Is the BNP a real threat?

[MilitantAnarchist]

I have a feeling this will get trashed because everyone will say its been done a million times.... but ive never discussed it on here, so please dont say that, i know....
But yea... Is the BNP a real threat? By that i mean do you think they will ever get into power? They've already got alot further then the NF ever did because the BNP's image is more respectable to the public eye (almost anyway)...
Im not to sure on this one because i see ALOT of support for them, a worryingly large amount actually... But will that change over the next few generations? Im not to sure.

Any theories?

[teenagebricks]

If their membership and election performance continues to grow as it is right now, yes, they're a very real threat. The public will see them as more legitimate when they get their first MEP, and eventually their first MP, from then on out we're no longer fighting a far right hate group, we're fighting a genuine political party.

[Vendetta]

Why not stop them from becoming one?

[MilitantAnarchist]

If their membership and election performance continues to grow as it is right now, yes, they're a very real threat. The public will see them as more legitimate when they get their first MEP, and eventually their first MP, from then on out we're no longer fighting a far right hate group, we're fighting a genuine political party.

So basically, this european election will set it in stone... Mmm, we need to act now... Move out of the forums and into the street.

[SmashTheFash123]

I have a feeling this will get trashed because everyone will say its been done a million times.... but ive never discussed it on here, so please dont say that, i know....
But yea... Is the BNP a real threat? By that i mean do you think they will ever get into power? They've already got alot further then the NF ever did because the BNP's image is more respectable to the public eye (almost anyway)...
Im not to sure on this one because i see ALOT of support for them, a worryingly large amount actually... But will that change over the next few generations? Im not to sure.

Any theories?

The answer is that entirely depends on 1) How they do in the European Elections this June, 2) What other political parties do and 3) Demographic changes.

As the Labour Party is widely seen to have screwed up Britain, they're going to get a pounding in the next general election. If the Tories then manage to give an image to the electorate that they are improving Britain, then BNP support will probably decline.

However, if the Tories are also seen to have screwed up, then alternatives might be looked for in the shape of the BNP. However, whether the BNP are a viable alternative to the electorate depends on how well they do in these June elections. If they get a decent number of MEP's then yeah, they'll be a threat, expecially if the media keeps banging on about "immigrants taking our jobs" etc. If they don't get any seats, then I reckon the BNP will be finished, or at least Nick Griffin would face a challange to his leadership. Most would probably go to other parties or start their own party though.

You also have to consider that ethnic minorities won't ever vote BNP. If the ethnic minority population grows, the BNP stands a lesser chance of getting elected.

In short- yeah, they could be a threat, but only if the Tories screw up and the BNP also get a few MEP's. The reason we fight them isn't because they are on the verge of taking power though, it's because they divide our communities and act as a security valve for capitalism.

The thing is, as general Elections are First Past the Post, this helps to keep fringe parties like the BNP out. On the other hand, you can gain a quite comfortable majority in Parliament with just 25% of the vote- Labour did it last time. Whereas in other countries the fascists would need 51% of the vote to implement their plans without opposition. This means while the BNP may be no threat now, if they could persuade 5% of Labour voters to join them, and 5% of the Tories, and also get a few people who don't normally bother voting to show up for the BNP, they could be in power quite quickly.

[h0m0revolutionary]

So basically, this european election will set it in stone... Mmm, we need to act now... Move out of the forums and into the street.

Exactly right comrade, they arn't a potential threat they're a very real threat in the ehre and now!

Just last week a disabled lesbian comrade from near me was attacked by BNP thugs, a few weeks back nationalists attacked Revolutionary Communist Group and StW activists in Manchester.

Their boot boys are attacking us and by and large the responce of the British left is to shout nazi at them.

We need to do all we can to deny them any platform, in our universities, our streets and anywhere else. What we don't need to do, is sit back and wait for them to aquire the kind of support Le Penn and his suited-not-booted, unevolved, fascists enjoy.

[teenagebricks]

On the surface, the antifascist scene in this country is dominated by UAF, we need more hardliners like they have in Russia. Movements like Antifa have massive potential, but not enough people know about them, I'd like to see them on more rallies and also at more football matches.

[h0m0revolutionary]

On the surface, the antifascist scene in this country is dominated by UAF, we need more hardliners like they have in Russia. Movements like Antifa have massive potential, but not enough people know about them, I'd like to see them on more rallies and also at more football matches.

Quite right comrade, but because of the way they organise, having their faces shown in public isn't sensible. Antifa is small and unknown for a reason, great group. Fucking love em.

[teenagebricks]

Yeah, what they do is obviously completely illegal, but I hope there is some way of getting more people to become active, though not necessarily engaging in violent activities, just something people can take seriously, but at the same time something that doesn't revolve around sloganeering and being media friendly.

[MilitantAnarchist]

Im Antifa 100%, great group and im organising a benefit gig for them (and my own group) called FUCK THE BNP FEST for next year, gonna get some big bands hopefully (not in the comercial scene).
I hate to say it but people on the left dont tend to be a threat to the right. I personally dont class myself as left (and definatly not right) but no matter what, we all want the same thing, the death of the right.
All our organisations (except searchlight, fuck seachlight!) need to get together and fight the BNP.
I'll make another post soon about my group The Hostile Brigade... just another group thats part of Antifa (like 635group) that can hopefully unite more people together with one single cause....