BS: So why has the BNP gained votes?

Subject: RE: BS: So why has the BNP gained votes?
From: Riginslinger
Date: 22 Jul 09 - 09:58 PM

"So predictable, Rig."

                And so factual!

Subject: RE: BS: So why has the BNP gained votes?
From: Pierre Le Chapeau
Date: 22 Jul 09 - 09:10 PM

Hi Peace.
Re Beneath contempt? Fimilarality breeds comtempt nationally.

Subject: RE: BS: So why has the BNP gained votes?
From: Peace
Date: 22 Jul 09 - 08:54 PM

You are of course correct. BUT, that doesn't solve the problem.

I am old enough to have been voting in Canada for four decades. I still have never missed voting even when the choices have been beneath contempt. I simply mark my ballot with, ""You have GOT to be kidding."

Subject: RE: BS: So why has the BNP gained votes?
From: Pierre Le Chapeau
Date: 22 Jul 09 - 08:50 PM

I do not know about figures or names but what is clearly happening is that the main parties have bullshitted and lied and robbed so much over the years that folk are not voting for them anymore and you cant wonder at it? folk are fed up.

Clearly there is a national no confidence in the main political parties I wont and have not voted for any of them in years?

And before any one goes off spouting about "If you do not vote you do not have a say?

Well clearly that is Bollocks.
I put it to you.
Non voters say a hell of a lot.

BMP have been waiting for this non vote melt down for years..

Do not blame the voter blame the main parties themselves,
There is a national no confidence in the main political parties. BIG TIME.And its there own sodding fault.

Subject: RE: BS: So why has the BNP gained votes?
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 22 Jul 09 - 08:42 PM

I think that there are reasons for the relative firmness in the BNP vote that are not within the remit of FaF. The purpose of FaF although generally to oppose fascism and hence the BNP is more specifically to prevent fascists and so the BNP from taking "ownership" (ghastly modern misuse of that word) of traditional folk arts in England and/or the UK. The purpose of this thread is to discuss the (absolute or relative) rise in the BNP vote which is a much broader question.

Subject: RE: BS: So why has the BNP gained votes?
From: Peace
Date: 22 Jul 09 - 08:05 PM

GRIFFIN

--that's it--GRIFFIN.

Subject: RE: BS: So why has the BNP gained votes?
From: Peace
Date: 22 Jul 09 - 08:01 PM

The BNP party leader (Nick Gifford? Grifford?) has been elected. HIS seat is lucrative and secure for a bit. Does anyone really think he gives a damn about the rank and file now? Dream on.

Subject: RE: BS: So why has the BNP gained votes?
From: Royston
Date: 22 Jul 09 - 07:09 PM

Oh don't be such a dullard MJ.

SC has given you the 2004/2009 absolute numbers for the BNP vote in Yorks./Humber

The labour comparison is 413,213 (2004) against 230,009 (2009)

Tories are 387,369 / 299,802

Lib dems are 244,607 / 161,552

The fall in absolute numbers in the BNP vote is a little cause for celebration. What is really worth celebrating is that the only reason the vile scum got their seats is because of the above-detailed collapse in the mainstream vote. The stay-at-home effect.

If you want to do some work and bring some reasoned, referenced arguments to the table then go ahead. *We* are not total imbeciles.

Subject: RE: BS: So why has the BNP gained votes?
From: Spleen Cringe
Date: 22 Jul 09 - 07:08 PM

MJ, the BNP thought that votes going down for mainstream parties would translate into more votes for them. Despite the daily news stories about politicians from the major parties with their noses in the trough it clearly didn't happen. We need to nail the myth that the nazi vote is up.

And for the record, I'm not interested in the "rounded" view. I'm interested in sending the BNP back to whatever stone they crawled out from under, because I don't believe there is a place for an openly racist, fascist party in a modern democracy.

Subject: RE: BS: So why has the BNP gained votes?
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 22 Jul 09 - 06:54 PM

When has anyone said otherwise MJ?

You are quite right about the last point though.

DeG

Subject: RE: BS: So why has the BNP gained votes?
From: GUEST,MJ
Date: 22 Jul 09 - 06:39 PM

You lot don't half talk a load of rubbish.

Of course the actual votes were down for the BNP. I think you'll find that the actual votes were down for most parties as less people bothered to vote.

I'm no BNP supporter, but don't just crow about incomplete facts - list totals for all the parties and give a far more rounded view instead of trying to mislead people in the same way that you all keep telling us that the BNP do.

Hello we're not total imbeciles.

MJ

Subject: RE: BS: So why has the BNP gained votes?
From: Spleen Cringe
Date: 22 Jul 09 - 06:37 PM

And Royston, you described yourself as a libertarian on another thread (Rather than a small town in Hertfordshire...), so a big friendly YOWSAH! back to you. Keep the black flag flying!

¡No Pasarán!

Subject: RE: BS: So why has the BNP gained votes?
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 22 Jul 09 - 06:36 PM

Very good point SC and one I shall remember. So, in answer to the question - They haven't! The vote for the BNP has in fact decreased. It is a complete breakdown or trust in all the mainsteam parties that has enabled the extremists to gain power. Should be a wake up call to everyone but I doubt that the nature of British politics will change much because of it.

Cheers

DeG

Subject: RE: BS: So why has the BNP gained votes?
From: Royston
Date: 22 Jul 09 - 06:30 PM

Howzat! Killer blow, knocked for 6 by spleeny! Cheers!

Spleeeeeeen Cringe. God, I love that name!

Subject: RE: BS: So why has the BNP gained votes?
From: Spleen Cringe
Date: 22 Jul 09 - 06:15 PM

In the North West, the BNP vote fell from 134,959 at the 2004 European election to 132,094 this year.

In Yorkshire and the Humber, its vote fell from 126,538 in 2004 to 120,139.

Obviously, any vote is one vote too many, but the election of Griffin and Brons is more about the collapse of the Labour vote than any massive surge towards fascism.

To quote from the socialist press, "The BNP has exploited concerns over unemployment, targeting fear and anger at migrants by standing on a platform of defending "British jobs". They have also benefited from the climate of racism against Muslims and migrant workers that New Labour has helped to whip up, as well as from the disillusionment with mainstream politics caused by the MPs' expenses scandal."

What is growing far faster than support for the BNP right now is support for the anti fascist alliances such as Unite Against Fascism...

Subject: RE: BS: So why has the BNP gained votes?
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 22 Jul 09 - 05:31 PM

So predictable, Rig.

Subject: RE: BS: So why has the BNP gained votes?
From: Royston
Date: 22 Jul 09 - 05:13 PM

Some elements of protest vote but mainly because a heck of a lot of people were pissed off by the venal nature of the mainstream parties so they stayed at home and gave the elections to the dedicated fascists of the BNP; who have been planning for years and just waiting for such an opportunity.

Take the two EU seats - Nazi Nick in NW England polled 8% of the vote and Andrew Brons in Humberside got 9.6% of the vote. Hardly a convincing electoral smash is it?

In Humberside the labour vote was 56% down on 2004 levels. The stay-at-home factor. Well done UK voters!

Subject: RE: BS: So why has the BNP gained votes?
From: Riginslinger
Date: 22 Jul 09 - 05:11 PM

Unfettered immigration?

Subject: BS: So why has the BNP gained votes?
From: Lizzie Cornish 1
Date: 22 Jul 09 - 04:26 PM

Thoughts, anyone?

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See also: Folk Against Fascism.