The BNP are left wing and are taking Labour votes
A big thank you to all those who took part in the live blogging last night – just over 200 people got involved and we had a really good debate.
The European Election results have been positive for the Conservative Party, with a collapse in Labour’s support amidst a general shift away from the established parties. The results also shown an increasing inclination towards EU-scepticism, which may reflect the general mistrust of politicians and an increased desire for accountability and transparency, which the EU patently does not offer.
Set in that context, the increase in voter share for the Conservatives is impressive; it shows we are in touch with public opinion and our candidates best represent and reflect the opinions of the electorate.
The most significant shift we have seen is the increase in the vote of the BNP, who now, shamefully, represent the UK with two MEPs. I am personally embarrassed that we have got to this low point in politics; this is the first time in our great history that we have fascist representation.
The question is, how do we fight the BNP? Their literature, rhetoric and message taps into the insular, protectionist sentiment of the left. We have seen a virtually direct transfer of votes amongst the left; Labour lose 7%, BNP register 6%. Griffin himself admits his party is left wing. Is this an opportunity for the right to once again debate the broader philosophical debate? Has the disintegration of Labour’s support provided the left wing a real alternative?
It is patently obvious that the BNP are racist but that doesn’t mean all the votes they receive come from racists; their message of protectionism, of support for a larger state, of restricting free trade is a classic mixture of left-wing politics. Not only have Labour let down the country with their mishandling of the economy, their sustained attack on our freedom and constitutional vandalism, they have let the left wing down by not fighting the BNP on political grounds.
We should all fight the BNP but Labour have to wake up; the BNP are left wing and are taking Labour votes.
Related posts:
We need to organise a petition/mass complaint to the BBC to stop them continuously referring to the BNP as ‘right wing’. They’re ‘extreme’, not ‘right wing’.
As citing verse seems to be a popular thing these days… How about this one by Roger McGough:
(apologies if I have the words wrong)
There are Fascists
Pretending to be Libertarians
Like
Cannibals, on a health kick,
Eating only Vegetarians.
Griffin was interviewed during the election broadcast and he admitted the BNP to be a left-wing organisation.
[...] You can read the full piece here: http://www.conservativefuture.com/2009/06/08/bnp-left-wing-labour-votes/ [...]
We need to find a copy of him saying the BNP are Left Wing!
The BNP can not be stopped while they carry the false image.
I agree with Benny!
Pretending the BNP are Right Wing and not Left wing Nationalist-Socialists only protects the BNP and helps them to win.
Its time the Left got this sorted!
My black and homosexual friends are scared. BNP gain is a disaster. Vast majority of British people disagree with their policies, but wherever they are in power, racist attacks increase.
And you are right, Labour caused broken economy and created circumstances for these Nazis.
“…this is the first time in our great history that we have fascist representation.” Does Oswald Mosley not count?
James Topham,
You will find that Oswald Mosley was a fascist but at the same time he was not anti semitic, he was not a racist and he was one of the most liked politicians of the time. The only reason fascism appealed to him was because he did not want Britian to be involved in WW2 and he agreed heavily with financed capitalism. The conservative party at the time begged him to lead them, as did Labour. Please do not put him in the same league as Nick Griffin.
Regardless of your opinion of him Jonathon, it is still a valid point, he was still fascist.
I understand that the rise of the BNP isn’t a good thing. However, to be perfectly honest, I’m not altogether that worried. They will have essentially no power as MEPs and are unlikely to be able to build on this, particularly when the economy gets going again which hopefully shouldn’t be too long.
On the other hand, whilst their rise isn’t good, I’m still pretty disgusted by all the main parties who refuse to co-operate with BNP councillors etc as seems to be common. After all, they have been elected by the people and for the people, and by not working with them, the main political parties are essentially putting two fingers up to all those who decided to vote for the BNP.
I see the BNP as a party of the past, I would never consider myself a facist, racist or a socialist. The BNP are a party with a bad image if you consider the look of their leader Nick Griffin with the one eye hanging low.
But was doesn’t suprise me is that they get votes the reasons are in my opininon that racist’s have increased under a labour goverment however suffers of racism have decreased. I have studied ethics and philosophy and understand the argument behind racism which is it is logical however morraly wrong for non ethinic minoritys, I am off cause someone with morrals(also, I add a touch of stupidty). Obviously the scotish people have the SNP in power and this will also swing votes to the BNP, I don’t follow scotish politics however I do belive they are a nationlist party. I belive facism to be something which is not needed in our country due to nuclear weapons which means politics swings to the right,( I mention here that there was another key advance around here also) before nuclear weapons politics swung to the left( 1950s previous). After all if something is needed in this country it has always been found. I am obviously anti facist and pro morality however i belive in freedom of speech for all poltical partys and everyone. After all what do you call worse racism or a 50% tax rate. Ben Charlton
The BNP are an extreme, right-wing party. They are not remotely left wing.
Left wing politics stands for the unity of the working class.
The BNP do not agree with this – they seek to divide people on the basis of their race. It is the right wing who “play the racist card” come election time, such as New Labour and the Conservatives, both of whom I would say were right wing.
The BNP are not socialist. Socialists – the Socialist Party and the Socialist Workers’ Party are the most vocal opponents of the BNP, because we disagree with everything they stand for.
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