Like most of you I am not a fan of the BNP. Their views are irrational, parochial and dangerous. But they have now, for the first time, managed to get two MEPs elected, one of whom is their leader, Nick Griffiin, in the North West.
It’s quite likely that both of these MEPs will be in office until the next election, so we now have to consider what will be the best strategy to defeat them after their five year term in the European Parliament. In my view, a key part of this strategy will be to highlight what they’ve done (or not done) as representatives over those five years. We know from past experience that when members of the BNP are elected as councillors they are invariably terrible in representing those who have elected them. There is no reason to believe that Nick Griffin and Andrew Brons will be any different.
We won’t defeat the BNP by disrupting their press conferences or throwing eggs at them, however attractive such actions seem. (Their press conference has appeared all over the front pages of this week’s newspapers, when it most likely wouldn’t have featured at all if it wasn’t disrupted.)
They have been elected as part of the democratic process, and we will defeat them through proper democratic means. I’ve set up a blog to keep track of what Nick Griffin is up to in his new role, which you can view here – http://griffinwatch.blogspot.com. You can also follow us on Twitter @griffinwatch.
But for this task I’ll need your help. I won’t spot every story about Nick Griffin from around the web or elsewhere, so if you see a story that we’ve not picked up on the blog, do let me know! You can email me at [email protected].
* Nick Thornsby is a Lib Dem activist in Heywood and Middleton.
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14 Comments
I would like to think it would be like all of us here, not like some of us.
http://aliberaltory.blogspot.com/
This is not the way to defeat him! Nick Griffin and his fascist followers are getting far too much media coverage which is most likely why he was elected in the first place. The media highlights what a loony he is but still people vote for him, seems like the negative coverage doesn’t do much to stop him.
Have we got better things to do than obsess with this I ask myself?
If the frost is killing your garden, obsessing with watching it is not going to make it go away. Put your plants in a more favourable environment and you will see results of a more positive nature.
Presumably, as an activist you are dismayed at the reactions on the door from some of the people in your area (if not then why the fuss). So maybe we should just try to represent their concerns, or are you of the opinion that they are merely hopeless racists? In which case, Griffin watching and reporting is going to be a rather futile exercise.
We are going to have to try harder, it really is that simple. Hate will not be negated with more hate, not in my opinion.
“griffinwatch”… Bit stupid in my opinion.
I agree with everything you’ve said there Nick, but just for the sake of the argument.. lets just say he does become an effective representative (long shot of course I know), but what happens then?
The BNP are not going to ignore strategic attempts to degrade them, even if they are implemented in respectful democratic ways.
Well done, Nick – please keep up Griffinwatch and I for one will be using it.
A few rather naive comments here I’m afraid.
As for the idea that Griffin will be an “effective representative” in any conventional sense! that is not why the has got himself elected.
Tony Greaves
Ok. Keep the Griffin watch thing going and shock us all when you discover he is a leader of a racist party. Don’t forget to expose this shocking ‘news’ also.
I have already carried a few stories on them and I have added Griffin Watch to my blog roll, it is just as important to defeat their policies.
One key element of that is not to simply say right wing nutters they will go away. Their voters were not right wing nutters, they were the electoral base of the old Labour Party, who have felt excluded from politics. It did not help that Gordon Brown played every BNP dog whistle to help shore up his vote, while providing nothing in return.
I agree with Vincent. There are plenty of places in the North West, and probably in Yorks & Humber, where we knew the BNP were strong and the Lib Dems were weak.
I personally did not do enough as a Lib Dem activist to campaign for the party in those areas. Over the next five years, I will do more to promote a positive alternative to the BNP, to point out their failings and lies, and to make sure people know exactly why having Liberal Democrat MEPs is better for British jobs, for British workers, than these useless, racist, homophobic Nazis.
The Economist interviewed Nick Griffin, which has resulted in some juicy quotes:
Asked about his previous remarks about the Holocaust, Mr Griffin said in his defence that he had a “talent for particularly vicious soundbites”.
Invited to explain his party’s poor showing in London, he blamed gerrymandering Labour activists “ferrying Africans who cant even speak English” to the polls. He argued that London was the victim of ethnic cleansing.
Just two examples. The article resulting from the interview is here.
Vincent,
“In my view, a key part of this strategy will be to highlight what they’ve done (or not done) as representatives over those five years”
I’m not saying that highlighting what Griffin does as an MEP will mean they are beaten at the next election. Of course we need to tackle the issues that lead people to vote for them in the first place, many of whom are not “merely hopeless racists”.
My view is that keeping track of Griffin’s actions as an MEP will form a part of the strategy of highlighting their many flaws.
