Lie on this couch, Mr Voter, and I'll tell you if you're going Barking

NUCLEAR WAR last week, the onward march of fascism this. Our only hope is that the bird flu gets us before Nick Griffin, the oyster-eyed capo of the British National Party, does.

This scare, however, is different from the rest, because it comes with a minister wrapped around it. Margaret Hodge told The Sunday Telegraph (in remarks that are bound to be have been taken out of context) that her white, working-class constituents in Barking are contemplating a serious electoral flirtation with Griffin’s bunch of assorted racists, anti-Semites and goons. As many as eight out of ten homes that she canvassed, she said, were thinking seriously about it. This was a figure not quite borne out by radio vox pops, despite a hilarious encounter on the Today programme with a man called Abdul who told his questioner that he believed that too many immigrants had been allowed in recently — and then very charmingly introduced his wife, a recent immigrant from Pakistan.

Even so, there was plenty of corroborative material around for Ms Hodge’s pessimism. A Rowntree report, about to be released, backs up some of the ministers’ worries, and that splendid anti-fascist organisation, Searchlight, is concerned about the inroads being made in northeast London by the BNP. Depending on who you believe, possible gains for the BNP in the Barking and Dagenham council elections on May 4 could range from between half a dozen seats to half the council.

Why? Because the white working class — according to Ms Hodge — “can’t get a home for their children, they see black and ethnic minority communities moving in and they are angry”. In her view they have been hit by a demographic shift so sudden that they cannot adjust. “When I arrived in 1994, it was a predominantly white, working-class area. Now, go through the middle of Barking and you could be in Camden or Brixton . . . It is gobsmacking change.”

Whether Ms Hodge is right about the pace of change being so much greater in her borough than that experienced by, say, the East End of London, mining areas, or parts of Yorkshire, is a matter for argument. My own guess is that there are other, more qualified, candidates for the position of most done-over part of Britain, and many of these places seem not to have reacted by falling for race politics.

Even so, we should take the threat seriously. Not because the BNP can become our Front National — despite Griffin’s obvious talents it does not seem to have the cadres to produce anything more than an ill-tempered voting blip before its new councillors all assault each other or resign out of boredom.

We should take it seriously because, like many suicide attempts, it is a cry for help. A friend of mine told me yesterday that blackbirds have taken to singing in the night, because — apparently — it’s too noisy in the day. They can be heard only during the dark. Perhaps part of the white working class now feels that it can only be heard in the dark.

Ms Hodge’s neighbour, Jon Cruddas, the Labour MP for Dagenham, has become something of a specialist in this subject. His assertion is that the BNP phenomenon is caused by a failure of mainstream, especially Labour, politicians to appeal to “traditional” voters. Instead, the parties try to maximise their appeal to middle-class swing voters in marginal constituencies. Labour’s project has ceased to be the “emancipation” of the still large working class.

I have real problems with Mr Cruddas’s analysis, seductive though many find it. The first is that many swing voters in marginal seats are also white working class, and that quite a lot of the Labour appeal is calculated to gain their support. The second is that one might expect that far-left parties, such as Respect, would benefit as much, or even more, from disillusion with Labour’s centrism than racist parties of the far Right.

In fact I don’t believe that the BNP votes will predominantly be ex-Labour votes at all. In 1983 the combined Conservative and SDP vote in Dagenham was 59 per cent, with Labour hanging on to the seat by a whisker. This was when Labour was at its most magnificently class conscious. Since then the Tory vote has collapsed. What may be fuelling the BNP vote is the moderation and commitment to multiculturalism of the Conservative Party.

And here we should admit something — the horrid pleasures of racism. Back in the Sixties my father was the district secretary of the Communist party of Great Britain in South Essex — a district that took in Barking, Dagenham, Harlow, Benfleet and other new towns. I recall his shock when, after Enoch Powell was sacked from his position in Heath’s Shadow Cabinet for his 1968 “Rivers of Blood” speech, 1,000 dockers — the true labour aristocracy — marched in Powell’s support. Having someone to hate, to jeer at, to blame, has always been pretty seductive. Ironically, it’s the white working class itself, in its “chav” incarnation, that has become the scapegoat for many of us.

