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December 22, 2006
BNP-R
Despite having a monogram that would make Himmler proud, I have generally found my views to be diametrically opposed to those of the far right. I like to think of myself as a militant democrat. My shield bears the cross of Saint Nobody-but-myself-thank-you-very-much on a background of the purest white (preferrably PR) ballot paper. But reading the first article of the Guardian's excellent current investigation into the BNP yesterday, I found myself thinking about the age old dilemma of whether we should be supporting the democratic rights of anti-democratic movements...
What actually caught my attention were the two references to the fact that the BNP "hope to win seats on the Greater London Assembly, in elections which will be fought under a system of proportional representation in 2008." So what I was specifically thinking, in a very Carrie from Sex in the City moment, was:
"Are supporters of PR ultimately de facto supporters of the BNP?"
Well, here's what I reckon:
1 - Whilst this might be a bit of a straw man argument, certainly in relation to the Guardian article, it's still worth pointing out the obvious, that the BNP won't achieve seats in the GLA because of PR, but rather because they have a fairly substantial and growing level of support across the capital. This support is the real problem and issue that must be addressed, not the voting system. Furthermore, they have already acheived representation at local government level in the abscence of PR. This belies the idea, one of the few positive ones, that FPTP is anti-extremist and only facilitates the electoral success of broad centrist parties.
2 - There is a very strong argument for the idea that extremist elements in a democratic society should be given enough rope to hang themselves publicly, and that an ordered democratic debating chamber is the perfect opportunity to expose the BNP's electioneering lies and confront their racist beliefs. In this respect, PR denies the far right the sort of underground outlaw status that allows them to present a respectable public face whilst running around with thugs and criminals. With public office come responsibilities to transparency and accountability that would cast an unwelcome spotlight on the dubious nature of the party and its members.
3 - I for one, and Margaret Hodge (it seems) for two, belive that the FPTP inspired obsession with middle-class, middle-England swing voters is strangling representation and debate in British politics. This is a very dangerous development. Disenfranchised voters are far more likely to embrace extremist politics than those who feel they have a voice, an impact, a party and a stake in society. Low turnout elections, particularly in the sort of working class safe Labour seats that the metropolitan party elite take for granted, are the petri-dishes of extremism. In these areas the far right can present themselves as the listening party to the type of voter that has long ago been neglected by the big three in their self-obsessed race to the centre ground.
PR for national elections would release the pent up ideological tension in the UK and allow a more even representation of beliefs right across the spectrum. The inflated majorities and elective dictatorships of the last three decades do not make for long-term stable democracy. FPTP, and its bastard child, the two-party system, sit like a bone in the throat of UK politics, just waiting for the Heimlich manoeuvre of electoral reform that will finally allow our body politic to breath freely.
In this light, a stable, rational, representative politics is the foe, not the friend, of extremism.
Posted by stevenskelton on December 22, 2006
Comments
Dear Stevenskelton
Your article is patronising in the extreme. If the entire electorate were racist and wished to vote for a racist party then that is democracy, whether you or I may like it or not.
The BNP is not a racist party but sadly some of it's members are just as I know for a fact there are racists in the conservative and grassroots labour party.
In addition crime, corruption and nepotism are endemic in modern politics and for your information in a 2001 survey 80% of the UK population admitted being racist to some extent, whilst most ethnic groups are also actively racist towards whites and other ethnics.
You are the one out of touch with reality sir and you should be ashamed of your condescending article which speaks for a liberal minority of dreamers not the wearily intolerant mass of realists in the UK
Posted by: Sonny Bach at December 25, 2006 12:34 PM
Democracy is not subject to anyone's approval... we either have it or we don't.
The BNP should be given a level playing field on which to pitch their case. If they are elected on their manifesto and campaign, then that is democracy in action - if they are not elected then that, too, is democracy in action.
Posted by: Lickyalips at December 29, 2006 11:56 PM
I vote BNP, i would prefer to vote NDP (National Democratic party of Germany) if a system could be found to let me do so, but of course it wont, and the main parties aren't interested so the BNP it is.
Posted by: joe at January 2, 2007 08:30 AM
Dear Sonny Bach,
You appear to be reading a different article. The one in your head is not the same as the one on this page.
Posted by: Katherine at January 3, 2007 03:32 PM
Sonny, the BNP has recently said it supports an English Parliament for the ethnically English only (whatever that means). Are you sure the BNP is not racist as well as its members?
I genuinely do not believe that there are more racist Conservative members than there are racist Labour members. A brief conversation with any Labour supporter can easily bring forwards racist beliefs in the form of positive (i.e. 'any') discrimination and quotas.
Posted by: Cllr. Gavin Ayling at January 3, 2007 10:46 PM
Where did you get the idea that the BNP are anti-democratic? Any accusation of anti-democratic beliefs within the party are purely paranoid leftist fantasies. The party believes in common ethnicity as a fundamental part of a healthy political entity, which puts them beyond the pale so far as Guardian-reading Multi-Cultists are concerned but that doesn't make them anti-democrats. The only people engaging in anti-democratic politics are those on the left who try to deny the BNP a platform
Posted by: rhory fraser at January 7, 2007 04:24 PM
A freind of mine who is a white Brit attends a black church.
He told me how he rang the bnp to confront them about the racism aspect of the party.
To his suprize they set up a meeting between my friend and a black guy who was a member of the bnp to proove that they were not racists but nationalists.
They also have a jewish councilor in sheffield+many sikh followers.
Although i dont really have a stance where the bnp are concerned this did shock me a bit.
Posted by: cindy at January 22, 2007 09:51 PM
I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SAY THAT I CONSIDER MYSELF ENGLISH NOT BRITISH AND I AM FED UP WITH THESE EASTERN EUROPEANS AND THESE OTHER IMMIGRANTS COMING OVER TO OUR LAND AND LAYING DOWN THEIR LAWS AND NOT RESPECTING OURS THE TRUE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED KINGDOM. TO THINK THE LIKES OF MY GRAND FATHER AND OTHERS LIKE HIM THAT DIED FOR KING AND COUNTRY AND FOR WHAT? FOR THESE BASTARDS THAT ARE TAKING OVER OUR TRUE LAND AND ABUSING US I THINK MY GRAND FATHER AND ALL THE OTHER POOR SERVICEMEN/WOMEN WOULD ROLL IN THEIR GRAVES...
Posted by: tracie at January 25, 2007 10:51 PM
We're democrats and believe in free speech, but we're also committed to civil and rational debate. We reserve the right to delete material posted to our site, but we hope and expect to exercise this right rarely if at all.
