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AIBU?

To actually be worried about UKIP/Britain First?

196 replies

Sahkoora · 02/10/2014 12:08

I'm so surprised to see so many "friends" posting anti-Muslim Facebook posts, mostly things from Britain First. I have a firm deletion policy on this, but it's getting to the stage where it's family members and people I would consider close friends.

Last night DSis and BIL came over and conversation wended around to the fact they were both planning to vote UKIP. To be fair, DSis is shockingly ignorant, has never read a newspaper in her life and seriously couldn't name a single person in the government beyond David Cameron.

Their argument is that they used to live in Barking and it's "spot the white man", and the Muslims are rude and stare at you all the time. Apparently if we'd lived there, we'd understand. I am shocked by this!

On the news I see Nigel Farage interviewed as if he's a serious contender with a chance of getting some real power. Is this so?

Do lots of people really feel this way, and will it likely make a real difference in future elections? I am a bit terrified to think that people I love really feel this way about other human beings, and are attributing it to race and religion.

OP posts:
markhammax · 02/10/2014 12:10

I'm against us being a part of Europe and that's why I considered voting UKIP; I'm not racist and don't dislike Muslims though!

LadyLuck10 · 02/10/2014 12:15

UkIp have much more people on their side than you would actually think.

Middleagedmotheroftwo · 02/10/2014 12:17

I'm thinking about voting UKIP, but am definitely not a racist.

cherrybombxo · 02/10/2014 12:25

This is one of the big reasons that I voted "yes" for independence so yes, I'm terrified.

littlehayleyc · 02/10/2014 12:26

I have the same concerns Sahkoora. Sometimes people share things on FB and I wonder if they actually give any thought to it, or even bother to look where the content is coming from. There was a made up thing going round a while a go about a muslim criticising a Christian in a shop or something?!can't remember exactly but I was surprised that a couple of my fb friends shared it. One look at the comments would tell you it was a hoax, but even without that, the way it was written and language used was a red flag to show it was a bigoted and unhelpful thing to share! As far as UKIP are concerned, I wonder how many people actually know what UKIP's policies are, and what they stand for or whether they are just fed up of the other parties on offer?

ouryve · 02/10/2014 12:28

Not even UKIP are entirely sure what UKIP's policies are.

2minsofyourtime · 02/10/2014 12:34

Some areas of London have changed beyond recognition and I surpose if you lived there you may have a different opinion to those that live there on a daily basis,
rather than just passing through.

You've stated that you dsis is ignorant maybe she doesn't have the ability to express herself, but it doesn't change the fact that she might feel unconfortable where she lives

Username12345 · 02/10/2014 12:37

I'm thinking about voting UKIP, but am definitely not a racist.

Is that like saying, I'm not racist but .

Littlebluebutterflies · 02/10/2014 12:38

Me too Cherry

juliascurr · 02/10/2014 12:41

yes, I'm in one of UKIP's target seats
Farage is Thatcher's inheritor - Ukip will destroy our NHS, Welfare State, equal opps, etc
grim

DialsMavis · 02/10/2014 12:47

I wasn't a fan before but seeing those repulsive creatures use the murder of Alice Gross as a campaign tool on twitter yesterday (before formal identification had been confirmed even) made me sick to the stomach. Her poor, broken parents have had to ask that this terrible tragedy isn't used politically. Their dignity is amazing, but do UKIP have no shame whatsoever?

I live in London and they didn't do very well at all during the local and euro elections

jchocchip · 02/10/2014 13:14

Britain First are racist, but they are not the same thing as UKIP.

The majority of UKIP members I have met are not racist. Is an Australian style immigration policy racist? At the moment all of Europe can come in but it is much harder for non Europeans like my African gp to get into the country.

I saw Amjad Bashir MEP being attacked on tv by a Conservative MP who used the words colour and colourful so many times it was bordering on offensive.

The UKIP that I have seen is full of women, gays, first and second generation immigrants as well as disaffected old people...

