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Labour Beats BNP in Oldham By-Election

By PA News Reporter

Labour has beaten a challenge from the British National Party in a local government by-election in Oldham.

The far-right party has targeted the Greater Manchester town following racial tensions in the summer of 2001, but has failed to win a seat on the council.

Last night, Labour's Jim Mahon secured the seat of Failsworthh East by a large margin over the BNP candidate.

A Labour spokesman said: "This is a fantastic result for Labour. The people of Failsworth East have rejected the racist message of the BNP and the opportunistic policies of the Liberal Democrats.

"This will see Labour continuing the good work they started when they took control of the council in May this year."

On a 35% turnout, Labour took 2,045 votes, against the BNPs 539, the Conservatives 296 and the Liberal Democrats 128.

My faith in the folk of my home town has been restored. You can (apart from the 539) be proud of what you did today.

The only question I need to ask is this: why was this LOCAL by-election reported first on a website in Scotland ????