So there always was the racist possibility, held in check partly because the experience of the Second World War and the fight against fascism was fairly fresh in everyone’s minds. Now it’s 60 years ago, and the term “fascist” seems like an arcane bit of abuse. It doesn’t produce the same aversion any more.

Mr Cruddas’s solution to the problem is, as far as I understand it, to build a lot more social housing — so as to draw the sting of the accusation of unfair treatment for immigrants; to give existing illegal immigrants an amnesty and then get tough on new illegal entrants; and to talk more openly about the benefits of immigration. I agree with the first and last points.

One place where he argued this course was in the last edition of Renewal, a rather thoughtful publication for centre-leftists who now want to emphasise the “left” bit. The article that followed his was an interview with the renowned sociologist Richard Sennett. Professor Sennett believed, contra Cruddas, that Tony Blair was actually rather hot on deprivation — it was skilled workers that new Labour didn’t understand. They, said Professor Sennett, didn’t want emancipation, they didn’t want social mobility. “What they want to do,” he argued, “is to make a good life for themselves and their families without necessarily having to be different than they’ve been in the past. It’s not a lack of ambition. It’s a different kind of ambition.”

I spent Sunday evening looking at the stats for Barking and Dagenham. It is less deprived than my own borough, Camden. It experiences less crime. Its housing stock is no worse. But its educational attainment is lower, its VAT registrations (a sign of small business activity) are much lower and its teen pregnancy rate is much, much higher.

If you had Barking on the couch, you’d make sure that you listened to it and took its complaints seriously; people go bonkers if they feel that no one cares. But you’d also tell it the truth, which is that there is no protection from change itself — no stopping the world, unless you are prepared to pay the heavy price of getting off.

Comments

[john gregory Flinn]

Your weblog about the BNP is a good start to debate seriously issues which seem to fuelling BNP's popularity.
One of which is almost certainly David Cameron's decision to vacate the political right-wing.
David Cameron is obviously a nice man who has tapped into significant public support as a natural 'new man', rather than a 'reconstructed Tory'.
However to leave this empty space on the right seems to be a strategic error. Because nature abhors a vacuum and somebody will fill it!
(No doubt the Tory chattering classes wishfully thought “ if we ignore the right it will go away!”)

However you still use those tired and hackneyed descriptions - racists, anti-semites - which really only highlight your own prejudices.
This is simply about immigration, resources, priorities and motives. The BNP are asking questions which find some resonance amongst voters, but which the mainstream parties/media seem to ignore or dismiss as racism.
Relying on that much vaunted British 'tolerance' is a tired and patronising excuse for crass complacency, as exemplified by 7/7, Abu Hamza and, now, Mousaoui's mother who blames Londonistan for her son's radicalisation!

[Jon Jones]

David, I liked your piece - taking a look at the Guardian today (18 April), their leader can't resist going overboard and dismissing Nick Griffin's organisation. Many current issues are not crises, although some of the papers just can't resist portraying them as such. This is a classic example: a slow-burner, which occasionally gets some direct media focus, delivered in OTT terms with a nice, pat judgment at the end before moving on to next "crisis". Nick Griffin is playing the long game - he's building steadily and quietly, becoming mainstream. I personally think the BNP is a one-trick pony, but they're listening and adding bits and pieces of policy where they think it's going to tip the balance. I also think that it's no bad thing if the BNP gained 2% of the vote - big enough to keep them in the political mainstream, but small enough to make them marginal. Sinn Fein are a bunch of killers in suits, but they've got a toehold in politics and they've stopped most of their violence to retain it. In a way, I also feel like the BNP's rhetoric is no worse than Labour's - I don't see why I "must" be tolerant of certain prescribed things like unbridled immigration, any more than I have to not be tolerant of immigrants. Griffin is just selling a different brand of bullshit.

