Margaret Hodge smashes Nick Griffin in Barking and tells BNP: Get out and stay out
Pippa Crerar, City Hall Editor
07.05.10
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The BNP suffered a humiliating defeat in Barking as Labour stormed to victory with an increased vote.
Labour MP Margaret Hodge fought off the far-Right party's leader Nick Griffin in what she described as the “toughest battle of my life”.
The BNP, which was beaten into third place behind the Tories, is also understood to have lost most of its 12 seats on Barking & Dagenham council.
The disastrous result for the BNP, which saw its vote share drop by two per cent, immediately raised questions about Mr Griffin's future as leader.
As the election campaign progressed the party — whose campaign has been beset with infighting, abuse and violence — had started to think they could win the seat. The Gordon Brown “bigot” row was its high point.
However, Mrs Hodge held on to her seat with 24,628 votes; Tory Simon Marcus came second on 8,073 votes and the BNP third with 6,620 votes
Mrs Hodge said the people of Barking had “overwhelmingly” rejected the politics of hatred and prejudice.
“On behalf of the people of Britain, we in Barking have not just beaten, but we have smashed the attempts of extremist outsiders,” she said.
“The message from Barking to the BNP is clear — get out and stay out. You're not wanted here, and your vile politics have no place in British democracy. Tomorrow you're going to lose councillors and tomorrow we're giving you a clear message — pack your bags and go.”
Mr Griffin said: “Within the next five years the indigenous people of London will be in a minority in our own capital city. This is a wake-up call not just for London, but a wake-up call for the whole of Britain.”
Asked whether he would resign, he replied: “I'll leave the leadership of the BNP when my members ask me to.”
Labour started off the campaign convinced that Mr Griffin was only standing to boost the BNP's profile. However, the slump in Labour support nationally combined with reports from the doorstep that the BNP was doing well led to fears Mrs Hodge could lose the seat.
Until the last moment Labour activists were warning the biggest political earthquake in modern British history could take place.
There were serious concerns the BNP could seize Barking and Dagenham council. The final council result will be announced later today.
But when Mrs Hodge, 65, entered the count at Goresbrook Leisure centre in Barking just after midnight it was clear she had heard good news.
“I think we've smashed them,” she confided. “My tellers say we've done quite well.”
BNP activists wandered listlessly round the count. Mr Griffin's grim-faced minders told the Standard that he was not doing press interviews.
By 2am a despondent Mr Griffin conceded defeat, blaming it on high voter turnout. “I'm being realistic,” he told us. “Margaret Hodge is clearly going to hold the seat. The real prize has always been the council.”
Dozens of police surrounded the venue in case trouble boiled over between BNP supporters and anti-fascist campaigners. However, the night passed without incident.
Labour MP Jon Cruddas held neighbouring Dagenham and Rainham with 17,813 votes to the Tories' 15,183 in a contest that did not declare until after 6am.
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Reader views (25) Add your view
By the way, Veritas Noire, further to what "jonathan montmorency" wrote, Purley today looks similar to Croydon twenty years ago. ...And see what's happened HERE!
Just thought you might like to know.
- Croyboy, Croydon, UK, 07/05/2010 16:33
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I used to love shouting thru Nick Griffins letterbox "Mr Griffin! Come quickly! A race war has just broken outside on the street!" Then watching his pudgy, eager little face come scampering up to the window. Ha Ha, used to crack me up everytime!
PS: What a bunch of jokers LOL
- Slig, North London, 07/05/2010 15:50
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@ Martin, Teddington
It is an IT thingy and not meant to be impersonal.
You will find it a lot on Twitter and stems from the emailing system someone '@' somewhere.
Just one of those unwritten formalities like UPPER CASE letters indicates shouting ~ ALAN!
- Frank, Home Counties, England, 07/05/2010 14:51
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When did this '@' business start? You speak 'to' people, not at them. Why do forums always descend into lowest-common-denominator crass abuse? We are lucky to have these resources, for our views to be heard. Don't treat them like dogs fouling their street corners.
- Martin, Teddington, 07/05/2010 14:15
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hopefully this will be the last of that odious little toad, and the knuckle scraping benefit rejects who supported him.
- scotty, london, 07/05/2010 13:58
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However, Mrs Hodge held on to her seat with 24,628 votes: All imported from third world countries and Labours master plan to force mutlicultrusim upon us and stay in remain in power. Disapoited to say the least that she was not kicked out, anything but Labour at thius point. Pompus woman has no idea about the problems in the area.
- Barking Mad, East London, UK, 07/05/2010 13:54
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Well done to Nick and co. for giving it a go all the same.
- Verita bianchi, London, 07/05/2010 13:33
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One of the small comforts from last night was the total humiliation of the odious Griffin.
Well done the people of Barking, you stood up for decency and democracy.
And i hear that the BNP also lost most of their council seats, good.
