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from The Great Debate UK:
Coalition must tackle issues fuelling far right
Professor Ted Cantle is executive chair, Institute of Community Cohesion at Coventry University. The opinions expressed are his own.-
The apparent failure of the British National Party to secure a parliamentary seat at the May 2010 general election has obscured the growth in support for far right groups.
In 2001 the BNP picked up 47,000 votes, in 2005 it had grown to 192,000. This year it was 563,000.
Based on a new analysis by iCoCo of the voting patterns for far right groups, this appears to be part of an underlying trend of gathering support which threatens the stability of the UK’s communities, and would lead to the need for greater spending by local government and their partners on dealing with tensions.
Under a proportional representation system the BNP would have picked up12 seats for the BNP.
Many people do have real concerns about migration and change within their neighbourhoods and we dismiss these concerns as ‘ignorant’ or ‘racist’ at our peril.
Briton contests election seat after winning competition
A drugs campaigner could arguably claim to be the most unusual prospective parliamentary candidate in the general election next month — he is running after winning a competition.
An independent candidate in the southern Bristol West constituency, Danny Kushlick, 47, is championing the People’s Manifesto, which is a very different policy document from those espoused by Britain’s mainstream political parties, who released their manifestos earlier this week.
While Labour, the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats all talk of cutting the record budget deficit, Kushlick is demanding that the right-wing Daily Mail tabloid newspaper print on the front page of every edition: “This is a fictionalized account of the news and any resemblance to the truth is entirely coincidental.”
Thomas has contributed £1,000 to the Kushlick campaign – proceeds raised from a National Theatre gig in London — while the comedian’s publisher Ebury have stumped up another £1,000 to cover the cost of the drug campaigner’s deposit and expenses.
Thomas picked Kushlick after rejecting any entrant who had mentioned “public service” in their application, though the comedian’s favourite answer to the question “Why do you want to stand as an MP” was “I’m not doing much for the next five years”.
As well as the Daily Mail manifesto pledge, Kushlick’s policy priorities include the legalisation of all drugs, the introduction of a Tobin Tax on foreign financial transactions and a pledge that a referendum should always be held before Britain goes to war.
He sounds almost certain to become a victim of the Law of Unintended Consequences. A moment’s thought is enough to realise that treating something as serious as a general election in such a frivolous way, while entertaining, is guaranteed to decrease the public’s engagement, not to increase it.
There is of course, nothing wrong with a candidate standing solely for the sake of entertainment, as the MRLWHP have always done. But doing it in order to promote a tour (and presumably a DVD or book) while pretending that you’re doing it to increase engagement with the political process? That makes pampering one’s ducks on expenses look relatively tame….
Live blog: BNP on Question Time
Welcome to our live blog of the BBC’s Question Time, which tonight features British National Party leader Nick Griffin on its panel.
Whichever side of the debate you fall on, no-one can deny that this has developed into a huge story. The BBC has defended its decision to invite Griffin on, Gordon Brown has predicted that it will backfire and security has been ramped up ahead of the show.
Question Time is broadcast at 10:35pm BST, so follow our live blog below during the build-up and the show itself. We really want to hear your views on the show – so send in your comments now!
Should BNP be on Question Time?
On Thursday night, BNP leader Nick Griffin will appear on the BBC’s leading current affairs programme “Question Time”, an appearance that has provoked much anger and debate.
Griffin is no stranger to the airwaves or TV screens, regularly appearing this week alone after four leading former generals attacked his party for using military imagery as part of its campaigning
But to some politicians, including Home Secretary Alan Johnson and Cabinet minister Peter Hain, the BBC’s decision to allow him on Question Time was totally wrong, giving a much higher profile platform to Griffin and his far-right views.
They also say that a recent court decision to order the BNP to open up its membership to non-whites meant the party broke race relations laws and was therefore unlawful.
One academic has said that a similar TV appearance by French far-right leader Jean-Marie Le Pen in the 1980s led to a huge increase in support for his Front National party, generating concern that Question Time will do the same for Griffin.
There is no doubt that support for the far-right is growing in Britain at the moment, although it remains very much at the fringes of mainstream politics. The BNP has dozens of councillors across the country, a seat in the London Assembly and most notably won two seats in European Parliamentary elections earlier this year.
BBC bosses argue that for that reason it is only right that Griffin is invited onto the flagship politcal show to answer questions about his party. They say it is for parliament and not for the broadcaster to censor political parties.
For the first time in my life, I find myself in complete agreement with Calvin McKenzie who in an interview on News 24 has just said: “It’s not Mr Griffin we should worry about; it’s the people who vote for him.”
If democracy means that a country gets the governance it deserves rather than governanace which is good for it, then by all means he should appear. Frankly, if there is anyone else on the panel who cannot with ease confound and dismiss him and all his misleading arguments, then that person should carefully consider what they are doing pursuing a career in politics in the first place.
Should the BNP be able to use military imagery?
This is a busy week for the British National Party (BNP).
Today it was warned to stop using military imagery in its campaign material. A group of former military leaders accused the BNP, which has used photographs of spitfire fighter planes and Winston Churchill, of hijacking Britain’s history for their own “dubious ends.”
The distinguished generals said this tarnished the reputation of the armed forces and called on them to “cease and desist.”
