|PIC2|The Methodist, Baptist and United Reformed Churches have expressed their “disappointment and concern” over gains made by the BNP in the European Parliament elections last week.

Far right party the BNP won its first two seats in the European Parliament, with party leader Nick Griffin elected in the North West region, and former university lecturer Andrew Brons securing another seat for the BNP in Yorkshire and Humber, where the party won 10 per cent of the vote.

Mr Griffin said the election had been a “great victory” for his party that would signal “a huge change in British politics”.

"It is a historic breakthrough. It is a great moment for democracy. Labour has helped to turn this country into a crime-ridden slum with no industry left,” he said.

Church leaders and politicians have lamented the advances of the BNP, with Rachel Lampard, Public Adviser for the Methodist Church, saying that the limited success of the BNP had not changed the Churches’ “steadfast” message of God’s universal love.

“God loves all and racism is a sin,” she said. “The campaigning work of the churches and other grassroots organisations has helped to highlight the need for people to vote positively, especially at a time when public confidence in politics has been shaken.”

The Rev Graham Sparkes, Head of Faith and Unity for the Baptist Union of Great Britain, said it was “deeply disappointing” that a racist party would be representing Britain in Europe for the next five years. He said it was vital that the remaining UK representatives “dedicate themselves to promote the common good”.

Secretary for Church and Society for the United Reformed Church, Frank Kantor, said: “We must never become comfortable with the BNP using their position to promote their racist policies. We will continue to counter their messages of hatred and fear.”

The BNP’s inroads have been put down to the substantial losses incurred by the Labour Party, which came third after the Tories and the UK Independence Party - its worst ever result in a national election.

Health Secretary and North West MP Andy Burnham said the result was a "sad moment for British politics" that revealed there were concerns among voters about immigration that needed to be addressed.

"It is deeply uncomfortable to see the BNP polling in the numbers they have. Whatever the country's problems the BNP are never the answer,” he said.

Shadow defence secretary Liam Fox said: "All politicians should be asking themselves 'how did we allow this to happen?'”