General Chat

Mildred,

Some people would argue that Sinn Féin are part of a terrorist party. These days they seem more focused on sorting things out properly. I dont know if there is a comparision with aforementioned Welsh party, Plaid Cymru. (?)

I think it was Bobbie who posted about people voting BNP through disillusionment with Labour. Well long before Labour got in BNP were contesting seats in the south with success through 'disillusionment with the Conservatives. My Dad stood as Independant which is why I remember it so well... Would have been before 1996 as he died then.

Its more about disillusionment with the current financial situation which i global.

I am not taring anyone with any brush just stating where the majority of votes were gained.

Perhaps those anti voters in this latest voting were to have voted then slim chance of this BNP party ever gaining MEP seats.

Thier policies dont not meet with everyones liking same as all the other parties.




Perhaps their voters have just gone for the look of another party without really looking into all they stand for.!

EPowell wasnt a racist he just wanted to keep this country all white!

BMP are not my cup of tea
but each to their own

Chris how would you know who had voted ,and who hadnt ,also what punishment for not voting ,just a thought

You've just said what i was about to Chris.

Think a lot of folk who couldn't be bothered to vote (which really makes my blood boil!) were,in the end, responsible imo for BNP gaining votes :O( ...and makes for sad reading particularly this weekend being 65th anniversary of DDay.

Well the people who said they were too disgusted to vote have got their answer. Apathy won again. I believe the turnout was averaging about 42% - it is disgusting - mind you I do not know what or when the highest turnout ever occurred. I think voting should be mandatory.

I really hate the BNP

I'm surprised, that this country, a country which promotes fairness, racial equality and anti bigotory, etc in our schools, allows a party to stand in elections who would do their best to undo many years of change for the better in these matters.

What next will they allow ?.

...Terrorist party ??

(because they have a right for their views to be heard, and for peoples right to vote for them, and for people to follow their lead to torment and kill as many people as they can ? ).

It will be interesting to see how the BNP evolve. Nobody screams fascism when Plaid Cymru wins seats yet they were just as 'right wing' in the mid 1900s as the BNP. True or not they were reportedly aligned with Meibion Glyndwr who carried out the firebombings of English owned properties.

Now they are seen as a credible party and their manifesto has been 'dumbed down' to be more inclusive and less exclusive.

I rather suspect the same with happen with the BNP over time.

No, Enoch Powell wasn't a facist; but, despite his dizzying intellect, he was a fool.

Nick Griffin et al are just fools.

In my opinion.

But the main thing Jeanette is that they were taught to read up what the parties stand for. well done teacher.

Yes, it would definitely have to taught with no bias

Forgot to say...in a staunch Conservative area the kids chose UKIP

I think they should learn at school, Jeanette, so long as it's taught as open mindedly as possible:) Few of us are as politically aware as we should be.

Good teacher:)

Hey Kay...don't tar us all with the same brush ;-))))

Maybe kids should learn a bit more about politics at school. It seems to me that they wander through life...lol...not giving two hoots then suddenly at 18 they're told to go and vote on something they know nothing about.

Last week my nephew's geography class had to read up on all of the parties that were standing for election and then decide who they would vote for if they were old enough. The teacher said he would then go and vote for the party that the kids chose....but under no circumstances would he vote for the BNP even if they were chosen.

Isnt that what being a Democratic country is all about,
Freedom for each to have a free voice.

If those who voted felt this party held the principles they want then its their right to vote for them who are we to say they were wrong.?

North West and Yorkshire voters were responsible for their gain.

It just sickens that they will have mountains of public funds at their disposal.

Yes you are right Jeanette, people vote differently at EU and local elections. I know I do particularly with the local elections, I vote for the person who has proved to be involved and interested in the area as I think do most people.

ann
Glos

I think that the BNP result is mainly due to a lack of education....for want of a better way of putting it. There are, unfortunatley, people out there who genuinely believe in the filth the BNP party spout but they do seem to be in the miinority. There are also alot of people out there who are thoroughly fed up of the immigration situation and may have thought that the BNP was the only party who were prepared to do somthing about it. There was a general lack of literature coming through doors...I only got stuff from the conservatives and labour..so I would think that most folk wouldn't have known what half of the parties' policies were. When the general election is called I hope that people make the time and effort to find out about all parties before they vote. I also believe that most people would vote differently at a general election than they would for the EU elections.

it just shows how low the labour party has brought the UK.
when asked i wonder how many who voted for them will admit it

Unfortunately, the far right BNP can seem credible.

Enoch Powell was not a fascist. In a book I have called The Lives of Enoch Powell, one opinion is that he is the best prime minister that Britain never had; it is a book well worth reading, in my opinion.

I suspect Rita is right and it was an unfortunate gut reaction to the other parties. i.e., people didn't want the main parties in and didn't like other candidates and the BNP had a candidate who managed to sound genuine. Some people don't even associate them with Naziism because they don't read the papers, watch the news etc so they don't know what they really stand for. Others truly believe that by voting them in we would have fewer immigrants which they see as a problem. They don't see the sinister side of them.
It is sad but I am sure they have got in by the 'back door'.
What areas were they in out of interest?

Ann
Glos

I don't do 'smarmy replies'. I say what I think - or (more often) don't say anything at all...

As for the BNP seats - not surprised, but sickened.