My view on the BNP

[isay]

I want to start by pointing out that as the son of immigrants, I am obviously not a supporter of the BNP so please excuse any bias you find in this post. Also, please note that any points made are based on my rudimentary (at best) knowledge of politics and what I have learnt so far in my History AS, so I would be grateful if you would point out any mistakes I have made.

I'm sure many of you have heard of the BNPs sudden rise in popularity in the UK, most recently with their success in the MEP elections.

Frankly I'm surprised that they didn't win more seats.

However what I want to talk about is the response to this from the media, it is exemplified by the commentator I heard on LBC this morning. This woman (I forgot her name) was angry, and rightfully so, seeing as she is an immigrant and her child (who is mixed race) would be considered ILLEGAL under the BNP. While I sympathise with her, what I do not find agreeable is that she blamed those that voted for the BNP, a move that I regard as a misdirection of her anger.

The way I see it, it seems that many voters simply have no other choice, and if you look at the rise of Fascists in history, e.g. Mussolini and Hitler, one of the reasons for this is that it is difficult to find opposition that can stand against them. The actions of MPs in regards to the claims scandal has left the reputations of the three main parties in ruins; what's worse is that many of these MPs have got away with what is essentially the embezzlement of public funds while the rest of the UK is falling in to a recession. In addition, many MPs are refusing to even argue against the BNP, arguing that it would give them credibility, a move that I feel sums up an overall feel that if they ignore the problem it will go way.

To be honest with you, if I was put in the same position as a White person who feels their job is endangered because of an economy run by a man who wasn't legally elected, all the while seeing their hard earned money being spent on elaborate duck houses (wtf?), and all that the three main parties are offering are policies that are essentially geared towards the middle classes; then I cannot honestly say that I would not consider voting BNP in order to keep my family housed and fed.

While I understand that it is partly the voters responsibility in who they choose to run the UK, I do not believe it is fair to blame those to whom there was essentially no other option


PS- please do not view this as an endorsement of the BNP, a party that I truly believe could bring this country to ruin. Also please note that this is simply my OPINION, but I would be grateful for feedback as long as it isn't too offensive.

 

[The Infamous Scamola]

I don't think it's entirely their fault, you know being poor and ignorant, but you can't just go off and say "They have no choice". A lot of the BNP's policies are based on bigotry and scapegoatism, and anyone with half a brain can see how that's not going to give them a job or put food on their table.

After all who is the craziest, the crazy man, or the man that follows him?

 

[Gooble]

I mean it's fair enough to not vote for any of the three main parties due to the expenses scandal (though the Lib Dems had very few MP's who had claimed for inappropriate things), but that's no excuse to lose your head and vote for bastards.

Though thinking entirely logically, most of the people of voted for the BNP probably aren't intelligent/thoughtful enough to actually take a closer look at the policies of the parties. This was my first year voting, and instead of going on what the parties' reputations/what they go round saying, I looked at the policies themselves and decided the Green Party, despite the general feeling that their eco-freaks only really concerned about the environment and suck at everything else, that almost all of their policies on mainstream issues were really good and a fully agreed with them. So I voted Green.

 

[isay]

I don't think it's entirely their fault, you know being poor and ignorant, but you can't just go off and say "They have no choice". A lot of the BNP's policies are based on bigotry and scapegoatism, and anyone with half a brain can see how that's not going to give them a job or put food on their table.

After all who is the craziest, the crazy man, or the man that follows him?

That's a good point (I like the quote), however in times of hardship the appeal of bigotry rises exponentially, creating this image of "us or them" is a way of bypassing the normal logical aversion to racism.
That is not to say that not all of these voters are not racist, but I am arguing that a large part of these newer voters were not racially motivated.

 

[Cpt_Oblivious]

Alternatively there's my view on the BNP:

Racist cunts.

 

[MusicalFreedom]

To be honest, the only reason the BNP had nothing to do with the expenses scandal is because they couldn't claim anything as they had no power. They would've claimed for unnecessary stuff if they could. They're not above corruption [http://www.politics.co.uk/news/legal-and-constitutional/bnp-donations-to-be-investigated-$1299185.htm]. They're shitheads. [http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2009/may/31/bnp-european-elections-facebook-expose] Completely incompetent.

The blame for the BNP getting power lies on the people who didn't vote in the elections, far as I'm concerned. They won through general apathy and disillusionment.

 

[isay]

Alternatively there's my view on the BNP:

Racist cunts.

Yeah, that's my view too; but I still don't feel comfortable demonising all of the new voters that selected them in this election.

 

[Daveman]

Even if you are poor, it is stupid to vote for the BNP. They're incredibly right wing and believe people who earn more money are superior (assuming they're white of course). The only logical thing is to actually start taking an interest in politics and vote for somebody who really does represent your opinions and then hope they aren't corrupt. That said, British corruption is probably the most petty corruption in the world and I really don't care that much about it.

People need a sense of perspective.

 

[Tehpwnsauce]

The voter turn out in my area was 31% that is the only reason why people like the BNP get into power.

 

[Tehpwnsauce]

Alternatively there's my view on the BNP:

Racist cunts.

Don't forgot Nazi's too.

 

[Cpt_Oblivious]

Alternatively there's my view on the BNP:

Racist cunts.

