Margaret Hodge smashes Nick Griffin in Barking and tells BNP: Get out and stay out

The BNP suffered a humiliating defeat in Barking as Labour stormed to victory with an increased vote.

Labour MP Margaret Hodge fought off the far-Right party's leader Nick Griffin in what she described as the "toughest battle of my life".

The BNP, which was beaten into third place behind the Tories, is also understood to have lost most of its 12 seats on Barking & Dagenham council.

The disastrous result for the BNP, which saw its vote share drop by two per cent, immediately raised questions about Mr Griffin's future as leader.

As the election campaign progressed the party — whose campaign has been beset with infighting, abuse and violence — had started to think they could win the seat. The Gordon Brown "bigot" row was its high point.

However, Mrs Hodge held on to her seat with 24,628 votes; Tory Simon Marcus came second on 8,073 votes and the BNP third with 6,620 votes

Mrs Hodge said the people of Barking had "overwhelmingly" rejected the politics of hatred and prejudice.

"On behalf of the people of Britain, we in Barking have not just beaten, but we have smashed the attempts of extremist outsiders," she said.

"The message from Barking to the BNP is clear — get out and stay out. You're not wanted here, and your vile politics have no place in British democracy. Tomorrow you're going to lose councillors and tomorrow we're giving you a clear message — pack your bags and go."

Mr Griffin said: "Within the next five years the indigenous people of London will be in a minority in our own capital city. This is a wake-up call not just for London, but a wake-up call for the whole of Britain."

Asked whether he would resign, he replied: "I'll leave the leadership of the BNP when my members ask me to."

Labour started off the campaign convinced that Mr Griffin was only standing to boost the BNP's profile. However, the slump in Labour support nationally combined with reports from the doorstep that the BNP was doing well led to fears Mrs Hodge could lose the seat.

Until the last moment Labour activists were warning the biggest political earthquake in modern British history could take place.

There were serious concerns the BNP could seize Barking and Dagenham council. The final council result will be announced later today.

But when Mrs Hodge, 65, entered the count at Goresbrook Leisure centre in Barking just after midnight it was clear she had heard good news.

"I think we've smashed them," she confided. "My tellers say we've done quite well."

BNP activists wandered listlessly round the count. Mr Griffin's grim-faced minders told the Standard that he was not doing press interviews.

By 2am a despondent Mr Griffin conceded defeat, blaming it on high voter turnout. "I'm being realistic," he told us. "Margaret Hodge is clearly going to hold the seat. The real prize has always been the council."

Dozens of police surrounded the venue in case trouble boiled over between BNP supporters and anti-fascist campaigners. However, the night passed without incident.

Labour MP Jon Cruddas held neighbouring Dagenham and Rainham with 17,813 votes to the Tories' 15,183 in a contest that did not declare until after 6am.