Comments on: Barking

By: LBernard

LBernard — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 16:10:58 +0000

I have a feeling the BNP will be back in 2014 to fight in the local elections. Their success will depend on how the Labour council do in the coming years.
On the subject of the BNP I am preparing to see them stand in local elections next year in Thurrock as well exploiting the ‘swapped by immigrants’ vote while playing on the inefficiencies of the present Labour council.

By: Ben Foley

Ben Foley — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 16:21:00 +0000

Checking back and a bit of digging tells me it was former BNP treasurer David Hannam who died, apparently from a heart attack.

The BNP seem to suggest that being investigated by the BBC might have driven him to his grave age 30, but another explanation might be that the BNP were putting pressure on him to not reveal all to the BBC. Given that David Hannam’s family were willing for him to be named by the BBC as the source of much of their information, I suspect the family didn’t blame the BBC.

By: Ben Foley

Ben Foley — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 21:57:24 +0000

Tonight’s Panorama on BBC1 shed more light on the BNP’s rise and subsequent decline.

It looks like a very large amount can be explained by their financial position.

… there was also an odd mention at the end of the programme of somebody who had been providing off-the-record information for the programme, but who has died within the last 8 days. Does anyone have more info?

By: Caribou

Caribou — Sat, 08 Jan 2011 17:32:21 +0000

Nick Griffin is notorious for repressing free speech in his own party. He said after the result to a journalist that it was the end for the party and they would become a pressure group, luckily for everyone else they have been silent since then.

By: Barnaby JL Marder

Barnaby JL Marder — Sun, 28 Nov 2010 11:09:34 +0000

You’re right Pete – it’s fortunate for the rest of us that Fascists hate each other almost as much as they hate the likes of me and those who are opposed to their policies. Sometimes they make us in the Labour Party look like amateurs when it comes to arguing.

By: Pete Whitehead

Pete Whitehead — Sat, 27 Nov 2010 20:30:34 +0000

They tried and failed. Most of the discontented party members are no longer party members.

By: Barnaby JL Marder

Barnaby JL Marder — Sat, 27 Nov 2010 20:19:21 +0000

Apparently Nick Griffin has announced his plans to resign the BNP leadership within 3 years! That’s a bit grandiose, even Blair didn’t go that far. I wonder if the discontented party members will get rid of him quicker than that.

By: David Ashforth

David Ashforth — Sat, 27 Nov 2010 19:52:46 +0000

From Channel 4′s website:

‘The Battle for Barking’ – More4, Tues 30 Nov, 10PM

“Laura Fairrie’s film records the battle between Labour’s Margaret Hodge and BNP leader Nick Griffin in the London borough of Barking during this year’s election”

By: Tim Jones

Tim Jones — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 14:43:22 +0000

Picking up on Barnaby’s point, the BNP, or National Front as I think it might have been, were delighted when the mild mannered John Major took over from Margaret Thatcher and saw it as a real opportunity to make their mark on Britsh politocs

As we know thankfully they’ve mostly failed but thanks to the PR voting system adopted for our European elections they have two seats in the European parliament, which whilst not much, does give them some sort of a springboard on which to fight on

By: benjamin

benjamin — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 11:34:24 +0000

“I’m not too comfortable with people going to the area ,who don’t live there”

Sounds like you’d fit right in!

I suppose ideally you’re right, but since I’m sure we all agree that one of the most effective tools for defeating the BNP is to have a vibrant and competitive local democracy rather than a one-party state, those of us who campaign for other parties (Lib Dem, Conservative, Green) need to build up our strength in these areas to be able to challenge Labour and provide an alternative opposition to the BNP.

In reality, even where there are already local activists, help from outside will be needed at least to kickstart that campaigning. I went down to Barking for the Goresbrook by-election on polling day and it was an overwhelmingly positive experience and helped motivate our local group that they were getting support from outside in a totally no-win by-election.

What I don’t like are groups like UAF or the Anti-Nazi League parading round causing trouble making the campaign all about the BNP – they are not only usually Communist loons but totally counterproductive. There is no opportunity to write “Oh Noez, not teh Bee-Enn-Pee!” on your ballot and have it count for anything.