'The argument goes that the BNP rarely make into the headlines on their own steam so if you don't respond to provocation, deprived of the oxygen of publicity they will wither away.

That is a quote from Emma's post, it is attributed to one of the founders of Nothing British", an anti-BNP campaign.

The last bit reminded me of a quote by the late, great comedienne, Linda Smith, on 'The News Quiz". On one edition, another panellist used that "deprive them the oxygen of publicity" line and she responded with "I would rather deprive them the oxygen of OXYGEN!"