UK local elections see right racists win
Supporters of the far-right BNP claimed the party was "on its way" after seizing 11 of the 13 seats it contested in Barking and Dagenham in east London, and getting councillors elected in Stoke-on-Trent, Sandwell and Solihull in the West Midlands.
The British National Party's dramatic gains in Barking and Dagenham meant it has become the first council in the country to have the BNP as the second biggest party.
The BNP has doubled its number of council seats from 2004 winning 46 seats this year. Just five years ago the BNP was on the verge of extinction and activity by the fascistic party had faded to a shadow of its former self. Under new leadership by Oxbridge graduate Nick Griffin the party has made steady progress in membership and in electoral base.
In 1993, the BNP won and lost the following year their first councillor. This experience appeared to give reason for complacency amongst anti-racists and others. The BNP had been defeated organisationally with mass demonstrations outside their headquarters and electorally the only seat was lost within a year.
Fastforward to 2001 and by standing in more than 33 seats, they won 47,000 votes. In 2005, the BNP won 193,000 votes in 119 constituencies. These results are in first past the post elections but in certain areas the BNP polls very strongly. In 2004, under the more favourable list system, they won 800,000 votes in the European elections. In the Stoke mayor election of 2005, they won 19% of the vote.
The relevancy of this rise to Ireland is in the similarities between Britain and Ireland. Moreso the BNP are keen to assist the development of an Irish Nationalist Party. They have carried articles in their publications on Ireland and have attempted to organise Irish racists.
If the days of the skinheaded uneducated youth are behind them, what now for the BNP. Campaigns in the 1990s characterised them as Nazi's and had ample references to support this view. The murder of Stephen Lawrence saw a massive demonstration of public opposition to the organisation of fascists. Now that they have donned the suits, the question for all of us is have they changed their political spots.
Though the BNP have ditched the docks in favour of the suits, they are still recognised as a fascist party. David Cameron MP Leader of the Conservative Party urged voters to vote anyone but the BNP. In the middle of the campaign east London MP Margaret Hodge highlighted the Joseph Rowntree Foundation report on the potential support of the BNP.
The report suggested that 1/4 might vote BNP. The Unite Against Fascism campaign which organises the Love Music Hate Racism concerts says in its evaluation of the BNP that it is only a matter of time before the BNP make the breakthrough they need.
The growth in the BNP arises out of alienation and disaffection for the mainstream parties. Work is more insecure than ever, while housing has become beyond reach for large sections of working class people. It is part of a process where a section of society is looking for an alternative.
The 1997 general election was the culmination of a process of local and general elections which saw the Conservative vote fall and Labour vote rise. The disaffection with Labour is seen most clearly in its traditional areas and this is where fringe parties such as the overtly racist BNP are picking up support.
The British National Party's dramatic gains in Barking and Dagenham meant it has become the first council in the country to have the BNP as the second biggest party.
The BNP has doubled its number of council seats from 2004 winning 46 seats this year. Just five years ago the BNP was on the verge of extinction and activity by the fascistic party had faded to a shadow of its former self. Under new leadership by Oxbridge graduate Nick Griffin the party has made steady progress in membership and in electoral base.
In 1993, the BNP won and lost the following year their first councillor. This experience appeared to give reason for complacency amongst anti-racists and others. The BNP had been defeated organisationally with mass demonstrations outside their headquarters and electorally the only seat was lost within a year.
Fastforward to 2001 and by standing in more than 33 seats, they won 47,000 votes. In 2005, the BNP won 193,000 votes in 119 constituencies. These results are in first past the post elections but in certain areas the BNP polls very strongly. In 2004, under the more favourable list system, they won 800,000 votes in the European elections. In the Stoke mayor election of 2005, they won 19% of the vote.
The relevancy of this rise to Ireland is in the similarities between Britain and Ireland. Moreso the BNP are keen to assist the development of an Irish Nationalist Party. They have carried articles in their publications on Ireland and have attempted to organise Irish racists.
If the days of the skinheaded uneducated youth are behind them, what now for the BNP. Campaigns in the 1990s characterised them as Nazi's and had ample references to support this view. The murder of Stephen Lawrence saw a massive demonstration of public opposition to the organisation of fascists. Now that they have donned the suits, the question for all of us is have they changed their political spots.
Though the BNP have ditched the docks in favour of the suits, they are still recognised as a fascist party. David Cameron MP Leader of the Conservative Party urged voters to vote anyone but the BNP. In the middle of the campaign east London MP Margaret Hodge highlighted the Joseph Rowntree Foundation report on the potential support of the BNP.
The report suggested that 1/4 might vote BNP. The Unite Against Fascism campaign which organises the Love Music Hate Racism concerts says in its evaluation of the BNP that it is only a matter of time before the BNP make the breakthrough they need.
The growth in the BNP arises out of alienation and disaffection for the mainstream parties. Work is more insecure than ever, while housing has become beyond reach for large sections of working class people. It is part of a process where a section of society is looking for an alternative.
The 1997 general election was the culmination of a process of local and general elections which saw the Conservative vote fall and Labour vote rise. The disaffection with Labour is seen most clearly in its traditional areas and this is where fringe parties such as the overtly racist BNP are picking up support.
posted by garrettmullan
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