The Euro Elections Matter
I wrote earlier about the upcoming European Parliament elections and in a magazine about the belief that the global financial crisis would lead to a rise in far-right representation. Finally, the Labour party have woken up to the threat, or at least been told about it.
There are several factors that could make a 'perfect storm'. The Conservatives are hopelessly inept over Europe. Cameron's election campaign made the promise that the Tories would withdraw from the ruling centre-right block, to the horror of his MEP's. So far they've lobbied hard and nothing has happened to Cameron's first political promise.
So, once again, the Tories have no actual message on Europe. Are they for or against, what about enlargement, the euro, Lisbon etc. All is either silence or a whispering from both sides of the mouth.
Labour have no real message either, the European party is much better than the national one, but I find them the hardest to engage with. No Labour MEP has ever replied to any of our emails, but when I meet them we have interesting conversations.
Frankly, the two main parties have no clear message, no open support for the EU. They're just keeping quiet and hoping nobody raises the issue.
The Liberals are very active and have good leadership and some very good MEP's. They also have Andrew Duff. As part of the centre group they do a lot of good work, even though they are centre-left and the group as a whole is centre-right.
The Greens are punching above their weight and well regarded, but this is a personal appreciation that depends on the quality of the MEP.
UKIP are basically standing outside throwing bricks at the windows. True they often raise vital issues, but despite having a very competent leadership, the party itself isflaky and illdisciplined. UKIP have yet to define themselves as anything but a right wing Tory party. If the Tories become more Eurosceptic, will they wither away?
So, there's a huge yawning gap for the BNP to exploit. They could become the main home for protest votes, for people angry with insecurity from the growing financial crisis for several reasons:
1. They will proclaim a vigorous anti-Europe message.
2. People think the EU elections don't matter, so why not tick the BNP box?
3. BNP will run on an xenophobic platform.
What is truly tragic, is that so far, the Labour response has been to mimic the BNP line on immigration, "British jobs for British workers".
There are two factors that assist the BNP, Labour's inept economic planning and Labour's unwillingness to challenge the BNP on immigration, Europe etc.
On the Kent vote this is a
On the Kent vote this is a lot more than a protest vote. People are entirely disenchanted with mainstream party politics which appears simply to ignore the concerns and needs of ordinary people so they are turning to voices which are playing tunes which better suit their mood.
It also angers them when Labour/Tory/Lib Dems denigrate them further by not even giving a hearing to the BNP which in turn says to ordinary people their voices will be ignored.
Better to debate than ignore in my view or it will be giving an open door to the BNP.
On the Northeast version of the Politics show, a few weeks ago, a local Labour MP confirmed he had refused to be on the same platform as the BNP rep.
Since Labour are largely responsible for the growth of BNP voters in the North East and the North West due to their perceived desertion of the working classes and their now being seen as the party for Big Business, then this refusal has further alienated poorer working and middle class voters.
For good or bad(I think bad) this has sent people over to the BNP because they feel the BNP are more in touch with them.
I think also the new corruption amongst MEPs will fuel that anti maistream politics feelings that is going around.
Though I do not want to see it, I feel there is a strong chance of one or more MEPs being elected for the BNP and it is entirely the fault of New Labour's lining their pocket and ignoring their baseline Voters.
Mainstream politicians seem not to be aware of how their seemingly corrupt antics are playing with the people who elect them.
Well they are angry, and feel disenfranchised and the BNP have responded in a way which has made ordinary people feel listened to in a way the main parties have collectively failed to respond.
History is cyclical and society is moving towards protectionism and insularity.
I think this may well result in Civil unrest but then again how can anyone blame the people and the BNP are exploiting this to the full.
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Chris, Many thanks for that
Chris,
Many thanks for that thoughtful and insightful comment.
You are either ignorant or
You are either ignorant or biased concerning Conservative policy on Europe. Go to the policy page on www.conservatives.com
Conservative policy seems to
Conservative policy seems to be designed to flank UKIP. Do you seriously believe that, for example, Ken Clarke or many of the MEP's sign up to it? Also, shoudn't people know which block the Tories are going to belong to? In Cameron's election campaign he said they would 'immediately' leave the EPP. Are they staying? Their current policy doesn't match well to the EEP, so are they going?
A simple question, after all Dave's already told us the answer, he just hasn't implemented the answer. Whyever not?
Hi quarsan. On TV very
Hi quarsan. On TV very recently William Hague said that the Tories would definitely leave the EPP after the June Euro Elections. He refused to give more details but was adamant that it would happen.
But will they? Cameron said
But will they? Cameron said it would happen 'immediately' he became party leader. I suspect this announcement by Hague is because considerable pressure is being applied in advance of the elections, as people should know what block the people they're voting for are going to be in.
Remember he said it would be 'after' the elections and strangely, for something that has been in the air for so long, had no details.