Comments on: Ipsos MORI have Boris and Ken within 2 points

By: Alasdair

Alasdair — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 19:07:10 +0000

Hi Colin, I agree. I don;t mean to dismiss the BNP, just put them in some kind of context. To listen to the amount of reference they get one would think they were a major force in the country. We should deal with the issues, but we must be careful of tailoring policy to face the threats raised by very minor parties, any more than we should introduce Sharia law because 0.8% of the national population might be in support…

I suspect that there are probably specific local issues in play in the areas where the BNP have done well.

By: Colin

Colin — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 18:59:38 +0000

Alasdair-I think that is far too convenient a way of dismissing the BNP.
They will never be a nationwide force, unless something goes badly wrong with UK politics.

But they are a presence of significance in certain areas.They have around 5% of councillors in Sandwell,10% of councillors in Stoke on Trent, and Epping Forest; and 25% in Barking & Dagenham.

What is it that their constituents have turned to them for in these wards & areas?

Unless their mainstream political oponents can answer that question & put forward an acceptable alternative in those areas, BNP will presumably continue to get elected.

Simply reciting a catalogue of the BNP’s awfullness doesn’t contribute to removing them. Indeed, adopting such a holier than thou stance will only make the people who voted for them, feel more abandoned & cause them to turn to the BNP out of frustration.

If their constituents have demands and aspirations which are considered unreasonable let us have the courage to say so to them-but don’t complain then when they turn to the BNP for help.

By: Alasdair Cameron

Alasdair Cameron — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 15:48:03 +0000

While the BNP are a concern, they really have very little support amongst voters (0.7% of national vote and only 48 councillors out of 10,661). I think the real achievment of the BNP has been to skew the political debate by even this minor showing. Of course we should discuss, debate and challenge their views, but we shouldn’t get carried away and think that they are a bigger threat than they are.

By: Cllr Peter Cairns (SNP)

Cllr Peter Cairns (SNP) — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 13:58:58 +0000

Well said Phil.

Peter.

By: Philip Thompson

Philip Thompson — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 13:04:10 +0000

“I believe that the ideology of the BNP is racist, sick and immoral and will always say so. In short to advocate different treatment on the basis of race is wrong.”

Its not just the left who can think that. I believe that the ideology of the BNP is racist, sick and immoral and will always say so. I think that to advocate different treatment on the basis of race is wrong and always will be.

Free speech entails not just the BNP spouting their vapid bile, but allows all sane individuals of whatever political persuasion to reply in turn and call a spade a spade saying that it is hate-filled bile.