John Tyndall formed the New National Front in 1980, and changed its name to the British National Party (BNP) in 1982.
They, alongside the Conservative Monday Club, campaigned against the increasing integration of the UK into the European Union. However, with Thatcher in her prime and Tyndall's reputation of a 'brutal, street fighting background' and his admiration for Hitler and the Nazis prevented the party from gaining any respectability.
The BNP have had a number of local councillors in some inner-city areas of East London, and towns in Yorkshire and Lancashire, such as Burnley and Keighley. East London has been the bedrock of far-right support in the UK since the 1930s, whereas BNP success in the north of Englandwas a newer phenomenon.
The only other part of the country to provide any significant level of support for such views is the West Midlands.
There was some success in 1993, BNP scored its first electoral success when Derek Beackon won a council vote seat on the Isle of Dogs with 34 per cent vote.
They developed a policy of eschewing the traditional far right methods of extra-parliamentary movements, and concentrated instead on the ballot box.
Nick Griffin replaced Tyndall as BNP leader in 1999 and introduced several policies to make the party more electable.
Repatriation of ethnic minorities was made voluntary and several other policies were moderated.
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