Forget the BNP - let's get some real extremists into Parliament

Not the fascist BNP or far left radicals, argues Will Self, but men and women of probity

FIRST POSTED MAY 13, 2009

The British National Party are always whining about how the 'media pigs' distort their honest yeoman words into sinister neo-fascist claptrap, and demanding they be given serious consideration. The other night, listening to the midnight news on Radio 4, it seemed to me that they'd got what they ask for.

It was a dispassionate report about a meeting of BNP candidates for the European parliamentary elections. Nick Griffin, the party fuhrer, had said that he didn't mind picking up protest votes because of the expenses scandal - the British public had every right to protest.

Now, it won't be long before Labour MPs and ministers crawl out of the non-ideological woodwork where they spend most of their time hiding, and begin their own plainting. They'll be telling the electorate that we must vote Labour, however disillusioned we may be with the Government's record, if only to keep the BNP out.

By signalling the threat, Labour believes it re-establishes its own credentials

The PR system in operation means that with six or seven candidates fielded - Griffin wasn't sure which yet - there is, indeed, a very real chance that we'll see a far-right British Euro MP.

By the very act of signalling the threat, Labour believes it instantly re-establishes its credentials: we are the anti-fascist party, the men and women who won the battle of Cable Street/Britain/Stalingrad and our brave history in this regard is unimpeachable, so forget all that stuff we've been saying about clamping down on immigration, and promoting Britishness - we remain the party of worldwide inclusion.

This Labour ploy - and it is just a ploy - is pretty hard to stomach. Back in the good old days, when the Tories were a credible bogeyman, Labour would've clawed in swing votes from LibDems and still woollier folk, purely to defeat the Tories. It's this, the entrenched self-righteousness of the radical, which still permeates the miasma of Labour thought, even after over a decade lapping at the trough of power.

Besides, it's legitimate to ask,who is it, exactly, that Labour seeks to woo with such humbug? On the one hand, they doubtless hope to recapture centrist middle class voters who may have fled either to the LibDems or swerved further to the right.

On the other hand they want to reawaken the old tribal affiliations of the white chavistocracy, those bold geezers and geezeresses who really do believe in British jobs for British workers, British culture for British illiterates and all the rest of the goose-stepping mood-music that many mainstream politicians - including Brown - are only too happy to play when it suits them.

In a mature democracy, freedom of speech – within the law – is a given

I hold no brief for Griffin and his pea-brained saddos - he's a convicted Holocaust denier who's faced three trials for incitement to racial hatred in the past decade alone, but nor do I support those who exploit fear of him so crudely.

In a mature democracy, freedom of speech - within the law - is a given. The old rump of the left, whose war cry was always: 'No platform for racists and fascists!' need to ask themselves why, exactly, the BNP is gaining ground? It's not enough to cover their eyes and see no evil, because the solution to some of greatest problems lies in the answer to this simple question: why does a party which pledges stringent economic protectionism and a complete end to immigration now hold nearly a hundred council seats?

One of the first warnings that came from the political classes - Labour and Tory - when the banking crisis happened, was that a deep recession could see people driven to extremism. That hasn't happened - yet - since unemployment lags behind the other key indicators.

Meanwhile sitting MPs have managed to alienate the electorate all by themselves, by using taxpayers' money to clean their moat/change their light bulbs/boost their property portfolio. Frankly, I hope the lot of 'em do lose their jobs at the next election, we need some extremists in parliament, not fascists or communists - but men and women of extreme probity.

FIRST POSTED MAY 13, 2009

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Not sure what that article is trying to achieve Will, surely most thinking people know what Labour are attempting here. The BNP however are addressing the issues that people want to address, I mean who can benefit from more arbitrary immigration? more prevalence of non-English speaking schoolchildren? More penetration of Islam into our society? Certainly not me or the other 90% of the population. Frankly people are sick of being disregarded while minorities are pandered too, "immigrants" get their "needs" the "rights" of asylum seekers get respected and so on? I mean I just dont give a damn about this, I care about me, my family, my society, my values, the BNP do to, which is why I will vote for them.

Posted by Harry Callahan at 3:48pm on May 13, 2009

As an enlightened "extremist" myself, I would agree with your article in fact, it's about time someone told it how it is with regard to how Labour play the fear card. I have been a member of the BNP for some time and have seen many changes in a very short period. I have witnessed how the membership has increased and how the party has evolved from a bunch of bitter working class men to a real cross section of British society. We are not fascists (neo or otherwise) nor do we except the racist label. Racism is very much in the eye of the beholder or just a weak get-out of what could be a cultured argument. Kind regards, Tracy Clifton

Posted by tracy clifton at 3:58pm on May 13, 2009

Didn't David Cameron say much what is said in this piece on the last locals when he was asked about the vote and said, "Vote for who you want, but not the BNP, please?' Personally I think that all our MPs - and perhaps those forgotten small mirrors of major politics - local Councillors - need a good kick up the fundament. Perhaps they'll have an indication come the end of this next election for MEPs - imagine the EP with BNP or UKIP MEPs sitting. Britain at large and in Whitehall would get such a shock.

