Ian Birrell: How our politicians failed to stop the rise of the far right
This is a significant moment – the fascists have come in from the cold
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Independent Minds
A few weeks ago I attended a think-tank lunch held to discuss whether the rise of the left was inevitable in the wake of the banking crisis. After some discussion, Dominic Grieve, the cerebral shadow Justice minister, intervened. "I don't worry about the hard left," he said. "It is the rise of the far right that scares me."
His words appeared prescient yesterday, as we woke to news that Britain is sending two neo-fascists to represent us in Europe, shattering any comfortable illusions about the innate tolerance of the British people. In the privacy of the voting booths, nearly one million people put their cross besides the name of an extreme-right party headed by a man once convicted for inciting racial hatred.
We should not underestimate the significance of this moment. Oswald Mosley, for all his oratorical fervour, was a flop at the polls with both his New Party and the British Union of Fascists. The National Front caused shockwaves in the early Seventies when it managed to save its deposit in a by-election; after that, it was downhill all the way. And the BNP used to be such an irrelevance that only 35,000 people voted for it in the 1997 general election, when there was twice last week's turnout.
And now this: the moment when the fascists came in from the cold. When the voters in Yorkshire and Humber plumped for a man who had joined the National Socialist Movement, whose members once went around burning synagogues in Britain. And when the voters of the north-west returned a man found guilty over Holocaust denial. These are the people who will now jump on the gravy train to Strasbourg, no doubt taking all the allowances possible to promulgate their bone-headed propaganda.
The big question, of course, is what changed? Britain has prided itself on its political moderation, which evolved over centuries in the land that gave birth to modern parliamentary democracy. So why have some people become so alienated by the political process that they have turned to such extremists?
There is little doubt that the BNP under Griffin has smartened up its act. This is not just in appearances, although the counts had their share of sweating skinheads squeezed into their three-piece suits, clutching pints of beer (Bulldog or Spitfire, presumably, rather than a nasty European lager). Crude racist talk has been buried, in public at least, replaced with street-level campaigning on highly localised issues. And it has positioned itself as the anti-politics party, presenting itself as outside "the system" and picking up tricks from the mainstream right in America and the far right in Europe, especially France.
In communities where there are deep concerns at the impact of globalisation, of fast social change and of the recession, the BNP has sown seeds of doubt over conventional politics, fertilising them with fear and falsehoods. And in the wake of the expenses scandal and the Labour meltdown, these seeds blossomed into electoral success.
For all this, it remains puzzling that so many Britons would turn to an avowedly racist party. There are no wards that could be called ghettos here. We have one of the highest rates of mixed-race marriage in the world, surely the ultimate sign of racial tolerance. And popular culture shows an ease with multi-culturalism – indeed, the winner of the most recent series of Britain's Got Talent was a mixed-race dance group called Diversity.
Some would argue that the reason is simple: there is too much immigration, upsetting the delicate balance of society, and our politicians talk too little about a core concern. They are wrong. The problem is not that there has been too much discussion, but that it is unashamedly hostile to newcomers. Just as it is little wonder support for the European Union is wilting when it is never publicly defended, so it is little surprise that a racist party can rise when there seems to be only hostility to immigrants and asylum-seekers.
By talking of schools being "swamped" by immigrants, or demanding "British jobs for British workers", or even by constantly trying to define "Britishness", politicians like David Blunkett and Gordon Brown – in tandem with elements of the populist press, the net and radio talkshows – have coarsened the public discourse. Instead of cool discussion of an incendiary issue, such loose talk has sanctioned race-based politics, contributing to a situation in which politicans are terrified of tackling urban myths on issues such as housing and education.
The result is that, on the same day as Britain elected two racist MEPs, a revelatory report was published by the Red Cross, which showed how skewed British perceptions are on asylum-seekers. It revealed, for example, that people believed the UK is home to one in four of the world's asylum-seekers; the true figure is about one in 33. In such a climate, is it any wonder that sections of a confused electorate, angry with its politicians, turn to a party based on race hatred?
