By Gregory Newcombe

Nick Griffin admitted defeat in Barking last night conceding that Labour veteran Margaret Hodge “won the seat rather comfortably”.

The defeat came only hours after Griffin declared that the 2010 General Election was a “watershed” moment for the British National Party.  

After the defeat, the BNP candidate for Mitcham and Morden, Tony Martin, fuelled the controversy by suggesting that Labour and the Liberal Democrats conspired to keep the BNP out.

“Labour and the Lib Dems have colluded in Barking to prevent Nick Griffin getting in. The Lib Dems halted their campaign so Labour could gain enough votes to win the seat,” said Mr Martin.  

This was the latest in a long line of incidents in Barking which is fast becoming the BNP’s electoral battleground. Only days earlier, the BNP’s campaign chief, Bob Bailey becoming embroiled in an assault probe after confronting some young Asian men.

After a heated exchange of words, the BBC video shows Bailey launching into a frenzied attack on one youth punching him and then aiming kicks at him as he lay on the pavement.

Police said that no-one needed hospital treatment after the incident but a Met spokesman confirmed that an 18-year-old man attended Barking Police Station yesterday and “alleged common assault against another man.”

The defeat came only hours after Griffin declared that 2010 General Election was a “watershed” moment for the British National Party.

Speaking before the polls had even closed Griffin said that the party’s “growth and resilience” was “truly inspiring”.

In an email to supporters he wrote: "This election, regardless of the results, is the watershed for this party.

"This is the last election the British National Party fights as a large small party - we are now a small large party and what's more, our enemies know this.”

"The BNP has arrived and will be knocking on the doors of power sooner than some ever imagined!" he added."