Would you vote for the BNP?

[Spannerman]

At the forthcoming local elections we as a democracy have the right to vote for any of those candidates that may be standing, But only one in four of us will vote, so what is wrong with British Local Government Elections?

We moan when our domestic rates rise by 18%, but three out of four will not register a vote, is it because the three main parties Labour/Tories/Lib Dems have much the same sort of policies.

The alternative is the British National Party (well on paper anyway!). The BNP appear to represent a lot of peoples views on the EC, Immigration etc but are they too radical to get the populace to vote for them?

I believe in many of their aims, as a Patriotic Briton, but I doubt if in the final analysis I would append my cross next to their candidate, if one was standing, so what are your views.......................?

[Sully]

As a patriotic Briton who has been, in the past, critical of Europe and initially favoured developing the Commonwealth instead I find myself drawn towards Brussels as the only alternative to US conglomerates buying into and wrecking the infrastructure of this country (TXU, Reliant, Enron). Not to mention using us as military lackies in their attempts at world domination when the World Bank route hits the rocks with someone who can't be bought.

Spannerman, I do feel strongly about economic refugees though and, although I won't be voting BNP, I wouldn't criticise anybody for voting for them in order to register their feelings on the issue. I don't think this has anything to do with race. You're right, the govt and the rest just won't listen and we don't have a voice.

You're a brave man to raise the issue.

[bean]

I can agree that some of the ideas put across by the BNF appeals to my sense of national pride ect, but the party seems to attract more than its far share of radicals (nutters). For me and no doubt for many others, rightly or wrongly, it conjures up images of skin heads in England T shirts under the guise of the National front and Mosley. I am not a great lover of politics I vote, but I cannot get into the fine details of who, why, what.

Well there my less than informed opinion, but I am just the man on the street.

Bean.
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[Sully]

Bean - there's not a lot to choose from mate. I share you views about the BNP and would worry about them getting a sniff of power or influence but they have tapped into a rich seam of public opinion.

Quick question - which British leader did more than anyone to surrender the sovereignty of the UK parliament to Europe?

A: Margaret Thatcher signed the Maastricht Treaty in 1986 which did more than anything to commit us to Europe (and put us firmly 'on the ramp') - closely followed by Ted Heath who got the ball rolling in 1973. It's not all red and blue - some of the biggest opponents to the EU were from the left wing of the Labour Party (e.g. Tony Benn).

[may18]

Nod sully it was maggie

but she complained bitterly afterwards that she had been mislead as to the meaning of the reaty.

Oh and no wouldnt vote bnp personally

[Mike]

Funny.....this subject was brought up in the office this week
Most of us consider ourselves patriotic and most heve the same views on emmigration and the right to be British whichever part that we live in.
Most of us consider that what we have is not what we want, however like evrything else a few thing that they can change the views of the Government....so is it worth trying? (not my answer but others)
As for the BNP... I would never vote for them......but I would foresee that many would especially if they if they cleaned up thier act, got rid of the hooligan element and toned down thier ideas. Lets face it this country can not take many more immigrants, ther WILL be a breaking point soon anyone thinking different should take a visit to Dover and other south coat towns.

[Chris]

Yes! Yes i would

[dan]

The BNP will never shed it's skinhead and fascist connotations. It's clear that although many in the BNP are ordinary people with understandable concern over immigration, EU etc. there will always be some with links to neo-nazi groups. No matter how small that percentage is, I would never wish that sort of influence upon a democratic country. I honestly think that those who find Blair too much of a Leftie would find the Tories present a much more traditional structure without even the slightest undercurrent of violence.

I would certainly view myself as patriotic but I don't believe that encouraging a hardline right-wing approach is a necessarily patriotic act!

[may18]

I had a read thru there manefesto

And it seems tey have latched onto some very popular views in the uk

But

Some of the stuff they suggest would destroy britain, such as the idea of a non globalised internally trading nation.

Their insistance that the uk would contribute NOTHING to international aid i find wrong.


Whats sad, is many of the policies i want (ie still immigration as its vital for an aging population but more control on who immigrates) are those in the tory manifesto

But the media keeps telling us what a shambles the tories are

and we seem to believe them

[ABI]

Thorny subject this one.

I don't believe that the BNP has changed it's stance much and that the core of its membership (which I know includes many ex-forces people) still play the race card. You only have to scratch the surface and its still there.

I have first hand experiance of what it is like to live in an area where as a white male I was in the minority as I was born and raised in East London so I know all about immigration the BNP/NF and all the crap that goes with it. As a teenager it was fashionable to go around shouting NF slogans and give the impression of being in the NF. But the next day I'd be playing footy with my black mates!!

