the nnp's first foray into electoral politics came at the 2007 local elections with the party standing four candidates in birmingham and one each in north tyneside and teesside. the presence of the party in local elections in birmingham was by the "birmingham mail" as effectively ending any hope of the bnp gaining a council seat in the city due to a split far right vote. this was proven correct as the bnp's vote in the city fell considerably from its previous level.