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Comments
The far right is on the rise again. It reveals an underlying malaise in our society, a sign that we're getting things wrong, and in a big way. Mussolini, Hitler, Franco and their ilk were ridiculed and derided before they swept away their detractors in a whirlwind of hate and death. It is the worst kind of arrogance to think Griffin & Co are capable of any less than their infamous predecessors. The BNP have slipped a velvet glove over their iron fist. They dress their bigotry in robes respectable enough to fool the frightened and the resentful. History persuades me that while one minute the fascists can be dismissed as a bad joke, just give them half a chance and before you know it they're building gas chambers and rounding up undesirables.
This is too important for partisan political point scoring. It is the responsibility of our elected officials to defend our democracy from the threat posed by these hate filled bigots. It falls to the rest of us to fight them as we can.
The BNP are a Nationalist-Socialist party. They advocate the re-nationalisation of British transport and the return of British manufacturing. In other words, the BNP are a protectionist party. Protecting England from being over run by godless swine who lie through their teeth to atchieve their Marxist agenda.
You lefties are commies. As far as I'm concerned, you can all take a long jump of a short pier.
Below you'll see the real threat to Britain which has nothing to do with the BNP!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iNEIprfX
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zo7GOsXp
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gSW2sRKg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-DQ8iNjh
Why should we talk about the important issues like rebuilding our industry base?
Why should we talk about things like health provision for all?
Why should we talk about capitalism and poverty?
Why should we worry about war criminals running the country?
Let's not discuss the lies from the three main parties, lets just talk about shyte instead.
But whilst there are indeed many unproductive foreigners in Britain today, think about how many unproductive Brits there are. We hear stories of three generations of families who have never worked; living only on benefits. So for every 'sponging foreigner' (yes I too get angry when I hear these cases) their is more than likely two or more 'sponging Brits'. Anyone who has ever held a part-time job in Tesco or other retail unit can testify the the spread of the great British underclass - not the poor working classes who have lost their jobs and are isolated in communities further north than the Watford gap - but to those who see doing nothing in life except serving themselves as a career choice, one that the government is quite happy to support.
So whilst the BNP and other extremist groups are right to raise this issue of lack of services, they should look at the contribution of their own 'elements' before blanket-targetting immigrants. Who cleans the streets, who staffs the hospitals, late night kebab shops, off licenses and vegetable farms - immigrants. But sadly, until the government acknowledges the failings in the welfare states (not of all of it) and takes politically unpopular measures to get people back into work, foreigners like my parents and wife will be continued victims of a skewed debate.
It is people who point the finger at the "scummy" Brits, who are the racists. I know dozens of such people in person. They are inverse racists. They claim the moral high ground, they hate the working class, they believe they work hard, but fail to see how others struggle.
It's easy to work for next to nothing went you are 25 years old, single, live in shared accomodation, have no children to support or family to feed!!! But then that's what our open border policy is all about. Lets have the reality check so called Independent just another MSM paper owned by elete billionaries who are nothing about people, here or anywhere else, other than what lines their pockets!
And no I'm not a BNP supporter but I do find it incredible that people who moralise about the BNP seem to live in some kind of paralell universe from the rest of us! Look at the War on Terror - a terror war by any other name, a war against a tactic rather than a defined enemy, a war for oil and global domination, via illegal invasions and fake intelliegence. It begs belief that what we're seeing today goes on unchecked because it can only end one way. The check and ballances are going people. The security legislation is in place and more of it on the way. Go on talking about the BNP, they are an irrelivance people are protest voting (at least the ones who still think there is a point - WAKE UP PLEASE WAKE UP. The real extremists are in power, they have all the money, they pull all the strings, the main stream parties are just different shades of the same colour. They choose our leaders, not the people. It's out of control guys the media was intended to help keep them in check!