Posted by Paul Beaumont at 10:24am on May 14, 2009

And here we have it, what I've been saying for years; multiculturalism and the political class which has promoted it for decades is turning people to the extreme right, and the two posters above are illustrative of the rebranding the BNP has been carefully crafting in response. They are an example of, doubtless decent, people who have just had enough, and have been conned into thinking the BNP aren't fascist and aren't a threat to the very way of life they hold dear since they seem to be the only party talking about issues that concern people. The Labour party have dismissed all criticism of multiculturalism and the increasing belligerence of [particularly Muslim] immigrants as racism, they have refused to see that one can be non racist yet still opposed to the British way of life being thrown away to immigrants who refuse to integrate and are encouraged by the politically correct chatterati to claim their 'rights' as well as all the benefits of our society, while constantly criticising its values and demonstrating against the very liberal democracy which allowed them to immigrate here; burning books, calling for fatwas and killings of those who upset them. The current display of panic after being revealed with their snouts in the trough and their hands in the till merely encourages British people to look elsewhere for MPs who will fully represent them and their interests. And you can bet the rest of Europe will be experiencing the same. When the next general election finally arrives, what then?

Posted by Peter Simmons at 10:30am on May 14, 2009

Personally I want the BNP to 'do better' because I am anti Turkey entering the EU. I know for a fact that both Labour and the Tories are pro Turkey entering. Their reason is to appease the Muslim world and show how nice we are by opening our doors to a country, albeit secular, that has a huge population of Muslims. Please understand. I am not anti Turkey. However I am not fond of the ancient backward teachings of a cult under the guise of a certain religion. And my opinion is if Turkey become members then it will be a corridor for that particular religion to forge it's way into Europe. So where do I sign up for the BNP?

Posted by Anglo Manglo at 10:47am on May 14, 2009

Love this post. You are 100% spot on when you say that we need people of conviction with extreme views in politics. The clamour to sit squarly in the middle ground has seen nothing but decay come to this country due to the simple fact that you cant please everyone. Another issue is the on-going intent to be seen to 'do the right thing' which usually means some half arsed attempt at something green or culturally diverse which again ends in disaster and waste... ill be voting UKIP for my sins amd would have voted for Killjoy had he not done his rant all those many years back. Cant the queen sack the lot of them?

Posted by trooperbill at 10:55am on May 14, 2009

Why not vote UKIP for the EU elections, and in the local and General Election vote for the Libertarian Party of the UK? We have probity and commonsense at the heart of all our policies. If the Plan by Douglas Carswell and Dan Hannan was the manifesto for Britain we would support them, its not that far removed from our own manifesto. But Cameron isnt going to adopt the Plan as the manifesto is he? Dont vote BNP. It may be worth anyones time who seriously think that the BNP would do anything to remember that their constitution bars anyone not of AngloSaxon or Celtic heritage from joining their party and that if the BNP actually got in to power Britain would be likely to have international sanctions against us like we did against South Africa when they had apartheid. Basically our economy would fall apart,and they would appropriate everything. We would have to grow food in our garden FOR REDISTRIBUTION, as these are Socialists aligned along national and ethnic boundaries and there'd be no cheap imported food anymore. Don't say you weren't warned.

Posted by Henry North at 11:03am on May 14, 2009

Mr Simmons, I'll thank you not to predispose on my political views or knowledge. I am certainly no example of the 'rebranding' of the BNP since my wife is of Indian parentage; I for one would be unhappy with a totally right wing government, such as the BNP. Note I state the European Parliament where, at least, should things become truly out of hand only good in suppressing the MEPs from the rest of Europe will initially feel the effects. Incidentally, my wife's views on this terrible open door policy we now reap the benefits of whilst New Labour propose opening the doors even wider, if not removing them from the hinges, are the same as mine and probably most of those who agree with will Self's piece.

Posted by Paul Beaumont at 11:17am on May 14, 2009

We get the representatives we deserve. I give up. Let the fascists have it. They are wrong, they are evil, they are bad. But sadly, they are here, now, their British haloes well-polished. Compare them to our current bunch of unselfish, altruistic and honourable representatives in the house of commons, eh......... I trust they will realise what their actions, their greed at the trough, have done to change the attitude of people like myself. As usual, a very well-crafted article from Will Self.

Posted by Hugh Mosby-Joaquin at 12:48pm on May 14, 2009

Will you have rambled on here. British people are voting for the BNP because Labour have destroyed the British way of life. Over a decade of Labour has brought in draconian liberalism, embraced globalisation and divisive multi-culturalism. BNP is not a racist party but a pro-British party, it is Labour who are the real racists as they do not listen to the white British public. In most Western democracies right wing parties are on the march and in many elections increasing their vote. Tax paying Brits are tired of funding multi-culturalism and the bloated welfare state when this money could go into education, hospitals and infrastructure. Would you prefer to fund divisive Muslim immigration or make sure British have access to education and decent hospitals?

