Difference between revisions of "British National Party"
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==Further reading== | ==Further reading== | ||
Revision as of 17:01, June 5, 2008
The British National Party (BNP) is a British political party, which has been described as "a classic fascist organisation whose leaders believe in Nazi race-science and whose members carry out physical attacks on their perceived opponents."[1] The BNP's current leader is Nick Griffin, who has been convicted of incitement to racial hatred in 1998, and is noted for holocaust denial, calling the extermination of the European Jews "the Holohoax". Though it is generally described as being on the right wing of politics, it espouses a number of fiscally left-wing policies. For example, although it is in favour of repatriating non-white people from the UK, it also favours substantial government involvement in the economy. In the words of the BNP leader, they will also "hang race traitors."[2]
The BNP has strong ties to Neo-Nazi and anti-semitic groups. "The BNP claims not to be a "race supremacist" party but its publications report on the genetic superiority of the "white race". It claims not to have any connection with "race hate" yet many of its leading members have convictions for racist crimes."[3] The party now also tries to "cash in on what it perceives to be the growth in Islamophobia" with its leader stating: "It stands to reason that adopting an 'Islamophobic' position that appeals to large numbers of ordinary people - including un-nudged journalists - is going to produce on average much better media coverage than siding with Iran and banging on about 'Jewish power', which is guaranteed to raise hackles of virtually every single journalist in the western world."[4] This superficial repackaging of their party - without actually disavowing their neo-Nazi ideology - is simply an attempt commonly seen, particularly post-9/11, in politicians and movements of the ultra-right to make a strategic breakthrough by appealing to a more mainstream audience. The BNP try to present a more respectable image but they are the same extremists that they always were.
Griffin is known to have "forged alliances with representatives of Gaddafi's regime in Libya - a move no doubt inspired by a common disdain for Jews."[5] In 1998 Griffin received a jail sentence, suspended for two years, for inciting racial hatred under the Public Order Act. The charge related to statements made in his publication The Rune. In Griffin's words, the Holocaust "is a mixture of Allied wartime propaganda, extremely profitable lie, and latter-day witch hysteria".
The BNP's representation in the UK is entirely at the local level. It has no representatives in Parliament, nor in any of Britain's regional legislatures or the European Parliament. In May 2008 Richard Barnbrook became the first BNP member to be elected to the London Assembly. Anti-nazi campaigners said a victory for the party meant "hatred, violence and stupidity".[6] Mayor-elect Boris Johnson and outgoing Mayor Ken Livingstone "pointedly walked off the stage when fifth-placed Richard Barnbrook made his speech following the announcement of the City Hall results."[7]
Recent changes
In March 2008 Nick Griffin appeared on BBC 2's Newsnight program as part of the White season (which focussed on the White working class of Britain), in which he confirmed that the BNP is no longer about race but about nationality. He stated, "The BBC has entirely the wrong question talking about the White working class. It is not a matter of White". Griffin went on to say how 1 million recent Polish immigrants were Whites but that they were not the BNP's focus. The BNP is, Griffin said, dedicated to the English, Scots, Irish and the Welsh.
Oxford Union Debate
In November 2007 BNP chairman, and published historian and Holocaust revisionist David Irving were invited to address an audience at the distinguished Oxford Union. However "anti-fascist" groups (such as United Against Fascism and ANTIFA) opposed the move, arguing that it could give legitimacy to Mr.Irving and Mr.Griffin's opinions, one protestor personally insulted Nick Griffin and David Irving by calling them "abhorrant".[1]
Due to extreme pressure from anti-BNP groups who disagreed with freedom of speech the Oxford Union held a vote amongst its members, with over two thirds voting in favour of Irving and Griffin speaking there.
As such the event went ahead, but masses of UAF (United Against Fascism) protestors blocked entrances, and even stormed into the debate chamber in an attempt to disrupt the meeting.
Further reading
- Barton, Dale. Will The BNP Go Away If Christians Just Ignore Them?. Originally published in Searchlight Magazine April 2004. Full version online at stopthebnp.org.uk
References
- ↑ Silver, Steve. Booted and suited - The BNP's Nazism. Originally published in Searchlight Magazine January 2004. Full version online at stopthebnp.org.uk
- ↑ Hope Not Hate "Stop The BNP"
- ↑ Hope Not Hate op cit
- ↑ BNP seeks to bury antisemitism and gain Jewish votes in Islamophobic campaign
- ↑ The Enduring Prejudice "Stop The BNP"
- ↑ Brady, Brian BNP wins first seat in assembly "The Independent On Sunday" 4 May 2008.
- ↑ BNP wins first seat in assembly op cit
