Emma Colgate has replaced consultant Jim Dowson as British National Party administration officer, it was announced at the BNP’s victory rally in Blackpool this afternoon.

Mr Dowson, who made the announcement, said he had only agreed to fulfil the role until June this year. “I am absolutely confident that Miss Colgate is the right person for this job and to take this party to the next level,” he said.

In an overview of the party’s administration and financial situation, Mr Dowson also announced that the BNP’s turnover for the first six months of 2009 had already reached £800,000.

“We project that the final turnover for this year will be in the region of £1.5 to £1.7 million,” Mr Dowson said to applause from the audience.

“This shows just how dramatic the BNP’s growth has been,” he continued. “In 2006, the BNP’s turnover for the entire year was approximately £500,000, but even that included a test fundraiser which raised £96,000 which I did free for the party to prove that it could be done,” he said.

“In 2007, the party ended the year £100,000 in debt. In 2008, we increased the party’s turnover to £1.1 million, more than doubling its income and considerably increasing its staff and infrastructure. Everything was paid for, and the BNP still ended that financial year with a £100,000 profit.”

Mr Dowson also announced that the party has raised nearly £600,000 with its fundraising appeals during the European election campaign.

“We face an election within a year,” he said. “To fight that campaign, we will need to raise another million pounds. I am confident that all patriots and BNP stalwarts will rise to the challenge and that we will achieve this goal. Who knows, we might even be able to put people into Westminster, and that will be worth every sacrifice.”