But go on banging on about the "low life" Brits who vote BNP - inverse rasist biggots. Stop telling people how to vote and start exposing the real corruption that lies at the heart of international capitalism run amuck. Look at the drug companies, look at the banks, look at the international businessmen and how they buy power and influence. You know, I know, most people reading this knows it. WRITE ABOUT IT! Before we all tune out and get our news from elsewhere!
The indifference to the suffering of peoples in Africa where you only intervene if there is mineral or oil
and you wonder why a far right racist party scores in the election.
They don't have to look far for role models and you reap what you sow.
To put matters in context, fascism rose in Europe in the 1930's after the events of the First World War and the Great Depression. The current rise of the right has taken place in the UK after a decade of unprecedented economic prosperity from 1997 and while a supposed progressive socialist party was in office with three successive electoral victories and massive majorities that would have allowed real legislation past that could have transformed society.
And if it is correct to assume that the majority of those who voted BNP were the white working-class who have traditionally been considered Labour voters, what made over a million of this group reject the Labour Party?
Not sophisticated political argument, or the recent activity in the rarified atmosphere of Westminster village, but their experiences in the real world that they encounter every day. These people have been failed by the Labour Party and have now exercised their democratic right to vote for an alternative.
And what has been their reward? To be both pilloried and patronised by the political class for making the 'wrong' decision? To be labelled as racists and told that they have been stupid enough to vote for a bunch of thugs?
Just as the Fourth Estate failed to see the economic crisis coming, so they failed to see the political crisis that arose from the expenses scandal. They are now in the process of failing, in the most abject manner, to report, analyse and account for the rise of the right in British politics.
THe BNP are running rings around the mainstream parties and their strategists have already moved the debate on from immigration. The journalists, like old generals, are fitting the last was all over again by focussing on immigration when the BNP have already switched topic onto corruption.
This is a very astute move that places the mainstream parties and their client media in a difficult position as they were complicit in the expenses scandal but the BNP now have much bigger targets in their sights. They are going to expose the links between politicians, civil servants, NHS management, senior police officers, the top brass of the military and big business. They will reveal how many of these people, responsible for public money in the awarding and monitoring of contracts worth billions of pounds, are able to retire on generous pensions and then take up lucrative positions or consultancies with the very companies they were involved with while in their previous jobs!
This change of tactics by the BNP will outflank their opponents while the attacks on their followers as ignorant racists will only engender greater loyalty and support. The BNP are fully aware they will not obtain an overall majority, they seek only sufficient political strength to hold the balance of power in a hung parliament.
That is the process taking place right now and the possible outcome is a divided political environment will enable a minority party access to power out of all proportion to their actual numbers.
The Polity and Media (aided by the "anti-fascists" who post here) are making a serious mistake by slagging off The BNP instead of addressing their Policies and the concerns of those who voted BNP!
Labour has FAILED even to deport FAILED asylum seakers.
Labout has FAILED to accept the need for any immigration control whatsoever.
Labour has FAILED to deport criminals that have committed serious crimes such as murder of UK citizens. Remember those damning statistic published 2 years ago about this very matter?
Labour has FAILED to develop an immigration policy that benefits the citizens of the UK.
Labour has FAILED to insist that immigrant integrate into our way of life - and now we are seeing the results of that little experiment, arn't we!
But most of all Labour has FAILED - no REFUSED - to listen to the repeated calls from the people to halt unfettered immigration. Instead it chose to denigrate those people who were raising the concerns. Well they now have their answer. Someone IS listening and it is the BNP. All of us have New Labour to thank for THAT little gem.
NOTE LABOUR AND CONSERVATIVE POLITICIANS - deal with peoples concerns about immigration or the BNP will continue to succeed. For too long, from your crystal towers, you have ignored british people - and now you have seen the result.
The British people demand and end to immigration by means of arranged marriages (an outmoded primitive religious custom). They demand an END to all immigration from people who are unskilled or unqualified or whose professions are not required from an economic perspective. They demand that all immigrants have a medical exam and if they are unhealthy their residency refused on the grounds of public cost.
