Minimise BNP votes

Democracy does not provide for limitless freedom of speech - that's why we have legislation outlawing racism, anti-semitism and incitement to violence.

BNP leaders may have set aside their taste for jackboots and stormtrooper uniforms and tried to pass themselves off as simply another party taking its chances in the electoral process.

But their convictions for violence, racism, rape and a host of other crimes remain as a testament to their true nature, which cannot be assuaged by putting on a suit, hiding the swastika badges and dropping those endless rants about a Jewish global conspiracy.

If PCS union members in Hastings ensure that their fellow workers are not misled by this conspiracy masquerading as a political party, they should be congratulated not threatened with disciplinary action.

For the BNP, its new respectable image is simply a tactic, interchangeable with its previous advocacy of violent attacks against national, racial, religious and sexual minorities.

It believes that hypocritical anti-crime campaigns, by a party whose leadership has more criminal convictions than any other, and open hostility to Britain's Muslim communities will gain it electoral support.

And it is true that Islamophobia has brought some dividends to the BNP, capitalising on the extremist headlines and statements by the right-wing media and by Establishment politicians.

It is true that only a few dozen BNP members have been elected and equally true that many of them have had to resign because they were out of their depth in council meetings.

But experience shows that, where BNP members have been elected, there has often been an upsurge of violent attacks on minority communities.

The far-right party has invested heavily in Thursday's elections in England and Wales, hoping to increase substantially its tally of seats.

It should be the prime duty of all democrats, especially those on the left, to work to minimise the fascists' impact.

In areas where there is a danger of BNP gains, the progressive candidates most capable of preventing their success, which will mainly be Labour, should be assisted.

In the London elections, which the BNP has given special attention, the first priority in the list elections is to vote. Every vote cast for a democratic party sets the 5 per cent threshold for election higher.

As far as the mayoral contest is concerned, the Morning Star advocates a first preference vote for incumbent Ken Livingstone.

In the event of voters prioritising another candidate, it is vital that their second vote goes to Mr Livingstone and it is noteworthy that Green candidate Siân Berry and Left List choice Lindsey German have both urged their supporters accordingly.

Well-heeled Tory toff Boris Johnson makes great play about rejecting BNP transfer votes, but anyone considering opting for him should ask themselves what it is about this dubious character that makes him so attractive to the BNP.

No quarter should be given to either the BNP or the Tories in these crucial polls.