POLITICAL leaders expressed their delight that the British National Party have come last in an election.

Howard Studley, BNP candidate, claimed 56 votes in the Canons ward by-election.

Tony McNulty, Labour MP for Harrow East, said: "It seems to me they have got 56 votes too many.

"I'm very pleased they have come stone last, and will they now go away and leave Harrow politics alone."

Bob Blackman, London Assembly Member for Harrow, joined the people lining up to condemn the BNP.

He said : "I'm very pleased to hear they came last, this is a good piece of news."

Richard Harrod (Lab), who came second in today's by-election, said: "I'm delighted the people of Canons have rejected the extremist, right wing, fascists of the BNP.

"Their small number of votes reflects the fact the majority of people in Canons and the whole of Harrow do not like extremist racist thugs."

Mr Studley did not attend today's count, but a representative of the BNP, Dennis Pearce, was happy with the result.

He said: "This is the first time we have had a candidate in this ward, and we are pleased to have given our members and supporters a chance to vote for us."

Husain Akhtar won the by-election with 56.6 per cent of the vote, and a majority of 819.

Turnout was 24.03 per cent.