Posted by Nicholas Folkes at 1:32pm on May 14, 2009

UKIP Labour Liberals Tories have all had their grubby finger in the British peoples coffers When these embezzlers tell people not to vote for the BNP what should we do We should not listen to these criminal and vote for the BNP

Posted by waywoodwind at 4:19pm on May 14, 2009

I am 84 years of age and have been anti-fascist all my life. But when I heard the other day that, because muslims are refusing to let their children eat meat at school which has not been killed by halal means, someone has take the decision that ALL meat supplied to schools is to be killed by this brutal and barbaric method, then I think that the time has indeed come for someone,(anyone) to be elected to provide a catalyst for resistance to stupid and cruel medieaval religious practices. When are the so-called representatives of the people going to realise that 90% of the people in this country do not give a toss about religion of any brand and especially imported varieties.

Posted by dennis parkes at 7:39pm on May 14, 2009

The problem with the BNP is that they want to sound reasonable with seemingly "correct" ideas (even though when you start to analyse them you find out how corrupt they really are) that appeal to reasonable people. The German people were also seduced by the correct thinking of the National Socialists in the 1930's. (see how a difference in the name makes the Nazi's sound so much nicer). And from the smaller corruption, came the greater evil of the Final Solution. How many of the supporters of the BNP would believe in the forcible removal of those who were different enough (skin colour, religious belief, sexuality, political belief etc.) to maintain the so called mythical "racial purity" of the white nordic, celtic peoples of the UK? And if the removal was not enough, would they then consider a more terminal solution to rid the country of the "problem" to be satisfactory. Sorry people, but if this organisation came to power, we would then again be at war - probably with the rest of the world as the majority of countries would seek to end such abhorrent practices in one small country.

Posted by Ray Merrall at 11:51am on May 15, 2009

If a result of of the news about our greedy MPs using the nations money for their own use, in so many incredible ways, allows the BNP to gain a foothold, it will be a black day for the country, no matter how they dress themselves in suits and claim to have changed they are the Fascist Party and all it stands for, the major parties have let this happen without thought, by their actions and their denial of guilt, becaues it was permitted by the rules they put in place, and now we have a situation where the public are saying a Plague on both their houses, will we reap what they have sowed.

Posted by sidney sands at 11:53am on May 15, 2009

It is quite glaringly obvious from the above posts that most of the apologists for the openly xenophobic BNP happen to be from the most racially and religiously intolerant sections of society. Then again, given Nick Griffin's vile record, that is not something we did not know already.

Posted by SAS at 4:03pm on May 15, 2009

To Anglo Manglo - As an EU candidate country that has been repeatedly ruled as being eligible for eventual EU membership, Turkey has certain rights associated with its EU candidacy. This includes the right to be protected from discrimination on the basis of religion - a fundamental personal and collective right that is neither negotiable nor subject to the will of the majority. The fact that people like yourself propose a Christian only Europe does not change Turkey's rights as an EU candidate state. To Peter Simmons - Multiculturalism in the UK has NOT pushed people into the arms of right wing extremists like the BNP if the statistics are to be believed. In the last general elections in 2005, the party managed to garner a paltry 0.7 percent of the entire vote.

Posted by SAS at 7:07pm on May 15, 2009

With apologies to WB Yeats "The Centrists will not hold, the Left fall apart, the Good lack all Conviction and the Bad are filled with passionate Intensity". There IS an argument, albeit a terrible (sic! true meaning!) one for voting the BNP into the Eurovoid Parliament; given that it is a useless (thankfully - imagine if it akshally DID things..?) hot air factory it will allow voters to see their true colour (again, sick..!) prior to the next general election. Then I would advocate electing ONLY unaligned Independents - until we have PR & STV you have the chance, nay the OBLIGATION, to know your local MP. Interrogate them when they come knocking, forcefully until you know exactly what they (purport to) believe and vote accordingly. At least there is a chance they'll represent YOU, not adhere mindlessly & unethically to a Party line. This could well be our last chance for sane politics, the next Parliament will either be renewal or more/worse of the same following which the electorate will be rent, unreconcilably, into far Right, aka Fascist complete with St Andrews flag, and far Left, aka braindead with all the baggage of leaden verbiosity signifying nothing.

Posted by allan kessing at 12:53am on May 17, 2009

I note that the first run of commentators on this article come from the seemingly unoffended chavistocracy. Or from some BMW showroom's customer waiting list for the new X6. Crikey, all of that 'non-English-speaking school children', 'immigrant "rights"', 'enlightened extremism', 'us Brits', and 'my wife's Indian' has given me a migraine. I'd like to get as far away from Anglo Saxons as I can, but they're everywhere!

Posted by Rohan Moore at 12:57am on May 20, 2009