[Graham Snell]

I live in Thurrock in Essex and quite a few here are also flirting with the idea of voting BNP at the local elections. the reason is the sudden and dramatic change in the makeup of the local community. Three years ago there were virtually no black people in the area at all. In two years the black population has exploded. Now I don't intend to be rascist but the fact of the matter is that our community is barely recognisable from that of 3 years ago. The change has been too fast and it is resented by a lot of people here.

Unfortunately, the rise in the black population has coincided with a sharp rise in crime and, whether the newcomers are responsible or not, the perception is that they are. People in Thurrock are good people and I think could have coped with a gradual increase in the 'ethnic' population but this flood has proved too much.

Voting for the BNP is the only way that some (i am not included) can register their unhappiness.

[David]

I think the Government fuels the BNP. I have an African lodger who is a student. She told me that she knows Somalian refugees who were given money to buy a house. Why ?
Is Nick Griffin responsible for this to get votes for the BNP ?
I agree with David Aaronvitch that we need more social housing - then of course the NIMBY brigade will go against Labour - many of whom like immigration just not near them !
The depressing thing is that Labour MPs only care about the housing shortage if people vote BNP - what message does that send ?
The problem is not race but space.

[Rchard England]

Davids comments about the Government fuelling the BNP are valid - from my perspective it appears New Labour are acting as the recruiting sergeant for the BNP. New Labours flirtation with facism requires the public to be willing to give up a substantial amount of their civil liberties, and blaming ethnic minorities - particularly the Muslim community appears to be the chosen stratetgy. For instance, since its introduction between 11th September 2001 and 31st December 2004 there were 701 arrests using the Terrorist Act 2000. Of those 119 have been charged using the new legislation and just 17 of 701 arrested actually convicted.

At the beginning of 2003, demonstrators against the impending war with Iraq set up a peace camp outside the military base at Fairford in Gloucestershire, from which US B52s would launch their bombing raids. Every day - sometimes several times a day - the protesters were stopped and searched under section 44 of the Terrorist Act. The police, according to a parliamentary answer, used the act 995 times, but didn't once make an arrest under the Act (something to do with there being no terrorists to arrest).

So New Labour demonizes ethnic minorities, ably assisted by the likes of the National Lottery’s Community Fund, who do there best to ensure that ethnic minorities and asylum seekers are seen to be blamed as to why the likes of Scouts and Girl Guides don't get funds (http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2-1480967,00.html). The anger and resentment generated benefits the BNP directly.

The "laudable" types in organisations like Searchlight and the Anti-Nazi League would perhaps do well to target the racists in the Labour Party and public bodies. While these thrive, so to does the BNP.

[Richard]

Sir,

As usual, David Aaronovitch is looking at the threat posed by the BNP from the wrong end of the telescope. Hark back to the 1980s and 1990s and you will find the far right making no progress at all. The reason for this is not hard to find - in those decades, immigration was not an issue since it was properly controlled. Whatever people were voting for in 1997, it was not for mass immigration, yet that is what has been foisted on this country. The left may complain that the far right are "exploiting issues" - what the liberal left have to understand is that it is their policies which have created the issues which are so easily exploited.
The solution to all this is a matter of straightforward political will. Do whatever is necessary to ensure that all immigration is properly and fairly controlled, and that illegal immigrants are dealt with swiftly and sent back to whence they came. That is the way to cut the ground from under the feet of the BNP. It is all about numbers at the end of the day and current rates of immigration are ludicrously unsustainable in both environmental and social terms.

[Frank Schnittger]

Many in Ireland see the rise of Sinn Fein in the Republic (to up to 10% of the vote in some opinion polls) in the same light as the putative rise of the BNP in Britain. Immigration in Ireland is currently running at c. 150,000 p.a. – equivalent to some 2.5 Million p.a. in the UK!

At the moment the economy is booming (c. 6% GNP p.a.) and can absorb these numbers without increasing net unemployment (4%), although there is significant displacement of lower paid workers within the workforce and downward pressure on wages – most new jobs are minimum wage.