Yeah, that's my view too; but I still don't feel comfortable demonising all of the new voters that selected them in this election.

Yea, I can see why some people think they only had BNP to go with.

 

[Rigs83]

In America the US has the Republican Party which was not too far removed from the BNP in the UK and they successfully ruined all good will towards the nation, mired the military in an unjust war that has left them weakened and over stretched and and the economy ruined globally and thus are becoming an endangered species in the US. Sadly every party tends to fracture and collapse once they have held power for a significant time. If they do come to power they will eventually trip over their own feet and stumble into the shit just like many Labor Party members are doing now. The greatest weakness and the greatest strength of a democracy is that the government can and will change with time.

 

[Cartographer]

I don't think there has been any surge of popularity towards the BNP in recent years, but the scandal surrounding MP's expences has jaded an already apathetic voting public into simply not bothering to stick a cross on a ballot this time round (I seem to recall reading that the UK's voter turnout was approx 32% this time). There was no such compunction for the BNP's supporters, who are by all accounts fanatical in their bigotry and show up to vote without fail (assuming they're not serving time), and so the same number of votes resulted in elected officials.

 

[bodyklok]

Alternatively there's my view on the BNP:

Racist cunts.

This.

 

[lordofthepickle]

I just dont feel comfortable with a party earning seats which wants honest, decent and hard working people to leave the country because of thier origins. Ejecting these people will not create untold wealth for white brits or secure thier jobs, it will only make another country the recipient of a dedicated labour force

 

[isay]

I just dont feel comfortable with a party earning seats which wants honest, decent and hard working people to leave the country because of thier origins. Ejecting these people will not create untold wealth for white brits or secure thier jobs, it will only make another country the recipient of a dedicated labour force

Yeah, I agree with you, please bear in my mind I am in no way endorsing their policies.

 

[Trivun]

I live in Leeds right now, so basically Yorkshire. Walking past a newspaper stand in the city today, I saw a headline saying that the BNP won the Yorkshire seat for the EU Parliamentary elcections. This actually surprised me, for two reasons. First, Yorkshire has quite a few university towns (York and Leeds being the main two, with over 30000 students in Leeds alone). Students generally are unsupportive of the BNP and there have been a lot of campaigns by students recently in Yorkshire against the BNP. Second, Yorkshire has a lot of ethnic minority people living in the region, most notably in Bradford, which has the highest local population of Pakistanis in the country. For these reasons I'm extremely surprised that the BNP managed to gain enough support in the region to gain those seats.

As for my opinion on the BNP, I have to agree with the Captain. Racist cunts, the lot of them.

I'd be more supportive of Norsefire than the BNP, and that's saying something...

EDIT: For the record, I voted Conservative.

 

[A.I. Sigma]

what I have learnt so far in my History AS, so I would be grateful if you would point out any mistakes I have made.

Hey, I'm doing that course, too! Did you take your History AS paper 2 test today?

Anyway, on topic:

While I can see why people would vote for the BNP, in this day and age, after the Immigration Acts in the 1960s, the 'River of Blood' speech by Enoch Powell in 1968 (and the chillingly huge amount of support he received for it), as well as all the racist riots in the 60s and 70s, and influence of the National Front Party, people now should look back on their history and realise how wrong it was.

Unlike the previous years, racism is more deeply frowned upon, and people are educated and informed that it is strictly not allowed. I believe, from the recent terrorist attacks in the last decade, as well as the flow of middle eastern immigrants into this country, have made people worried, which of course is not helped by the media and its portrayal of middle easterners in the newspaper.

People panic, people think we're about to be 'bombed' by the immigrants in the country, and so they vote for the BNP, so that Britain will be 'safe'.

Bullshit, as far as I'm concerned, but then again, never underestimate the power of stupidity in great numbers.

 

[CakeDragon]

I think it's amazing (in a bad way) that the majority of people in two regions in the UK would vote the BNP in. I was listening to BBC Radio 2 (don't judge me..!) earlier and they were having a debate over the election results. They had one of the BNP MPs on the air and he defended his case (very well, might I add), though I still disagree with what they stand for.
What they mentioned on the show that I think is really bad, is that they used the image of Winston Churchill (Prime Minister in WWII) in their campaign... Is this not a bit hypocritical? I dunno, I think it's not right that they use that influential and respected political leader in their campaign.

This election was my first time voting. I didn't vote BNP, but considering all the stuff in the news recently about MPs claiming expenses on things really confused me and I really didn't know who to vote for. Despite there being a load of parties I'd never heard of (and hence didn't want to waste my vote on), I can see why some people would vote for the BNP (if not for their stupid policies). I think because a lot of people were in my situation and chose not to vote, these parties will prevail because there are people out there who are strong followers of them and will vote for them no matter who the competition.

Before the election I believed that one vote definitely can't make a difference. Now I'm not so sure.

 

[Octorok]

I have absolutely nothing but hatred for the British Nazi Party. They're not even original in their racism, they stole it from Hitler!

Alternatively there's my view on the BNP:

Racist cunts.

Damn right.

You know, the other day my dad said that, and I quote, "The BNP are right. We ought to ban all these Muslims and their bombs. They're all terrorists. It's a violent religion that must be stopped."

Fucking hell.p.