Neil,
I’m not of the opinion that you seem to hold that ignoring the BNP is the way to defeat them. Actually I think it is relatively difficult to actively reduce the BNP vote dramatically (don’t forget they got less votes in Yorkshire and the North West in 2009 than in 2004), but what one has to do is highlight to everyone else (who didn’t vote) that not voting will mean another 5 years of a BNP MEP. Part of convincing these people to vote ‘anyone but BNP’ will be to highlight the failures of BNP MEPs once elected, and I’m confident there will be many.
Dave Page,
You say you agree with Vincent yet you then say that it is important to point out the BNP’s failings. This is exactly what the blog intends to do.
Kasch,
Frankly I find it unlikely that Griffin will be a good MEP. For a start he is leader of his party nationally which will surely continue to take up a large amount of his time. He is not interested in being an MEP to be able to make a difference, he’s interested because it gives him a platform from which to spout his nonsense. If he is a good representative in Europe I shall eat my words, and the blog will be rather quiet!
When some idiot who thought they were clever threw eggs at Griffin he must have thought he’d died & gone to heaven. The media, even down to todays NW Politics show, is giving this nonentity unbelievable amounts of air time/print space. Do they want a BNP Government or has their integrity in the pursuit of ‘ratings’ gone down the tube along with ‘expenses’ & much else. If he has to fight for media coverage, instead of being handed it on a silver salver, he will soon hang himself.
I would’nt have a beer with Nick Griffin but I’m a far bigger fan of him than I am of your Liberal Democrats,
of whom only Vince Cable has any credibility. Your MPs cannot even sing from the same hymnbook let alone page. Indeed, from the sound of you you’d prefer us all to be within earshot of a nation full of muezzin’s multiple times a day. You range from the sublime (Vince) to the ridiculous (Lempik Opik) who approves of open borders particularly if you are ‘Cheeky’ a girl and especially if you have a twin sister. Sarah Teather would have all the inmates of Guantanamo welcomed with bunting, and given prime position on any housing list.
I welcome your promotion of the Gurkha cause as I believe them to be deserving and by definition i.e. selection, immigrants of quality. However, in all other measures you are the worst kind of fence sitters. I have admired individuals in your party Mr Cable as mentioned and Paddy Ashdown, indeed Ming the Merciless, but risk a vote in your direction : never. Be not surprised then if you gained no profit from the current economic and political woes of this nation. Continue to wring your hands at the growth of the BNP, astonished at why they emulate the success of similar parties in Holland (a more reasonable country than this one over the past millenia). They’ve had enough, we’ve had enough, one day you’ll get it. The same day a snowball is found alive and well in the proverbial furnace.
I agree with those whom agree that `Griffin Watch is not the best way to go about it!
It will merely provide gratuitous publicity that patently is not helpful.
I have one singular thought in mind and wonder whether it will sustain support in our Liberal ranks.
I abhor, like the vast army of L/D`s knocking on doors, the socially divisive message of the BNP.
The divisive BNP message is presently tolerated within the law of the State, under freedom of speech, that is viewed albeit diffidently by many,in this case, as being sacrosanct as it allows an extreme party to stand in Elections and garner votes,and succeed at political representation.
Would J.S. Mill have come to the view that there is a denial of individual liberty,implicit in the BNP having the liberty and freedom to deny non indigenous whites, the right of membership to their bigoted political party.
There is surely is a denial of individual liberty that is being sanctioned by law?
I suspect that if it was made possible for ethnic minorities to join the BNP they would then join up in number and rapidly send the BNP into free fall!
Even the argument of the doctrine of `Utilitarianism’ that was championed by James Mill, disavowed by his son, that the greater good of the greater numbers in utilitarian terms is ill served by a rule of any political party that is allowed by English Law, to uphold `social apartheid’.
This all,notwithstanding that the BNP preach and practice `racial’ and `social division’ via constitution,manifesto,campaign message etc.
The BNP even had a C of E Rev. candidate in the MEP Elections, whom claims that Jesus did n`t say that all peoples should live together in harmony,love and peace.
Is this not also a matter for the C of E Ecclesiastical Courts, whom have special powers over curates and ordained ministers ?.
The C of E senior command had roundly condemned the social division implicit in the BNP message before the June 4th Euro-Election- thank goodness!
I would ask Parliament to now bring forward a new law,that I presume would obtain all Party support, to now outlaw any political party i.e.BNP, that campaigns for new members and by so doing puts into effect the medieval practices of `social apartheid’ by dint of having a constitution that prohibits non-white membership.
This new law should now be lobbied for and Parliament has a public and moral duty to act,in the name of humanity and race relations legislation!
I hope that `Stormin Norman’ takes up the issue as a Private Members` Bill a.s.a.p.