It was when I joined up that I really came to see that the colour of someones skin is meaningless, I know of three lads (all of West Indian origin) who went through Depot Para at the same time as me and they took more shit than most just because they were black. They all passed and went on to have good careers in the Regt because they had the same drive and determination to get in as I did. This made me look at myself and my opinions and I realised that there are just as many drug dealers, dole merchants, skivers, layabouts and waisters with white skin as black. No-one can take the morale high ground on that one.

As for the current flow of immigrants in the UK, can any of us who are lucky enough to have been born here honestly say that in the same situation as your 'average immigrant' that we would not have attempted to get here, I know I'd have been on the first plan/ship/train given half the chance.

We have a history of accepting immigrants going back centuries because they basically do the jobs we dont want. Go onto most building sites in London and you will find every country in Europe and many beyond represented. This is because the majority of home grown school leavers do not want to get their hands dirty, they want a nice cosy office job and let some other poor schmuck do the graft. We can't have it both ways.

OK, end of rant, basically what I'm saying is by all means vote BNP if you wish but before you do take a long hard look at yourself in the mirror first.

[Spannerman]

Interesting comments here.

So what if the BNP didn't play the race card, would you still vote for them as they want Britain out of Europe which is something I never voted for, it was a democratic vote back in the 70's but if that same referendum were held again I wonder what the call would be, perhaps 2-1 against being a member?

At the moment there is not a major political party who supports withdrawal from the EC, so if you don't believe in the good of the EC who do you vote for? Sir James Goldsmith's lot seemed to be on a roll until his untimely death, they would get my vote but I haven't got the vote this time round. So is it the very reason why people don't vote in National Elections?

Now for local elections: The BNP apparently only have 5 elected seats of many seats available, so they are a tiny minority, in those areas where immigration is a problem those 5 seats have been gained, is it then that the electorate in those areas are cocking a snook at those in power 'telling' them to get their act together.

I am not decrying Commonwealth members the chance of residing in the UK, a lot of them have got a lot to offer this country and to a certain extent we owe some of these people a favour, but what of all these economic immigrants jumping on the 'gravy train', how on earth can we support them.

Many people in this country who have paid taxes and dues all their lives cannot claim for this grant or that grant despite some of them being destitute yet an Afghani, or Iraqi Kurd seemingly can. Sssssoooooo if you don't believe in economic migrants being here where do you put your cross?

This is not a racist question, it is a question that many millions of people in this country want answered but seemingly there is no answer so what do you do abstain from voting or vote BNP?

[JulesB]

Just remember 1930's Germany.

Adolf cottoned onto what the people where drippin' about and carefully crafted his policies/manifesto to answer those complaints. But he was also carefully hiding the extremist elements too. Little did the German people know what he had in store for them once he was in power.

What am I trying to say here? Beware of the unknown? That their fundamental core policies are unlikely to have changed much since the days when the NF and BNP were publicly much closer.

Ive already been called a facist in the recent past because I did express the view that if they werent so extreme I might consider voting for them!

[barryc]

A British National Party ealing with our concerns in a reasonable manner, not allowing economic immigrants to get in under the false pretence of being in need of asylum for instance would possibly get my vote, but not the BNP presently in existence and which has contaminated the idea of nationalism. Some degree of nationalism is, I believe becoming necessary but note racial or religious hatred. Let's face it true immigrants have done a lot for this country, the East African Asians are generally hard working and productive, ditto the smaller number of Vietnam refugees and the now very well established West Indians brought over post war. Sure some have gone off the rails but we have plenty of our own of that type. I still hold to the approach I always found prevailed in the Corps, take the person for who they are, not what they are, if they earn respect, give it and give it freely. So in short, NO I would vote for the established BNP.


Barry

[may18]

I think immigration is vital, we have an aging population, and many sevices rely on immigrants from the past. Look at how many of our proffesionals in the health service are indian for instance. I think having a multi cultural society is something we can be proud of

The problem is, for me at least getting to the truth of how much of a problem illegal immigration really is.

If i read a right wing paper, i have images of thousands pouring in all day heading for the dole office and getting housed.

If i read a left wing paper it turns out that the idea of outsiders coming to uk as its @soft@ is a complete lie.

Its very hard to get to the truth

But, now that we have a new reason for being a terrorist target, and for health reasons. Personally id like to see security checks and health checks for those immigrating to the country.

[JulesB]

Why can we not introduce the same immigration policies that the likes of the US and Australia have? I believe you have to prove that you are self supporting to be able to enter either country unless sponsored by your employer... Green card lottery... As an island why do we have so much difficulty controlling illegal immigrants entry?

Sorry to pose more questions rather than giving answers here!