However if the economy slows and unemployment shoots up, all hell will break loose. Even now the rapid inflation of house prices and many services brought on by the boom is pricing many younger people out of the housing market. (This is despite over 80,000 new houses being built each year – c. 10 times the proportionate rate of new house building in the UK). The greater Dublin area and much of the countryside is being despoiled by excessive development and the transport and services infrastructure simply cannot cope.

As usual, some economists point out that such immigration is necessary to enable 6% growth, but who wants such growth at the price of infrastructural gridlock and potential societal meltdown when the gravy train stops?

Having been a relatively monocultural (and cohesive) society until very recently, we are having to learn the skills of multiculturalism very fast. Inevitably there will be winners and losers and immigrants will become a readymade scapegoat for those who lose out. Liberals in posh jobs will then decry the “racism” of those who have lost jobs, can’t afford housing, and who feel they are becoming strangers in their own land.

Governments need to learn that their job is to govern Society as well as to run an economy and that success at one task may be inimical to the other.

[Pat Walsh]

Dear David,how dreadful of voters to turn away from the wonderful leftie parties that rule,or wish to rule,this country.How dare they be so ungrateful for being lied to,conned,cheated,robbed,criminalised for profit,and otherwise abused.And how dare they refuse to endure the moral and finacial corruption and the evil slezze endemic in all the main political parties.What are their answers to the countries problems which they have largly brought about over the past sixty years?Yes,you`ve guessed it!More,much more,of the same failed ideas and policies.What is more shameful,is that you and your kind,conspire to prop up this totally rotten edifice by denoucing voters when they seek real change.Thank god that at last some voters are begining to see through the lies and deceit that you and your media "trendies" seek to peddle everyday.Great tactics,attack the voters if they look like stepping out of line.What is required from you is that you conspire with others to find new ways too futher fool the voters.The old ways do not seem to be working.With your usual arrogance you of are certain you know what is right and good for us and how dare we even hint we might want to think and act differently.

[emanuel appel]

A letter from America

Dear David,

Any normal person will support that political party that is patriotic, that supports the idea of borders, nation, and culture. A similar thing is seen in America but the difference is that the people can express themselves through their representatives unlike those prisoner of Parliamentary discipline.

In America, the Democrats are the prisoners of racial/ethnic minority interests save those of the Jews. Even though the Jews vote 60-80% Democratic and can be found as elected representatives and party functionaries, the party position is in favor of a liberal immigration policy. The idea is that the great immigrant unwashed will be Democratic supporters.

The Republicans are divided between those business interests who look at the Mexican as a cheap labor hand and the nationalists who favor national security and a strong American culture above all.

Even if Bush is President, he doesn't command the Republican hosts with the same firm hand that Blair can with his Labor minions. There is no need for the American version of the BNP.

[bugiewugie]

as many as eight out of ten homes...usw
who was sponsoring this ad: Kittykat?

[Stu]

Mr Appel, with the possible exception of Sinn Fein (who want their part of the UK to join with the Republic of Ireland), whilst standing for the UK parliament all parties would classify themselves as patriotic. Where they differ is in which prescription they offer for what ails the country what would make it function better. Accusing your opponents of being unpatriotic is the last refuge of the intellectually dishonest. A sure sign that you have no real ideas of your own. Nationalism is not of itself patriotic.

Anyway, the best reason for opposing the BNP is that their policies are absolute crap. They'd take us back to the 70s.

[Joy Springreen]

The prospect of the BNP gaining power is unlikely. Although it will weaken the political process in this country. We should have no right wingers in government. FULL STOP.

Im in 2 minds about positive discrimination. On the one hand (mind) it gains access for the disenfranchised (victims of previous employment racism) but on the other hand (mind) it enflames people.

Single issue/pseduo-holisticism politics seems to be de rigeur in the UK. Whether its "all about Iraq" or "all about Blair" or its "all about asylum seekers".

I listen to all kind of comments in my workplace that are to the tune of "a black bloke in a wheel chair has got more chance of a job than me!" exclaims my colleague. To which i reply " well you got this job, didnt you? I dont see anyone around fitting your description".
In fact the cleaner is Nigerian and used to be a Vet in Nigeria. Thats says more about the home ofice not recognising skills and applying individuals.

