“Give them enough rope and they’ll hang themselves.”

I first read that quote in Naughty Stories for Good Boys and Girls, although it applies equally well for racist politicians trying to enter the mainstream debate. Enter Nick “...immigration...is destroying this and every other white nation in the world” Griffin, Grand High Wizard of the KKK British National Party.

Recently, Griffin appeared on Question Time, a BBC panel show featuring political figures from across the spectrum. During the show, he made various hilarious statements-most notably, that the Ku Klux Klan is "non-violent" and that he does “not have a conviction for Holocaust denial.”

That quote exposes the problem for the Fuhrer and his party; that they are fundamentally too extreme. The reason for the BNP’s increased vote is due to widespread disillusion at the major parties (Labour, Conservatives, Liberal Dems) and the extensive corruption that their MPs have shown. Hence, the increased support for the BNP is more of a protest vote than anything else. But when Nick goes on national television and gives openly sympathises with one of the most infamous white supremacist organisations in history, that create serious problems of allegiance for all BNP voters outside of the hatecore bonehead supporters.

Nick, in his Holocaust statement was clearly trying to have his cake and eat it too: not explicitly denying the Holocaust, but still sending a message to the Brownshirts watching at home that he’s still a died-in-the-wool anti-Semite. The BNP, when previously quizzed on its openly neo-Nazi views, stated that, its political ideals have shifted over time and that the Party is more moderate than before (see point vii). Statements such their leader, however, expose how superficial Nick’s shift to the centre is.

That's why I think giving the BNP this sort of publicity is needed, as it exposes the Party for what it is: a front for neo-Nazism. Gordon Brown stated “We’ve got a duty to expose the BNP for what are racist and sectarian politics.” I agree entirely; give Nick enough time on air, and the BNP’s support will implode harder than One Nation (although hopefully for different reasons).

"Lest we forget." We have forgotten.

(apologies for the lateness of this post. The Generals have hit us soldiers with exams, and studying is a higher priority)

From the Age:

A RIGHT-WING political wind has blown across Europe, sweeping the far-right British National Party into the European Parliament and delivering another humiliating blow to Prime Minister Gordon Brown's Labour Party. As the results of the four-day poll rolled in, a record low turnout saw electoral gains for unaligned, far-right and anti-immigration parties in the Netherlands, where anti-Islam campaigner Geert Wilders won a seat, and in Austria, Belgium, Britain and Slovakia. In Hungary, the anti-Semitic and anti-Roma (Gypsy) extremist party, Jobbik, also won a seat.

Good fuck no. This is a serious problem. I don't mind if conservative/free-market parties gain power if it energises the lefties to do better next time. However, when a hardline party with a policy of hatred is gains a voice in parliament, I'm frightened for these countries.

However, the news that the rabidly anti-immigration, far-right British National Party had won two seats in the European Parliament has shocked both Labour and the Conservatives. "It's a sad moment for British politics," Health Secretary Andy Burnham said. BNP chairman Nick Griffin was elected in the north-west of England with 8 per cent of the vote. He denied his party was racist, but said: "We do say this country is full up. The key thing is to shut the door."

The BNP's beliefs?

Interracial relationships are "self-inflicted genocide".

Non-whites who are born in Britain aren't true Britains.

Foreign aid should be cancelled.

Criminals have no rights.

Muslims are plotting to take over Britain (so not much difference from the original anti-Jewish conspiracies, then).

The notion of such a party gaining more than zero votes is terrifying enough. But to actually gain seats, there is something rotten in Britain. OK, I can understand the Brits' dissatisfaction with the Labour and Conservative parties, given the blatent corruption within them. Hence, otherwise loyal Labor or Tory supporters would be seriously considering a 'protest vote' against the major parties to send a clear message. That, I understand and support.

But supporting the 21st century Klan is not the way to do it. There are other, marginally less insane parties that one could vote for-the Greens or the Liberal Democrats, for example.

Mr Griffin told Sky News: "This is a Christian country and Islam is not welcome, because Islam and Christianity, Islam and democracy, Islam and womens' rights do not mix."

Wrong, wrong and wrong, you cross burning, white sheet wearing, stiff-arm saluting, "Dey tuk er jerbs!" spouting, racist lunatic. Go back to ranting against the Jews-it's more up your alley.

We must remember that this was how the Nazis first began in the early '20s. They never stated that Jews should be exterminated; they said that Jews should be removed from Germany because Germany was ethnically Aryan. It was only after the Nazis took power in government that their true extremism was revealed. Support for nationalist parties is an indication that people have forgotten how hate groups are. The current level of support for the BNP is a sign that people are no taking what hate groups are capable of. It only takes a few anti-white or anti-immgrant attacks to create a snowball effect and create an actual (if localised) race war. We should know, because there are certain parallels here in Melbourne.

The chairman of the Ethnic Communities Council of Victoria, Sam Afra, said it would be unacceptable for the Indian community to take the law into its own hands. "There is a danger this will become like a chain reaction with the victim becoming the perpetrator. We don't want to get to that," he said.

[my emphasis]

Economic uncertainty breeds anti-immigrant anger, which is what is happening at the moment in Britain. All Europeans should be extremely wary of parties like the BNP. The above situation in such an economic climate is what would transform them into a genuine political force.

Cross-posted here.