The British National Party is poised to win its first seats in the European Parliament, an event the political party calls “game changing” and “seismic” should it happen.
European Parliaments seats are won on a basis of proportionalrepresentation, which means a party wins a seat if it gets over acertain percentage threshold. That threshold varies upon the region – in the South East, for example, the threshold is estimated to be 7.5%, while in the North West, it is 8.5%.
The BNP is expected to gain a seat in Britain’s North West and winas much as 12% in some areas. Analysts predict that the party could winas many as five of the 72 European seats.
BNP Spokesman Simon Darby said a victory would help them overcome negative press about its political platform, which is decidedly pro-British, anti-European Union and advocates paying immigrants for “voluntary repatriation.”
Foreign Secretary David Millibrand lamented public anger at the ongoing MP expense scandal turning some voters towards “the politics of hate.”