The fight against fascism is “harder” today than it was in the 1970s, a former cabinet minister has said.

Peter Hain, who was at the forefront of campaigns against apartheid in South Africa, warned of the rise of the British National Party, amid reports it was on course to win its first seats in the European Parliament this year.

Union representatives, who also spoke at the Unite Against Fascism rally, said the BNP was taking advantage of recent “British jobs for British workers” protests.

Speaking at the conference in London, Mr Hain, the Labour MP for Neath, said: “The most important lesson of history is of unity against fascism and its modern incarnation the BNP.

”Today’s fight is harder than the movement in the 1970s, with fascists polling high votes and attempting to present themselves as a legitimate, normal political party.”

Former London Mayor Ken Livingstone added: “Today the prime targets of the BNP are Muslims. Why? Because the Islamophobic message chimes with those in the press and media on an almost daily basis.

”The reality is the Muslim community is one of the most integrated communities in Britain. Opinion polling in London showed that more Muslims in London felt patriotic towards and identified with England, than the average Londoner.”

Senior Labour figures have told the Prime Minister they believe two BNP candidates are likely to be sent to Brussels under the proportional representation system of voting, The Independent reported today.

Yesterday, the far-right party was celebrating a surprise win in a council by-election in Swanley, Kent, where the BNP candidate took 41% of the vote after Labour’s support collapsed.

A Labour source told the paper: “We have got to get our act together - and very quickly. No one is focusing on the European elections; no one knows who is in charge.”