the particular conditions of Burnley have allowed the BNP to gain a foothold in "mainstream" politics.
There needs to be a serious and sober discussion on the way forward in Burnley by the labour movement both locally and and nationally. Large scale resources need to be made available in the fight against the BNP in Burnley. However we must not just concentrate on the three wards that BNP have gained. Overall, the BNP gained 25% of the vote in Burnley, gaining an average of over 600 votes in wards where they stood but were not elected. A similar fight back needs to start in Oldham. Here they did not gain seats, but they did gain large votes, an average of nearly 900 per ward.

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