A host of celebrities have joined a campaign urging members of the Jewish community to vote in next week’s local and mayoral elections, to stop the British National Party making gains.

Singers, actors and TV presenters joined the Hope not Hate campaign by anti-fascist magazine Searchlight, which is travelling the country encouraging people to vote so that the BNP does not win seats in the May 1 elections.

In Manchester on Tuesday, the pop groups The Kooks, the Happy Mondays singer and former X Factor finalist Rowetta Satchell, and star of BBC2’s Hairy Bikers Dave Myers, spoke out against the BNP. Luke Pritchard, lead singer of The Kooks, said: “It’s really important to support and protect Britain’s diversity. That’s why we are endorsing the campaign.”

Ms Satchell, who is Jewish, said: “We must do anything to raise awareness and make sure people vote against this party. The BNP is a party of hatred and ignorance.”

Addressing the Jewish community specifically, she said: “Each vote counts and we need to show the BNP that they don’t have support.”

Mr Myers, originally from Barrow-in-Furness in Cumbria, also strongly backed the campaign: “The BNP has put up two candidates in the ward where I grew up, which is terrible. It’s very important that people are aware that they need to go out and vote. The BNP is a racist party. Their message is wrong so get on your feet and make sure they don’t get in.”