The left-leaning media have treated the BNP appallingly - most noticeably the treatment of their leader by Dimbleby on the TV. And before the carping whining bleating lefties start on their usual path of denigrating people who have opinions like this - NOT I AM NOT A MEMBER OF THE BNP NOR WOULD I EVER VOTE FOR THEM. GOT IT! I am just echoing the concerns of the huge majority of British people abouit the seismic changes brought about by unfettered immigration into the UK - and the sickening behaviour of politicians when people raise their legitimate concerns.
This country's problems lie in the corrupt government and the people politicians you have been electing.
Blaming of the other guy is an easy way, to not confront the problems. You do not live in a democratic society you have no control over your government and the policies they make. The Muslims didn't do that immigration didn't do that you did that. You allowed your government to become what it is today.
I dont suppose this white working class opinion will stay here for long, if the BBC are anything to go by.
Center right are the kind of governments that have been in power, check your history or either learn what the differences are.
It is a sad day that a fascist organisation has been voted in through the absolute desperation of the voting British public. I do not blame the British, they have finally had enough, why they are not rioting in the streets is beyond me.
I am British, well educated and angry. My own personal family and financial situation are fine, no problems. But, I saw lawlessness, lack of respect, lazy people being handed out freebies left right and centre. This country that I love is in a mess, and the politicians are merely a small reflection.
http://bnp.org.uk/2009/06/bnptv-intervi
If ANYONE is to blame for the rise of the BNP and other right-wing parties it is the left-wing parties and their acolytes who have chosen to ignore the wishes of their people FOR MANY LONG YEARS. And all this time we have seen our society changed and eroded by massive amounts of unfettered immigration. Immigrants should be welcome in Europe IF they have the right mix of skills or business expertise - immigration policy should be colour-blind. Australia, for example, only cares about the quality and health of the immigration applicant not where they come from - this is the right approach. Just look at the numbers of unskilled people - including many Muslims, who are flooding into the country under the archaic and medieval practice of ARRANGED MARRIAGES. If the politicians do not listen to peoples concerns about radical Islamisation of Europe and of immigration in general they will certainly pay the price for their lack of vision. If the mainstream political parties do not listen then the BNP and the extreme right WILL listen. British Labour = an unmitigated failure.
Labour has FAILED even to deport FAILED asylum seakers.
Labout has FAILED to accept the need for any immigration control whatsoever.
Labour has FAILED to deport criminals that have committed serious crimes such as murder of UK citizens. Remember those damning statistic published 2 years ago about this very matter?
Labour has FAILED to develop an immigration policy that benefits the citizens of the UK.
Labour has FAILED to insist that immigrant integrate into our way of life - and now we are seeing the results of that little experiment, arn't we!
But most of all Labour has FAILED - no REFUSED - to listen to the repeated calls from the people to halt unfettered immigration. Instead it chose to denigrate those people who were raising the concerns. Well they now have their answer. Someone IS listening and it is the BNP. All of us have New Labour to thank for THAT little gem.
NOTE LABOUR AND CONSERVATIVE POLITICIANS - deal with peoples concerns about immigration or the BNP will continue to succeed. For too long, from your crystal towers, you have ignored british people - and now you have seen the result.
The British people demand and end to immigration by means of arranged marriages (an outmoded primitive religious custom). They demand an END to all immigration from people who are unskilled or unqualified or whose professions are not required from an economic perspective. They demand that all immigrants have a medical exam and if they are unhealthy their residency refused on the grounds of public cost.
The left-leaning media have treated the BNP appallingly - most noticeably the treatment of their leader by Dimbleby on the TV. And before the carping whining bleating lefties start on their usual path of denigrating people who have opinions like this - NOT I AM NOT A MEMBER OF THE BNP NOR WOULD I EVER VOTE FOR THEM. GOT IT! I am just echoing the concerns of the huge majority of British people abouit the seismic changes brought about by unfettered immigration into the UK - and the sickening behaviour of politicians when people raise their legitimate concerns.