Meanwhile, the BNP’s membership list has been leaked again. The names and addresses of thousands of members was posted on Wikileaks, a website that allows information to be published anonymously. BNP leader Nick Griffin said the list was a “malicious forgery.”
Most controversially of all, Griffin is scheduled to appear on BBC’s Question Time this Thursday evening. The decision to give the BNP a seat on the panel has angered some people, who feel they should not be given a platform to air their extreme views on issues such as immigration.
However, despite calls from Welsh Secretary Peter Hain to have Griffin dropped on the grounds that the party “is not lawfully constituted”, Director General Mark Thompson defended the BBC position of due impartiality. He said: “If there were to be any election –- local or national –- tomorrow, the BNP would still be able to field candidates.”
Do you think the BNP should be stopped from using military imagery to promote its policies? Is there a danger the armed forces will be tainted by this association with the far-right? Do you agree with the BBC’s decision to invite Nick Griffin to appear on Question Time?
While i dont regard myself as racist there should be some means of diong something about the sections of the Moslem population of being able to preach against Christianity While it is great to have a country with free speach This is ridiculous !! also that Moslems boo-ing British troops returning from Afganistan No wonder people are attracted to B.N.P.it seems the only party promising to STOP immigraPeople instinctively dont like to see their country being taken over by a different culture Especially one that expouses violencs against the quote “UNBELIVERS”
March highlights BNP controversy
I went to the anti-fascist protest against the far-right British National Party’s annual summer “festival” on Saturday fearing trouble.
Tensions between anti-fascist and far-right groups were running high after street fights in Birmingham the previous weekend between football-linked groups protesting against Islamic fundamentalism and young Asian men.
But the atmosphere as hundreds of demonstrators from across Britain descended on the village Codnor in Derbyshire seemed more one of cheerful determination to celebrate and protect multi-cultural Britain than a belligerent mob set on fist-fighting in fields.
The police had clearly prepared for the worst, enacting public order legislation to stop protesters getting too close to the controvertial campers in nearby fields and putting 500 officers on the ground to enforce it.
The media too had turned out in force, with dozens of photographers and TV cameras buzzing around the crowd which waspenned into the tiny Derbyshire village square before the official march started.
It seemed to me that the assembled variety of ages, races and religions perfectly reflected what is great about modern life in British cities.
But many of the uniformly white local residents stood watching from the other side of the main street were unimpressed by the annual invasion.
I think they now call it astroturfing – in this case leaving as many pro BNP messages as possible on any site which has reported on them to create the appearance that there is a groundswell of support for them. In america there is currently a similar campaign to derail Obama’s health reforms.
I love the way the UAF are being portrayed as thugs and fascists when The Daily Mail, The Guardian and The News of the World have all run stories showing BNP supporters at this ‘festival’ burning golliwogs, throwing sponges at a man in the stocks dressed as Obama, wearing white pride t-shirts and pulling Hitler salutes. And they claim not to be right wing or racist?
The BNP bends ears in east London
“I am not a racist, I am a realist,” said Bob Bailey, the leading London candidate for the anti-immigration British National Party (BNP), after ascertaining my British credentials.
Bailey was campaigning in east London for next week’s European elections, keen to show that the party often reviled by the media for its right-wing views and rejected by much of the electorate up to now, was not a two-horned monster.
Instead he wanted to show it as the anti-immigration and anti-European Union party of Britain, tackling foreign workers taking British jobs, standing up to Islamists who “foist” their ideas on Britain and even taking on the Church of England in a continuing political spat.
“We believe in putting British interests first and Britain’s interest first,” Bailey said.
“This party has been stymied by people in the past and the mainstream parties that have spent an absolute fortune on black propaganda trying to condemn us as racist, fascist and Nazi.
“People are waking up to the truth now and they see that the British National Party is a party that is modern, is progressive, it’s looking forward while at the same time we have a vision for Britain which the mainstream political parties haven’t.”
The party hopes to improve on its 4 percent share of the London vote gained in the last European election in 2004 and pick up a seat on June 4.
Nick Griffin is a more balanced individual than how he is generally portrayed. During a talk he was giving in Bournemouth two skinheads in their jackboots arrived and Nick Griffin immediately told them the BNP is a serious political entity and that they were dinasaurs and to leave in slightly harse terms. I’ve voted tory all my life but I beleive this country need radical change so BNP has my vote this year.
The BNP at Buckingham Palace
The British National Party (BNP) says its leader Nick Griffin is planning to attend a garden party at Buckingham Palace next month, hosted by the Queen.
All members of the London Assembly have been invited, and since last year they include the BNP’s Richard Barnbrook. He wants to bring Griffin as his guest.
Party spokesman Simon Darby says on the party’s website: “The anti-British people who object had better start getting used to the idea because if we get elected MEPs, this is the kind of thing we are going to be doing on a regular basis.”
The Daily Mirror calls the garden party idea a “vile publicity stunt” and the anti-fascist group Searchlight said many BNP members have been convicted of violence and racial harassment. “On security grounds alone, Griffin should be denied access,” it declared.
Support for the anti-immigrant, anti-Europe group has never historically been strong in this country but with the recession taking a toll and the existing political parties having been shamed by the MPs’ expenses scandal, the BNP is hoping to do well in the June 4 European elections.
Do you think it should have the right to attend the garden party?
The BNP is now a legal Political Party so there should be no problem at all with going to Buckingham Palace. We do live in a fair Democracy dont we???
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The Wall
