BNP IS BIGGEST THREAT WARNS HARRIET; Far right election rise.

Byline: LAURA ARMSTRONG

LABOUR faces a major threat from the BNP, deputy leader Harriet Harman warned yesterday.

The alert came after the far-right party came from nowhere to poll more than 23 per cent in Moston, Manchester. Labour comfortably defended the city council seat.

But Ms Harman warned that unless voters in "safe" Labour areas turn out, the BNP may grab its first European Parliament seats in this June's elections.

She added: "It is a worry. Certainly they are a bigger threat than before."

European elections use proportional representation and after a BNP surge in the North and Midlands, Labour fear the far right could grab two or three seats.

Speaking after a visit to the North West, where BNP leader Nick Griffin is a candidate, Ms Harman said: "Most people are not aware the BNP is standing.

"It's a question of pointing out the dangers of the party, which now wears suits but whose ideology is as pernicious as ever." In areas where there is heavy BNP activity, Labour is using the slogan "Fairness not fear" instead of its national "Winning the fight for Britain's future". It is also teaming up with anti-fascist groups and sending in anti-BNP "battlebuses".

CAPTION(S):

EXTREMIST Nick Griffin FEARS Harriet Harman