Without the justifiable fears created by this shambles the BNP wouldn't retain their deposits.
You can cover up the impact that unrestricted immigration has had on our communities but just walk around anywhere in London where I live and you will see the stark reality of our communities being swamped yes SWAMPED by masses of Africans Muslims East Europeans,Iraqi's Iranians and a hodge-pot from all around the world.
This is not racist to say but the blunt truth, I do not like it I abhor what has happened in the city of my birth, fuelled by all major parties especially the hated New Labour and the Scottish Mafia who are successfully destroying English culture and identity, revenge for Culloden.
You cannot just whine on about racism or neo Nazism about how much you hate the BNP but just like 1 million other voters it just reinforces my view you are as alienated from popular opinion as the disgusting politicians that have allowed our once settled and proud nation dissolve into a 3rd world country, practically impossible to govern by incompetent fiddling lying politicans by the sheer weight of diverse immigrants here seemingly in popular opinion to milk the system in welfare, health, housing and education all paid for by suckers who have had no choice or say in allowing the destruction of our once beautiful land.
I am an ex-soldier who has done his bit for this country but I did not vote BNP at the last elections still not comfortable with their history but the more mainstream they get the more popular they get and recruit passionate talented people who think like me then I would vote with gusto for the only party articulating the views of many such as I.
Then you can really start to worry.
AGAIN, WELL SAID.
But that's alright you see because YOU don't understand these things.
What a piece of work he is, to demand that you put him in charge... provided you vote for whoever he says you can vote for.
And this is different to Zanu PF Liebour?!!
How?
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/p
"Latvia's For Fatherland and Freedom (known for its support of the country's Waffen SS veterans) set to join British Conservative MEPs in a new anti-federalist group."
Like their expenses though, you're not supposed to know this.
Is a noteworthy disclosure of how the banarepublicanised pseudo-democracy is run by stooges of organised economic crime syndicates. A guy who could easily next month or next year, be 'justice' minister of the banana republic, conpsires with other quisling at a gentleman's club "lunch". The objective? Subversion of the rise of Real Labour Britain in revolt against decades of humiliation and degradation by blatcherist governments as enemies of the State and the British people
Two BNP MEPs are two warning shots from Real Labour Britain.
".. Justice minister, intervened. I don't worry about the hard left, he said. It is the rise of the far right that scares me." With good cause master Grieve. http://tv.bnp.org.uk/
An alternative view is that BNP winning seats should be hailed as democracy working well. It shows that the indigenous who have have suffered from New Labour marginalisation, documented racial discrimination and ignoring of their concerns ( eg mass uncontrolled immigration) (whilst other parties turn a blind eye) have an electoral protest route to shock and damage the political eltite and force them to listen.
Instead of ludicrous attempts to portray BNP as a world threat fascist party plotting to invade and dominate Poland it would be more productive to view it as an indigenous rights movement .... something that the government would be financing and fawning over if it was black.
You are blaming the wrong people.
And they're right. The author of this piece is in denial, as usual. I didn't vote BNP, I voted Green because I know that the size of population we have in the UK won't be sustainable when we reach peak oil (if we haven't already). We just won't be able to feed it, water it and provide it with energy. There ARE already school place shortages, hospital shortages, housing shortages and predicted imminent water and energy deficits. Black, white, pink, blue; it doesn't matter. There are just TOO MANY PEOPLE in the UK (in the world actually, but you have to start somewhere).
There's also the social problems rapid mass immigration brings. There are cultural incompatibilities - e.g the anti-troop demonstration in Luton, and its little reported counter march by predominantly white people. My mother, an old liberal feminist, hates to see women wearing a burka (something that would have been an exotic rarity 15 years ago).
'Diversity' may have won a talent show, but the reality is Britain is becoming increasingly Balkanised, especially in the North. Wild SS storm troopers couldn't drag me to vote BNP, but I understand why some do. Over 65% think immigration is too high, but the main parties won't touch it (the CBI likes cheap labour).