My other colleague jumps in to tell me that "the English man" cannot walk down the street in town at night because "the streets no longer belong to the englishman". I always contest these issues and try to educate, or at least remnind them that Britain in itself is founded on the diversity of its constituent parts. England, Wales, Scotland, N. Ireland, etc. and that i myself a jewish english born male who is white, walks through town at 3am on a weekend or weekday night and find no trouble. He says this is because im "oriental" and that "they" leave me alone, "cos they see you as one of them".
and then i hear something to the tune of "enoch powell was right with his speech, y'know"

I strongly disagree with all their statements but have to put up with it, because the job pays the rent, and its not a great job so i can imagine why a lot of people also put up with similar comments.

Im shocked at your recounting of the dockers show of support for Enoch Powell and not being able to rise above the blight upon the working classes by nationalist political elements to stir up race issues rather than encouraging their own economic progress.

I remember, and enjoying, the thrashing of Derek Beacon and his supporters by the Anti-Nazi League in the early 90's. Where are they now? With all this Islamophobia we need them to counteract the reactionary elements that will potentially make the make up of societal opinion more racist.

the mind boggles!

[Bernard]

I suppose it must come as a surprise to someone not of English stock, and who was inculcated into a malign foreign cult that aimed to destroy England and its culture and traditions, that there are still many Englishmen and women who care deeply about their country, their own culture and kin. Dismissing the validity of such feelings with the sloganising of the polytechnic intellectuals who seem to have achieved such prominence (probably through pervasive 'media studies' careers) is just crass.

If people did not rise up to defend themselves and the great achievements of this country from being overrun by foreigners (many of them from societies with unspeakable cultures) with the help of despicable quisling politicians and shallow, canting media types, that would be a betrayal of centuries of not just English, British, or European but human achievement and advance.

[Joy Springreen]

Bernard, "foreign" is what made Britain great. Before "britain", there was England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland and the English asserted dominance by sword over all. But the notion of being British is about being part of an experience that goes beyond romantic nationalism and the rather victorian notions of racial purity of Britain over all. "britannia uber alles" It is its liberal progression that is so dynamic.
A brief history lesson. Britain became rich through conquest, which it turned to trade and then to empire and then to commonwealth. It drew on more than just spices and cloth. The whole reason that Britain is a free country today is from the combined efforts of all of the old empire and the manpower of all the commonwealth to fight for this British notion of freedom. And fight they did, hard for 6 years. Many died. For Britain. "the motherland", all the way from their their small island or continental state. That despite nationalist sentiments they may have felt there, they still belived enough to trade their lives for our modern day UK. Including the manpower shortages after the war.
So if a fraction of the population is made up of a ethnic minority or and immigrant population. It stands as a testament to this "british" notion of equality and leadership across the world. If there is harmony too, it confirms it.

[Sonic]

Looks like the BNP have linked to your post, I'm not a racist but... seems to be the underlying theme.

[Bernard]

Is there no limit to the self-righteousness of lefties who believe that because they label themselves 'progressive' (how do they know I've often wondered) they can lecture and dictate to the rest of us, never entering into any proper dialogue at all, and shutting down any inconvenient fact, argument, thought or emotion with trite assertions and slogans?

An understanding of History is as far beyond the abilities of ideologues as the constant physical changes of our world are to Greens: cherry picking is an insouciant past-time, not agriculture.

What I advocate is a hard-headed consideration of consequences, not a blithe belief that if it fits in with ones prejudices (yea, even mine) then it must be OK. If there is a readily assimiliable lesson of history it is that seldom do we foresee the outcomes of those things we advocate, encourage or accept. That ought to make us more cautious and more challenging, not lazily content just to rubbish objectors.

[Joy Springreen]

Britain is only "great Britain" because of diversity. Save me the labourious task of recounting to you all the "foreign" famous british people. Many nobel prize winners and technological achievements come from us "foreign" elements. Yet we think of ourselves as being more than just cannon fodder. The BNP dont stand a chance, thank god. End of.

