Derek Beackon

Derek Beackon was an unemployed British lorrydriver who achieved nationwide notoriety after winning a Millwall council seat for the British National Party on September 17 1993.

Millwall had long been a seat of ethnic tension and unemployment associated with the declining docklands area in London. Beackon campaigning under the 'Rights for Whites' slogan won the ward on a 44% turnout (the BNP received 33.9% of the vote) beating Labour by a mere seven votes.

The victory was shortlived however and (although Beackon's own vote increased) he was defeated in a Labour landslide in May 1994. He was the only successful BNP candidate during Tyndall's tenure as party leader.