Re: European Elections
 

I don't think that is their only target, I think there are more voters for the BNP because of issues like the EU and subsequent consequences to the country.

Re: European Elections
 

BNP have got less votes than before because of the low turnout it looks like they have done better than they actually have.
It was a protest vote and I know no one who likes them...they are no worries.

Re: European Elections
 

In electoral terms, nothing much. As long as they can stay on side of the incitement laws they have just as much right to organize and participate in the electoral process as anyone else. It is a clear warning to the problems inherent in proportional representation.

As to what can be done to halt the slide into extremist politics I don't think I have the answer. With the current bunch I think exposing them to public attention - appearances on Question Time for example - would help many people see them for what they are. The trouble is that would backfire if they ever got an intelligent and skillful rabble rouser for a leader.

Re: European Elections
 

Well but that's unlikely isn't it? Anyone intelligent realises that fascism is discredited and outmoded.

Re: European Elections
 

And why is that a bad thing?

Surely, in a democracy, people may vote for whoever is on the ballet card. If that means that the person you didn't vote for wins, why does that mean that you are right and they were wrong?

I have never voted in my life and I never intend to. It never ceases to amaze me how those (that tend to be east of Alberta) constently criticise the governing party in Canada, claiming that all their supporters are too "right wing".

They may be too right wing for liberal supporters, but what makes the liberals correct and the right wing supporters wrong?

It seems that democracy is OK to liberals, provided they always win.

Re: European Elections
 

For how long has being able to demonstrate "intelligence" been a requirement to vote in England?

Re: European Elections
 

Or in Canada for that matter !!!!!!

Re: European Elections
 

Indeed, there is no-one more sanctimonious. But these days the ideological differences between conservatives and liberals are too few to notice. At least in the UK, David Cameron has occupied the same middle ground as Tony Blair, so they are almost indistinguishable from each other. I don't know enough about the Canadian parties to offer an opinion.

All the same for those with a rose-tinted view of British socialism (I include the Labour Party in this broad definition) I recommend Nick Cohen's "What's Left" to debunk any romantic notions of leftist, liberal purity of thought.

Never, I believe. It used to be about class and money. Oh... and still is.

Re: European Elections
 

I didn't say that it is a bad thing. I'm suggesting the presence of frothing loons in the Canadian parliament hasn't brought the country down and so a small vote for similar characters in the UK need not be cause for panic.

Re: European Elections
 

I am with you on that one:thumbsup:

Re: European Elections
 

I thought that Blair aped the Tories prior to 1997 as, to do otherwise, meant that Labour were unelectable.

Really, I thought one was entitled to vote irrespective of class and money in England (excepting all those in jail). Please explain.

Re: European Elections
 

But who can you vote for?

Re: European Elections
 

Or Australia.:lol:

Re: European Elections
 

I spoke to a few people who were voting UKIP because they would "get us out of Europe", when asked why we should be out of Europe the answers got a bit thinner - unelected bureaucrats, too many laws, should be trade only, immigration & Turkish and so on - nothing very coherent and mostly tinged with a little xenophobia (i.e. none could list any unelected bureaucrats, some mentioned weighing in lbs and ounces etc).

UKIP and BNP seem mostly a poorly considered protest vote sparked by MP's expenses etc, I wonder why the Torygraph didn't hold off on the Tory moats and duck houses until after the election?

I am not sure any government, regardless of flavor, can last longer than 10-12 years before they have annoyed enough of the electorate over something - people (esp brits) tend to remember the one thing they didn't agree with rather than the half a dozen they did, when it comes to voting time.

Re: European Elections
 

Uh, the BNP are far _left_: what I've read of their policies wouldn't have been out of place in a Labour manifesto forty years ago.

They're sucking up disaffected Labour voters... disaffected Tories vote UKIP.