Oldham’s other three-way battle

Just back from covering the campaign in the Oldham East & Saddleworth by-election – where, I suspect, the Lib Dems will not do quite so badly as many either hope or fear. It seems to be the Tory vote which is collapsing; odd, really, as the seat should be a three way marginal.

One of the interesting sideshows is the three-way split on the far right, between the BNP, UKIP and the newcomers on the block, the English Democrats. The BNP did very well in Oldham five years ago, but their support locally (and nationally) has dwindled since then. They are competing with the English Democrats for the disillusioned Labour vote; UKIP take votes mainly from the Tories.

My guess is the BNP will still narrowly win this private three-way battle, although not with anything like the 5,000 or so votes they got when Oldham was enjoying its very own race riots (which were the subject, again, of BBC propaganda). But you do wonder if the English Democrats will overtake the BNP sooner or later. They have at least one policy with which I am in agreement – a return to the old pre-1974 shire counties.