- Kerry, Purley, 07/05/2010 13:29
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Disappointed
- Vlad, Barking, 07/05/2010 13:25
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I wonder if it was that great comedy sketch - 'The BNP Party Political Broadcast' - that was the final nail in the coffin ?
- Sanjay, Hounslow, UK, 07/05/2010 12:28
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BNP are already +1.2% so more people are voting for them how ever you look at it
- Dal, Bromley, 07/05/2010 12:24
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Oh dear Oh dear Oh dear. Whatever happened to good old British sportsmanship, congratulating the winners (and no gloating please) and taking one's own defeat with grace and equanimity (and a determination to fight again)? The vicious and unsporting comments here make me despair.
As for Munaffer; do learn proper English matey (England is where you live after all) before commenting.
- seraphina, London UK, 07/05/2010 11:44
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6600 people in Barking put a cross for a bunch of thicko's who couldn't organise a p1$$ up in a brewery.....
Alas, DemocraZy has spoken, the right wing meat heads have lost but still nothing to celebrate for from the ones who won!
- Decency, London, UK, 07/05/2010 11:14
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The damn GOOD and Jolly GOOD. And ofcourse "GOOD RIDDEN" Well done British.It is absolutely correct...Pack your bags and get out then get lost in the hell, YOU bigoted , hatred inciters and prejudices Griffins and the clowns.
You all have no place in the British public and the politics. STOP now or will be stopped by publics
- Munaffer, London, 07/05/2010 10:38
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@ Veritas
My boys? OK then, let your prejudice out. Ironically something you condemn the BNP for!
___________________________________________________
@ Sanjay
Amazing how you seem to know who I voted for? Can you use your powers to predict the lottery numbers?
- Frank, Home Counties, England, 07/05/2010 10:17
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Good to see the smug grin wiped off of Griffin's face at last.
- Nowan, London, 07/05/2010 10:11
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Did Margaret Hodge say "get out and stay out"
She certainly had the last laugh.
- Rob, London, 07/05/2010 09:59
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@ Jonathan, what's wrong mate? Still in your Hitler pyjamas and crying into your Griffin poster? There, there, diddums.
By the way, Purley is a stunning place to live. Work a bit harder and you may just be able to afford a house on my road. Mind you, we are very picky about out neighbours. No bigots allowed! Oh well. Unlucky. Ha ha ha
@ Frank, your boys crashed and burned as well, quite literally. Never mind. Just carry on being bitter. I sense you enjoy it.
@ Mark. Have one on me.
@ James, Sanjay - spot on lads.
- Veritas Noire, Purley, 07/05/2010 09:56
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Ms Hodge said - addressing the BNP - "Pack your bags and go."
...But it's strange that Ms Hodge seems to have great difficulty in saying the same thing to all the illegal immigrants here.
Why, I wonder?
- Croyboy, Croydon, UK, 07/05/2010 09:36
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Yipee! The only good news from this Election fiasco! Common sense prevails... the thugs are OUT! Thank you to the decent / sensible voters!
Frank@ Surprised you have anything to say this morning... thought you had it all sussed... what happened mate :-)?!
- Sanjay, Hounslow, UK, 07/05/2010 09:27
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Mr Griffin will return to fight again, and "truthfully black" will be able to email another pathetic criticism of free speech... on another tack, I can remember when Purley was a nice place to live in...
- jonathan montmorency, cooden, uk, 07/05/2010 09:23
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Now that the the decent people in Dagenham and Barking have completely reject this vile little bigot, perhaps now we can go back to treating him as he deserves - completely ignoring him?
- James, London, 07/05/2010 09:12
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@ Veritas Noire, Purley
I am a little disappointed in you. Did you really think people were going to vote for the BNP?
I think it exposes your own prejudices.
- Frank, Home Counties, England, 07/05/2010 09:12
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VN,
I just knew you would be the first person to post on this thread! Sounds like you have a glass or two yourself
Still you cannot knock the fact that because of the rise in popularity of the BNP (increased no. of voters) Labour belatedly introduced tougher immigration criteria, which although to little to late, is welcomed by most.
- Mark (will never vote Labour again), South East London, 07/05/2010 09:03
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So, what went wrong all you BNP supporters out there? Too lazy or drunk to get off your sofas? Couldn't get out of that meeting with your parole officer? You were going to win this seat, weren't you? Ha ha ha ha ha ha!
The good people of Barking have spoken and you have been absolutely crushed! The Nazis have been given a hiding - yet again! Your campaign wasn't worth spit! Ha ha ha ha ha!
To paraphrase a famous commentator: Griffin, Hitler, Terrablanche, Satan - your boys have taken one hell of a beating, your boys have taken one hell of a beating!
Ha ha ha ha ha!
- Veritas Noire, Purley, 07/05/2010 08:12
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