The Wortley and Farnley by-election on 18 September saw the BNP vote fall from 793 in May 2008 to 556. However, their share of the vote only dropped by 1.1% giving them 12.7% of the total vote.

Andy Parnham - Green 1183 (elected)

Rosie Spencer - Lib Dem 1151

Stephen Towler - Labour 1009

Peter Hollings - BNP 556

Glenn Broadbent - Conservative 428

Michael Davies - Alliance for Green Socialism 45

Leeds Unite Against Fascism leafleted the Farnley and Wortley ward urging people to use their vote to defeat the racist BNP.

However, the level of support achieved by the BNP in the by-election only serves to underline the importance of a city wide campaign to ensure that every anti fascist voter in Leeds is persuaded to use their vote to stop the BNP winning an MEP in the European elections in 2009.

Use your vote on the 18th September

The BNP are standing in a by-election in Farnley & Wortley ward on the 18th September. Leeds UAF are encouraging anti-fascists to use their vote to make sure the BNP are defeated. In May, they polled nearly 800 votes in the ward.

The BNP polled 11.4% across Leeds in this year’s local elections, but failed to win any further council seats. In Ardsley & Robin Hood ward the BNP came only 11 votes from winnning another seat, and in Middleton Park ward the margin was only 49 votes. The BNP currently have a single councillor in Leeds, in Morley South ward, but the sustained campaign in that area has progressively raised the anti-fascist vote. In the two elections since the BNP won in Morley in 2006, the BNP have steadily fallen back and in May they were defeated by almost 1,000 votes.

In 2009, the BNP will be aiming to win a seat in the European Parliament for the Yorkshire & the Humber region. The election takes place under proportional representation, meaning the BNP could get an MEP with as little as 10% (they polled 8.0% in 2004 and 1.1% in 1999). Leeds UAF will be encouraging anti-fascists from all across the city to use their vote to defeat the BNP. The higher the turnout, the more difficult it is for the BNP to win. Contact us to get involved in the campaign to stop the BNP.

Local election results in Leeds 2008