I am ready to fight the BNP

Posted By: Wera Hobhouse
Date Posted: 08/06/2009

We had a fun night at the Rochdale Online awards ceremony on Saturday, me unexpectedly scooping up the councillor’s diary award again.
Thank you!
Last night however was less fun to witness. Many feared it, few wanted to believe it but here it is:
The BNP has won a seat in the European Parliament for the North West one of the biggest regions in Britain.
I have said it here a few days ago the rise of a far right, nationalist and racist party in a country that has a proud tradition of tolerance and inclusiveness is deeply disturbing.
The BNP stood in Norden ward at the last local election polling 15% of the votes, being in third place and beating Labour into fourth.
At the time I saw it as a bit of a joke, hoping it would be just a blip, and trying to make as little as possible of it so to not give the BNP any profile.
Unfortunately last night’s election results don’t allow us to ignore the BNP any longer. The time has now come to fight them head on.
The BNP is not an acceptable alternative to main stream British politics.
Their cosy publications might try to disguise their racism but nobody should be in any doubt about their real dangerous intentions.
That membership of the party is restricted to ‘white’ people only says it all.
A party that bases its politics on fear, resentment and irrational arguments will not provide the answers for a positive future of this country.
It is important to listen to the people who are inclined to vote for the BNP, we need to understand why main stream parties have disenfranchised a now considerable number of residents, why we have failed to engage and how we can make up lost ground.
Rochdale Borough did so far pride itself for its good community cohesion and the fact that the BNP was nowhere here.
Last night’s figures from the borough count in our Town hall which largely reflected the election results of the rest of the region should be a wake up call.
The BNP is in our Borough too. All main stream parties should take responsibility for that and look at their own failure of allowing this to happen.
I am ready to do something about it. I will not sit back.