It is no wonder that Nick Griffin's future hangs in the balance: the BNP have lost 26 of their councillors, down to just 19 (see figures from the BBC). This is good news for people who support the BNP's crime reduction policies because research published in January concluded BNP election victories lead to a rise in hate crime.
From The Guardian:
The Guardian has analysed data from 11 police forces covering 29 wards across England where voters have elected BNP councillors in the past six years. In eight wards reports of hate crime rose following BNP election wins despite a wider decline across the police force area.