BNP Backs Boris

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The British National party has called on its supporters to give their second-preference votes in the London mayoral election to the Conservative candidate, Boris Johnson.

In a statement posted on its website today, the far-right party advised people to award its own mayoral candidate, Richard Barnbrook, their first-choice vote, and "the Tory clown Johnson" their second because he was the lesser of two evils.

It read: "Our suggestion … is that you hold your nose and cast it in favour of the Conservative candidate, Boris Johnson. This is not because we think that Johnson would be any good as mayor — he is as politically correct as any of the other candidates and has no real ties to our London — but because he wouldn't be actively bad in the way that [Ken] Livingstone [the Labour candidate] is."

After attacking the Tory party for its behaviour over Europe and its support for "mass immigration", the statement went on: "In this race, the Tory clown Johnson is a lesser evil than the Marxist crank Livingstone, so replacing the latter with the former would, on balance, be an improvement for the majority of Londoners.

"So even if Johnson condemns the BNP (and as a Tory 'wet' he's bound to), a second-choice vote for him gives you the chance to vote BNP as your first preference and still vote to get Livingstone out of office."

The current mayor, Ken Livingstone, pointed out that the Green party candidate, Siân Berry, had called for her supporters to give their second-preference votes to him.

He added: "That the BNP have called for a second-preference vote to the Tory against me is no surprise. I hate and despise everything the BNP stand for as against every value of London as a great multi-ethnic tolerant and diverse city."

Brian Paddick, the Liberal Democrat candidate, said: "Clearly the BNP have recognised Boris's talent for causing offence and creating division. This should be a wake-up call for all decent people who could vote in the election to register their vote because the more votes there are for mainstream parties, the less chance there will be to give racists and extremists a seat."

Analysts believe the BNP could make a breakthrough in May's election unless there is a big voter turnout. Last time London went to the polls the far-right party got 4.8% - just short of the 5% needed to get a member on the London assembly.

At the time the UK Independence party, which has since largely imploded, polled 8.8% and it is feared many of its supporters may now transfer their allegiance to the BNP.

The electoral system means the party, which has since picked up several local councillors in London, needs 5% to get one assembly member, around 8% to get two and 11% to get three.

Yesterday Nick Lowles, from the anti-fascist organisation Searchlight, said London was in danger of sleepwalking towards a BNP breakthrough, adding it was crucial that voters turned out on May 1 to ensure the party was kept out of mainstream politics.

"Let there be no mistake about it there is a chance that they could get one, two or even three assembly members and that will change the nature of politics in London. It is vital that everyone who opposes the racism of the BNP turns out and makes their voice heard."