BNP make massive gains in council elections

05 May 2006

Dagenham Civic Centre

THE British National Party (BNP) has won a staggering 11 seats on Barking and Dagenham Council despite only fielding 13 candidates.

As expected, Labour maintained overall control of the council with 35 seats but several established figures were voted out.

Deputy Leader Terry Wade was ousted from Alibon, 7/7 hero Jeff Porter was voted out of Goresbrook and long-serving councillor Fred Jones was defeated in Parsloes.

All will be replaced by BNP councillors.

The result of the vote in Eastbury ward will be announced later in the day after a "basic clerical error" with the count.

The returning officer and council Chief Executive Rob Whiteman said he would take legal advice before announcing the result.

It was a bad night for the Liberal Democrats and United Kingdom Independence Party, both of which failed to win any seats.

The Conservatives won two new seats but Terry Justice lost in Chadwell Heath and Brian Cook lost in Longbridge.

With Eastbury's three council seats still to come the results are:

Labour		35
BNP		11