Reviews were generally positive. The Telegraph took an anti-BNP stance writing that "the best thing about The Battle for Barking, was that it didn’t bash the BNP. Instead, it was quite happy to let the BNP bash themselves."[2]The Guardian described the film as "altogether more substantial and red-blooded," attacking Griffin personally, writing that "the already overweight Griffin was seldom seen not scoffing a doughnut: he'd better start praying he finds a hospital without any black staff when he is eventually admitted for heart surgery."[3] A review in the New Statesman praised the film as "revealing".[4] A review in The Independent called the film "studiously even-handed" and remarked, "given 90 minutes of televisual rope, Griffin and co did a brilliant job of hanging themselves as credible political contenders."[5]
The BNP's Deputy Chairman Simon Darby described on his blog how the documentary came about: "Well, was I right in trusting her (Fairrie), was the question I asked myself whilst brushing my teeth in the early hours of this morning. 'Yes.'"'[6] However, the BNP's former National Organiser Eddy Butler wrote that "the overwhelming feeling after watching it is one of great sadness at the lost opportunity."[7]
