The far-right BNP has scrapped plans to stand in the forthcoming Granton by-election to the city council next month.

The far-right British National Party (BNP) has scrapped plans to stand in the forthcoming Granton by-election to the city council on 6 November.

The climbdown follows strident protests from various groups, including students at the University of Edinburgh, since 13 October, when the BNP announced their plans to stand for election in Edinburgh’s Forth ward.

In a statement, BNP Scotland said: “We were going through a selection process to find a candidate [for Forth ward], but we decided to concentrate our efforts on the Baillieston election in Glasgow.”

The Baillieston election follows the death of an incumbent Glasgow city councillor. A previous BNP candidature there led to large protests from Scottish anti-fascist groups.

Officials from various trade unions had signalled their intent to protest against the party’s decision to field a candidate.

Parties across Edinburgh’s political spectrum had voiced their concern at the BNP’s potential presence, which would have been the first time that a candidate from the far-right party had stood for election in the city.

Allan Jackson, a current Conservative councillor for the Granton area, told Student he was not surprised by the BNP’s withdrawal.

“I don’t think that they attract much attention with their policies around here but of course it is their democratic right to stand,” he added.

The BNP believe in a complete halt to immigration, as well as standing for the reintroduction of capital punishment and national service.

There is a record of public events involving the BNP, such as party leader Nick Griffin speaking in a debate at the Oxford Union, being picketed, typically involving large numbers of students.

The BNP’s brief foray into Edinburgh politics comes after a period of unprecedented electoral success for the party, which now has 58 councillors in England, as well as a member of the London Assembly.