Comments on: The BNP are left wing and are taking Labour votes

By: Harry

Harry — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 17:42:40 +0000

I’m sure that the BNP are right wing – Fascists/Nationalists?

By: Bradley

Bradley — Sun, 18 Apr 2010 16:46:13 +0000

The left-right scale sounds absurd when trying to classify a party like the BNP at the extreme of one end of the scale. It’s far better to use a grid, with one axis for social issues, and one for economic issues. Economically, they’re on the left, socially, they’re authoritarian. To quote the Political Compass Test:

“It’s muddled thinking to simply describe the likes of the British National Party as “extreme right”. The truth is that on issues like health, transport, housing, protectionism and globalisation, their economics are left of Labour, let alone the Conservatives. It’s in areas like police power, military power, school discipline, law and order, race and nationalism that the BNP’s real extremism – as authoritarians – is clear. It’s easy to see how the term national socialism came into being. The uncomfortable reality is that much of their support comes from former Labour voters.”

By: Kirk

Kirk — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 23:40:23 +0000

This blog’s continual description of the “left wing” nature of the BNP is largely pugilistic partisan nonsense. As if the historic Right were libertarian and had no relation to traditional social structures of white privilege. The case of the BNP reveals the limitations of the left-right spectrum in describing political ideologies; like some historical fascist parties it combines elements that appeal to people on both sides of the spectrum, which is a massive strength to its partisans. While I’m not racist myself, I admire most of the BNP’s economic platform (e.g. aspirations to full employment, anti-monopoly, “worker shareholder and co-operative schemes”) and wish there was a similar platform among the non-racist parties. Like a lot of people, I think. (I’m not a labour voter; I’m an American metic.

By: A Walton

A Walton — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 10:33:26 +0000

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.

By: Ben Charlton

Ben Charlton — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 01:19:01 +0000

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

By: Fabian

Fabian — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 19:28:11 +0000

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.

By: Jonathan

Jonathan — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 16:21:36 +0000

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.

By: James Topham

James Topham — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 14:28:39 +0000

“…this is the first time in our great history that we have fascist representation.” Does Oswald Mosley not count?

By: Alya

Alya — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 09:39:33 +0000

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.

By: Matthew Wharton

Matthew Wharton — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 21:12:50 +0000

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!