RACE Relations suffered a massive blow after the extreme right managed to gain a political foothold in Burnley - but the council leader vowed all sections of the community would be treat equally.

Nearly a year on from the riots that plagued northern towns, three BNP candidates were elected, prompting outrage and widespread criticism.

The gains were the party's first in the North West and they are the first far right councillors since Tower Hamlets in London voted in a candidate nine years ago.

Politicians in Blackburn, Hyndburn and elsewhere in Lancashire spoke of their determination to ensure the surge of support for the party did not spread.

The leader of Burnley Council Stuart Caddy has vowed not to work with the BNP councillors, who will have to sign a code of conduct, which includes a pledge to treat all sections of the community equally, before they can take office.

Race chiefs in the region said there can be no let-up in the fight against racism and all communities must unite to stop the spread of the far-rights poisonous message.

Lord Ouseley, former chairman of the Commission for Racial Equality, said the Burnley result would put a "severe chill" on community relations in the area.

"I'm very sad for the people of Burnley that a certain part of Burnley have expressed themselves in such a way," he said.

"I wouldn't like to be a member of a minority community living in Burnley during the foreseeable future."

Asian Image Comment:

THIS IS NOT AN 'US AND THEM' ISSUE ANYMORE

If we needed any evidence of how we are still perceived by some members of the wider community then this was it.

The success of a minority of ill-educated individuals at the polls gave us all a startling reminder that there still people who think that because of our culture and race we are the reason for the problems in their towns.

The far-right, among other things, used the notion that funding was being directed towards the Asian areas and nowhere else.

That is utter nonsense. All one has to do is walk into Stoneyholme and Daneshouse and realise the area has been devoid of any kind of funding and re-structuring for years.

It is a familiar ploy to blame all the ills in your town on the group you know least and one it seems wishes to know less about you.

Segregation remains a major tool with which these bigots have managed to get themselves a number of council seats.

Both white and Asian communities are guilty of creating this divide and both communities must find ways to bring them down.

But there will always be racists in society it is therefore our job as BRITISH people to make sure we work together and make sure they don't get a platform to voice their despicable views.

Mainstream parties must not compromiose on their policies to accommodate these views. That would be the greatest disaster.

What was shocking though was the manner in which a bigot was elected in a middle class area. Those voters hardly came into contact with an Asian person.

Something they shouldn't be proud of. And I am sure come next election time they will deeply regret having even got out of bed in the morning to go and cast their vote.

The leader of these racists has gone on record as saying it is not the Asian community he has anything against but Muslims. So we know where the real issues lie.

This is not necessarily an Asian thing but a Muslim one. Wider institutions and bodies must also then take the blame for this by making Islam the new enemy of the 21st century.

By dressing up their organisation these racists have managed to gain a foothold, if only a minor one, in our region.

It is a sad indictment of the times when these dim-witted views are still held by some people but one we as a community must face together.

To halt the spread of these racists into other towns we need to realise we cannot close ourselves into our own little communities and pretend the wider community doesn't exist.

We need to be aware that the majority of people in this country stand with us and not against us.

They understand we are as British as the next person and despite our cultural differences we can live together.

We also need to make sure that when these bigots come into our towns and try to stir up racial hatred our neighbours whatever colour, still and always be our friendly neighbours.

And there's no changing that.

skhan@lancashire.newsquest.co.uk