[john gregory Flinn]

Joy Springsteen's post is the sort of polemic the "quisling politicians and canting media types" peddle.
It is not based on fact- most of it is simply wrong - but sheer rhetoric, or, in modern parlance - politically correct received wisdoms!
In fact it was the industrial revolution that created Britains recent wealth. Before that we were a mercantile colonial power,just like France, Holland, Spain etc.
The industrial revolution was something new which we led, and that changed the world. We were able to distribute the manufactures it spawned to our captive customers throughout our empire, and beyond while we had the advantage.
Of course it is difficult for the chattering classes to accept that our wealth stems from our industrial inventiveness. They must have a less prosaic explanation such as the one that Joy Springsteen would have us believe.
The freedoms fought for and won in WW2 were not the same 'notions of freedom' that the left apply today. Many people, pensioners among them, feel they are less 'free' than certain others. Hence the interest in the BNP.
Much of the immigration since the war does not share this notion of freedom or equality either, nor will it. Its aspirations seem to be more like counter-colonialism.

Finally, to dismiss the BNP as racists, bigots or xenophobic is about as intelligent as labelling the Labour party as atheistic communists, totalitarian marxists and republicans. It just is'nt relevant anymore.

[Joy SprinGREEN]

It doesnt matter what you say. The BNP are history. Like Mosley, Powell and Tebbitt. Lets see..who was the prime minister of Britain who saw the establishment of the industrial era.... was it Disraeli?

[Andy]

John exactly it seems to me that the main political parties conspiricy of making fascism equate to racism has turned out to be self-delusional. Labour is showing us what real fascism is, the voters can see it and don't like it. But not knowing what else to do about it can only turn to the one party that seems to be in touch with them - Pat Walsh's post earlier is much closer to the truth as to why people are turning to the BNP it is nothing to do with racism and little to do with imigration is is the whole package of mismanaged corrupt government with no serious opposition to put it right.

[Joy Springreen]

It seems that all these other posters are just BNP members (probably the same one)desperately clamouring for a bit of political air-timne on a blog? how pathetic. Youre not getting in. Face it.

[Richard Marriott]

Unfortunately, Joy Springreen has led this forum down the garden path. The issue is not with "foreigners" or with "immigration" per se, but with the sheer volume of numbers coming into the country now. The present "government" has wilfully lost control of our borders and this has led to a much too rapid influx of far too many people. The physical country is not getting any bigger, life in the SE of England is already horribly over crowded and congested. We have to draw the line somewhere, since many millions wish to flee poverty and find a better life here. While that aim is laudable, we cannot accommodate them all, so we have to put the "Full Up" signs out and regain control of our borders. Sorry, but that is the simple fact!

[Joy Springreen]

Not sure youre on it there, im afraid, Richard. What im talking about the BNP's thinly veiled aims which is the racialisation of British politics.
What im trying to do is give a bit of clarity into what British citizenship is actually made of. The British could also emigrate to New Zealand, Australia, Canada, America and Europe. Easily, and enjoy a very good standard of living, better than in the UK in many cases. All without having to learn a new language.

what are the figures? 70 million total population of UK, which only 10-15 million could be the total of immigrant and "foreign extraction" and all ethnic minorities in the entire UK.
If that.

The north of England often complains about SE UK bias in economic development and prosperity. Heres a tip; encourage development across the whole UK and watch "heavy concentrations" dilute. Im afraid at the bottom of all the counter-arguments i have found a "race" thing. There are even more white south africans here than ever before, aussies & New zealanders. When people talk about immigrants are they talking about them?
I have a suspicion that they are not.
I think you'll find that the BNP are plainly obvious and are a jingoistic bunch of twoddle that is blasphemous to anything British. Just because they use "British" in their name doesnt mean that they arent from the same stock as Le Pen, Haider and of course QUISLING.
For shame!
how dare you!

[M.J.Greenwood]

I can certainly understand why Aaronovitch has a loathing of extremism having grown up with a Father who was a Communist.

Everybody has there own ideas on what has made or makes Britain 'Great'. Along with many other things, tolerance and rejection of such extreme views such as fascism and communism are surely high on the list.

