A SKY News/YouGov poll has today revealed widespread support for many of the policies proposed by the British National Party but less backing for the party itself.

A SKY News/YouGov poll has today revealed widespread support for many of the policies proposed by the British National Party but less backing for the party itself.

In the poll, carried out between April 21-24, about half the people (900) were asked if they supported various policies without being told they were BNP plans, while the others (941) were specifically told the ideas had been put forward by the party.

One of the best-known BNP policies is the plan to stop immigration. People were asked whether they supported the idea that all further immigration to the UK should be halted. Among those who weren't told it was a BNP plan, 59% said they'd support the idea. And when it came to those who were specifically told this was a BNP policy, the level of support was 48%, a drop of 11%.

More than half of those surveyed agreed that all immigrants should be denied the right to bring further members of their family into this country. The number fell by 9% among those people who were told it was a BNP policy.

Altogether the average level of support for the BNP's ideas was 55% among those who weren't told they had been put forward by the party. For those who were informed the policies had come from the BNP, it was 49%. The mention of the party's name has a net effect of losing 6% of voters.

And while 37% said they'd seriously consider voting for a party which put forward the various plans the effect of identifying the BNP with the policies led to a drop of 17%.

Majorities opposed two BNP propositions. 68% were against the statement that non-white British citizens are inherently 'less British' than white citizens while 52% were against the Government encouraging immigrants and their families to leave Britain (including family members who were born in the UK).

Peter Kellner, Chairman of YouGov commented: “The results demonstrate that the BNP is tapping into some widely-held views, but that the party suffers from a negative image. If the BNP were able to erase this view, it could make significant gains in the upcoming local elections. This may explain what is happening in certain localities where the BNP now polls strongly.”