Far-right parties with racist politics must be opposed in Northern Ireland, a senior Ulster Unionist insisted today.
The Rev Martin Smyth condemned the gains of the British National Party in a council by-election in Essex, and insisted the same must not be allowed to happen in the province.
"The news that the BNP have had another election victory is grim news and is certainly something which would not be welcome in Northern Ireland," the South Belfast MP said.
"The racist attacks across Northern Ireland, and particularly in south Belfast, in recent times are deplorable and represent and element of thinking which is not needed in this society.
"We only have to look at the health service to see the good being done by people from other cultures who help us in many cases because they are needed to fill posts which may otherwise be empty."
Rev Smyth said Northern Ireland is part of a world in which a rich mix of different races, creeds and cultures live together in peace.
"It is therefore only natural that we will also see that diversity in our community," he said. "That is something to be welcomed and not feared or repelled".