WITH respect for the mainstream parties at an all-time low, the British National Party (BNP) could see a rise in support at the next elections, writes Louise McEvoy.Last week, the BNP s chairman, Nick Griffin, predicted a perfect storm was brewing to put his party in a cred

WITH respect for the mainstream parties at an all-time low, the British National Party (BNP) could see a rise in support at the next elections, writes Louise McEvoy.

Last week, the BNP's chairman, Nick Griffin, predicted "a perfect storm" was brewing to put his party in a credible position.

The storm he was referring to was of course the MPs' expenses scandal, compounded by the fact this country is going through a recession.

The public's current outrage at MPs' greed could feasibly result in considerable progress for the BNP at the European Parliament and local elections on June 4.

Standing in the Hertfordshire County Council elections are BNP candidates for all six wards in Stevenage, and for Hitchin North and Letchworth North West.

For all seven seats in the Eastern region of the European Parliament elections, which covers Comet country, there is a BNP candidate standing.

Nationally, Mr Griffin has confidently claimed they will win not just one breakthrough seat in Brussels but possibly six or seven.

The MPs' expenses scandal has now taken centre stage in the BNP's electoral campaigning.

While the party may be able to boast not claiming expenses to have a swimming pool or a moat cleaned, or a chandelier installed, this is in no way a reflection of the members' integrity. They have not yet been in a position to take advantage of the system, so they cannot claim the moral high ground.

I have said it before and I'll say it again - the BNP is a racist, xenophobic, homophobic and anti-Semitic party.

Our MPs are relatively benign, with their greatest collective vice amounting to greed.

The BNP, don't forget, wants to reinstate capital punishment, and pay immigrants who are in Britain legally "to return to their lands of ethnic origin". The party also rejects "the idea that Britain must forever be obliged to subsidise the incompetence of Third World states by supplying them with financial aid."

Outrage at MPs' excessive expenditure is wholly justified, but don't let it perversely cloud your judgment when voting for a political party on June 4.