However, it's Local Election time and before the ink has dried on the postal votes the Grammar School/University educated, upper middle class liberal establishment, removes its head from the sand and begins to tell us all how ghastly the BNP is (people sort of know that already). We're also told that multi-culturism has enriched all of our lives and that if it wasn't for immigration we'd never get our Latte from Starbucks.

Fortunately this guilt ridden elite can escape back to their predominately white middle class areas and leave 'the working classes and CHAVS' (as David describes them) to live with the consequences of this great post-war social experiment.

This Governments intentional surrender of border controls along with the dumping of hundreds of thousands of people from the poorest parts of the world is an accident waiting to happen.

Support for the BNP has rocketed since Labour got in. Political correctness and fear of being labeled a racist (by such people as David) has left a hole that the BNP are now seeking to fill.

David is quite right in that by voting BNP people are sticking two fingers up to all of the 3 mainstream parties. They also know that the BNP councilor may be useless but that may be no worse than most of the other dead legs in local government.

The recent influx of hundreds of thousands, maybe millions (nobody knows) of Eastern Europeans continues to show no let up....surely we have enough plumbers now. There are 8 million UK citizens 'economically inactive', the NHS, Pensions, Education and transport infrastructure are all at breaking point (particularly in England), unemployment is rising and you could argue that manufacturing has around 10 years left in this country.

If people such as David had not been demonizing people with right wing views and let common sense enter the debate instead of dogma then maybe we wouldn't all be getting so worked up about the ghastly BNP.

[bugiewugie]

R1P Mr Enoch Powell
In your speech, you patronised the people you purported to represent by choosing to quote a chosen constituent, who you claim said " ...in 15 or 20 years' time the black man will have the whip hand over the white man".
This made plain your own fear - a fear of foreigners, the non-white person who wasn't like you. You were a frightened little boy speaking from a grown man's quivering skin.
Your speech told and tells all ordinary, intelligent, hard-working people about your fear, not their's.

In 1968 you spoke of 'preventable evils' in the context of 'Negroes'. Again, you sounded like a frightened little boy who had not demonstrated any foresense of the economic landscape or humanity - apart from your own fear - and this is why many intelligent BNP voters have since thought again, and had the strength of mind to stop voting for what you represented.

What were those 'preventable evils', Mr. Powell? Skin colour or corporate governance?

In 1968 you were frightened by the prospect of a franchised Britain, this same nation which in 2006 is ironically portrayed by the World Bank as being the 4th strongest global economy.
Many BNP voters, past and present, are thoughtful, intelligent people, unafraid of change, who, contrary to what you overtly implied in your speech, demonstrate their capacity to display all the qualities you didn't: freedom in all forms, sociability, a willingness to think and reflect, and economic awareness.
Some BNP voters seem to have a vast knowledge of history as presented, but they also have their own minds, Enoch, and know that what you said in 1968 just revealed your own fear, little else.
As capable people, they are astutely aware of the economic advatages of welcoming newcomers into the country, when British born medics, teachers and scientists and the rest are leaving to globetrot.

Your speech is no longer relevant because this is a different age, the age of the web, the age of information, the age of multiculturalism, and people are becoming more and more informed, and less and less afraid of skin colour.

If the Britain of 2006 still hasn't got it's housing stock in order along with it's schools, hospitals and the rest, then it's because our decision makers are at fault, not because we have too many immigrants, who are people, people, people. Just like you, Enoch.

There's plenty of room in Britain for immigrants if we choose to make room, and we all benefit socially and economically from people who immigrate, out of fear of their lives, or those who wish to improve their lot as opposed to a strange fear of a skin colour or language that you don't understand.

Your speech betrayed an ugly side of you which reflects badly on BNP voters, those in existence, and past.
How did your speech accidentally squeeze through with no squealing?

Plus, for the average docker you you 'represented', what exactly was a 'pabulum' if nothing other than a word to make you sound and feel more intelligent than them?

R1P Mr. Enoch Powell, message received Yea, Britain.