SIR Before the local elections all the major parties were dismissing the BNP as irrelevant. I think, after the BNP's showing on Thursday, in future they will ignore them at their peril.

The BNP's success is entirely due to the main parties' abject failures. Labour's arrogance and disregard for the concerns of the electorate, and the Conservatives concentrating on airy-fairy Green waffle, while ignoring real issues like immigration and crime.

The BNP contested 16 seats in the Bradford elections. They came first in one, second in eight, third in four and fourth in three, one of those being Barkerend which is not the most popular BNP stronghold.

They obtained more votes than the Conservatives in eight seats, more than Labour in five seats and more than the Liberals in ten seats.

My point is that, although the BNP only won one seat, they had a massive effect on the election. They gave all the major parties a run for their money and, but for the BNP, the Conservatives could now be in power.

I hope that makes Blair and Cameron sit up and take notice the British people are fed up of being ignored.

Malcolm Wood, Westercroft View, Northowram