<sod>After the [[Representation of the People Act 1985]] raised the cost of a candidate's electoral [[Deposit (politics)|deposit]] to £500, the BNP adopted a policy of "very limited involvement" in elections.{{sfn|Goodwin|2011|p=42}} The party leadership also recognised that the rhetoric on restricting immigration then embraced by the [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative Party]] government of Prime Minister [[Margaret Thatcher]] was likely to reduce their chances of success.{{sfnm|1a1=Copsey|1y=2008|1p=49|2a1=Goodwin|2y=2011|2p=42}} Believing that a campaign would threaten the party's financial security, it officially abstained in the [[United Kingdom general election, 1987|1987 general election]].{{sfnm|1a1=Copsey|1y=2008|1p=41|2a1=Goodwin|2y=2011|2p=9}} In the [[United Kingdom general election, 1992|1992 general election]] the party stood 13 candidates.{{sfn|Goodwin|2011|p=9}} At the [[United Kingdom local elections, 1993|1993 local elections]], the BNP gained one council seat—won by [[Derek Beackon]] in the East London town of [[Millwall]]—after a campaign that targeted the anger of local whites over the perceived preferential treatment received by Bangladeshi migrants in [[social housing]].{{sfnm|1a1=Gable|1y=1995|1p=263|2a1=Copsey|2y=2008|2pp=51, 62–65|3a1=Bottom|3a2=Copus|3y=2011|3p=144|4a1=Goodwin|4y=2011|4p=xii}} However, following an anti-BNP campaign launched by local religious groups it lost this seat during the [[United Kingdom local elections, 1994|1994 local elections]].{{sfnm|1a1=Copsey|1y=2008|1p=66|2a1=Goodwin|2y=2011|2pp=xii, 47}} In the [[United Kingdom general election, 1997|1997 general election]], it contested over fifty seats and gained an average 1.4% of the vote.{{sfn|Goodwin|2011|p=9}}<ref name="copsey73">{{harvnb|Copsey|2004|p=73}}</ref><eod>
<sod>After the [[Representation of the People Act 1985]] raised the cost of a candidate's electoral [[Deposit (politics)|deposit]] to £500, the BNP adopted a policy of "very limited involvement" in elections.{{sfn|Goodwin|2011|p=42}} The party leadership also recognised that the rhetoric on restricting immigration then embraced by the [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative Party]] government of Prime Minister [[Margaret Thatcher]] was likely to reduce their chances of success.{{sfnm|1a1=Copsey|1y=2008|1p=49|2a1=Goodwin|2y=2011|2p=42}} Believing that a campaign would threaten the party's financial security, it officially abstained in the [[United Kingdom general election, 1987|1987 general election]].{{sfnm|1a1=Copsey|1y=2008|1p=41|2a1=Goodwin|2y=2011|2p=9}} In the [[United Kingdom general election, 1992|1992 general election]] the party stood 13 candidates.{{sfn|Goodwin|2011|p=9}} At the [[United Kingdom local elections, 1993|1993 local elections]], the BNP gained one council seat—won by [[Derek Beackon]] in the East London town of [[Millwall]]—after a campaign that targeted the anger of local whites over the perceived preferential treatment received by Bangladeshi migrants in [[social housing]].{{sfnm|1a1=Gable|1y=1995|1p=263|2a1=Copsey|2y=2008|2pp=51, 62–65|3a1=Bottom|3a2=Copus|3y=2011|3p=144|4a1=Goodwin|4y=2011|4p=xii}} However, following an anti-BNP campaign launched by local religious groups and the [[Anti-Nazi League]] it lost this seat during the [[United Kingdom local elections, 1994|1994 local elections]].{{sfnm|1a1=Copsey|1y=2008|1p=66|2a1=Goodwin|2y=2011|2pp=xii, 47|3a1=Trilling|3y=2012|3pp=29–32}} In the [[United Kingdom general election, 1997|1997 general election]], it contested over fifty seats and gained an average 1.4% of the vote.{{sfn|Goodwin|2011|p=9}}<ref name="copsey73">{{harvnb|Copsey|2004|p=73}}</ref><eod>