Tom

I think this must be my last word on this because we could go back and forth until old age brings it to an end.

There is no "court of public opinion" outside of the very insular and parochial world of this forum.

The vast majority of normal people in England don't give a toss about morris dancing generally or Border in particular.

I see no evidence that the majority of folkies, let alone any in the general population, consider black face to be an issue. Therefore I see no erroneous message even if I were to accept, which I don't, that your interpretation of racism were correct.

I also cannot see what earthly difference this would make to the BNP, its supporters, or to those who might be thinking of joining them.

Supporters of the BNP, again generally speaking, come from areas of deprivation where they feel mainstream politics has let them down. They are probably right.

We might spend our time better in addressing what is so lacking in "traditional" party politics that people turn to extreme parties, rather than wasting time on the politics of morris dancing.