I don't think the BNP got a large amount of protest votes, I think that they just got their hardcore voters to vote. Voting for BNP is a big statement, and it's not a flippant vote. If you vote BNP, then you have strong views on them and what they stand for.
I doubt there's many people waking up with guilt thinking "Oh my God, BNP got in, I can't believe I voted for them". I think it's just that the only people who voted were the hardcore. Everyone else, the ones who could be persuaded to vote for a number of parties just didn't turn up to vote.
There will be plenty of people waking up this morning, seeing the result and who will moan about it, complain about the BNP etc, but they didn't actually vote.
I voted, and I'm concerned that the BNP were elected, but they were elected, fair and square, and you have to respect the views of the ballot box. You may not agree with it, but such is the way of democracy.
I doubt there's many people waking up with guilt thinking "Oh my God, BNP got in, I can't believe I voted for them". I think it's just that the only people who voted were the hardcore. Everyone else, the ones who could be persuaded to vote for a number of parties just didn't turn up to vote.
There will be plenty of people waking up this morning, seeing the result and who will moan about it, complain about the BNP etc, but they didn't actually vote.
I voted, and I'm concerned that the BNP were elected, but they were elected, fair and square, and you have to respect the views of the ballot box. You may not agree with it, but such is the way of democracy.