The sobering news of the results in the general election was followed by something to cheer about in the local election results: the complete wipeout of the BNP's presence on Barking and Dagenham council. It is, as Unite Against Fascism (UAF) says, the fascist party's 'worst ever defeat'. What is really remarkable is that BNP leader Nick Griffin had aspired to his party taking control of the council, building on its existing 12 seats in the outer east London borough. In fact it has lost every one of those 12 seats. And not won a single new one.
This follows a poor result for Griffin in the Barking constituency in the general election. He was beaten into 3rd place in what was the BNP's top target seat, a 14.6% share representing a decline from 16.9% in 2005.
Victorious Labour MP Margaret Hodge welcomes the council results as "a great moment in history - a never to be forgotten moment for both the good people of Barking and Dagenham and for all of us in Britain."
"The message from Barking to the Nazi party is clear: Get out and stay out. You are not wanted here and your vile politics have no place in British democracy."
The BNP was defeated overwhelmingly throughout the borough. Its defeat was aided by higher turnout - from 38% in 2006 to 62% this time. This was partly because polling coincided with a national election, but also reflects concerted efforts by campaigners and trade unions to mobilise the anti-fascist vote.
These results prove that BNP breakthroughs can be reversed. Barking and Dagenham was the party's strongest area and a focus for continued campaigning by its activists.
Weyman Bennett, joint national secretary of Unite Against Fascism (UAF), says: "The BNP were defeated by mass anti-nazi activity. We built a coalition against them of black, white and Asian people, trade unionists, LGBT people and members of different faith groups."
"We systematically visited every ward, every major workplace and council estate, exposing the BNP as Nazis."
The fascists also suffered a major setback in its 2nd priority area. They stood in 3 general election seats in Stoke and took under 10% of the vote in all of them. They appear to have won no seats on Stoke-on-Trent council.
Elsewhere the BNP had mixed results, with decent votes in Westminster constituencies like 10.4% in Rotherham, 9% in Burnley and similar percentages in several others areas, showing there is no room for complacency. Nonethless, the fascists have suffered a serious setback - and the grin has been wiped off Nick Griffin's face.
Doesn't it worry you that they are getting 10% of the vote elsewhere? As long as this country panders to the minorities, they will continue to do so
ReplyDeleteI would prefer it if the fascists were totally marginalised and got no votes at all (or derisory votes below 1% that barely register). However, in the circumstances it's significant - and very reassuring - they are not doing better than they are. In most seats the BNP is getting somewhere in the region of 5%. It's no surprise they can get this support, considering the rise of Islamophobia, media hysteria about immigration, 13 years of disillusionment with a labour government, and an economic crisis.
ReplyDeleteThere isn't a single Westminster constituency where they reached 15%. In the locals they were simply wiped out, e.g. they now have no councillors in London at all. They aren't making breakthroughs anywhere - and they're now tearing themselves apart.
I therefore think it's right to emphasise the BNP's failures. As over 3 weeks have now passed since the elections, it's even clearer that this was a major turning point in the struggle to roll back the BNP. It looks increasingly unlikely they will emulate their (more successful) counterparts in several European countries.