I now think that UKIP is a legitimate choice, just like the Green Party, the Lib Dems, Labour, Conservative, SNP, PC etc. I disagree with a number of their policies myself, but hey, I was brought up Liberal and look at what happened when Nick Clegg promised Tuition Fee reform. Referendum on PR in exchange for getting into coalition with the Tories was not exactly a resounding success for them, was it?

TheSporkforeatingkyriarchy · 02/10/2014 13:19

I'm in a UKIP hot spot. They did well here during the local and euro elections and since then the other parties have gotten worse. For example, the Labour party councillors here (who lost their seat in our area) sent us several letters one week on how great they are because they've helped moved on the travellers from a local park -- when it was a single caravan on a neglected green with falling apart equipment by the woods Labour had allowed to be destroyed where people regularly camp anyway. They're so focused on trying to win people from UKIP that it is becoming worrying. Really, this area has become a lot more worrying since UKIP has rolled through, I've had them shouting at me and my kids at the large park and my partner has been shouted at and close to being attacked several times just within the last week. We're hoping to move out of this area as soon as possible because of it.

GhoulWithADragonTattoo · 02/10/2014 13:25

If you are not racist please don't vote UKIP. They are a racist party and they are currently being coated in a veneer of respectability and credibility that I find terrifying.

jchocchip · 02/10/2014 13:31

Everyone keeps saying that UKIP are racist, but they have a mixture of races as MEPs and want to limit (mainly white) immigration from Europe in order to allow people in on merit from the whole world. How is that more racist than the Coalition wanting to let the whole of Europe in and keep everyone else out?

angelos02 · 02/10/2014 13:34

If a mainstream party sorted out immigration, UKIP wouldn't stand a chance. But they aren't so UKIP is the only option.

GhoulWithADragonTattoo · 02/10/2014 13:36

That's partly how they are trying to garner respectability. Lots of people think the EU is undemocratic and excessively bureaucratic so they think yes I'll vote UKIP without actually looking at the racist / anit-immigration rhetoric that they come out with. I really do fear that UKIP will hold the balance of power after the next election and their true colours will come out. Voting UKIP because Farrage is someone you could picture yourself having a drink with is a massive mistake.

Username12345 · 02/10/2014 13:37

jchocchip The BNP has minority members. Are you going to tell us they're not racist either?

UncleT · 02/10/2014 13:37

I don't wish to be rude, but you say your Dsis never reads the news, but then go on to ask whether UKIP really have any serious chances.... Yes, they do have a great deal of support out there - the electoral results and momentum they've gathered have made this pretty clear.

AgaPanthers · 02/10/2014 13:37

Lots of immigrants support UKIP, who are a right-wing party opposed to the EU.

Britain First is about being scared/hating Muslims.

Different things.

SaskiaRembrandtWasFramed · 02/10/2014 13:42

I find them scary too. Especially UKIP because they have that veneer of respectability. But really they are party for middle aged, middle class, white men. If you're a woman, or not white, or young, or working class they have nothing to offer you apart from a return to a more divisive past where you will be expected to know your place.

jchocchip · 02/10/2014 13:52

Is that rhetorical question username12345?
BNP is an abhorrent organisation like Britain First.
What AgaPanthers said.

Nancy66 · 02/10/2014 13:56

when you represent a party that has never been in government, and is unlikely to ever be, then you can pretty much promise people anything without the inconvenience of having to explain how your polices will work.

The BNP used to say that they would give non-white people a 'ticket home'. But if those non-whites were born here along with their parents then where exactly are they being given a ticket to? How can you possibly make British citizens leave their own country?

UKIP have the luxury of being in a position where they can spout any old crap and not really have to worry about how the hell they would/could ever implement it.

Lottapianos · 02/10/2014 14:00

Great post Saskia.

I am concerned about some of the issues that UKIP talk about. I'm concerned about the amount of immigration into this country and can see the merit in an Australian-style points system. I'm an immigrant myself by the way. I live in East London and the place is absolutely bursting at the seams. The strain on public services including health and schools is really at crisis point.

However, I have to keep reminding myself that UKIP want us out of the EU (not a great EU fan but much better for us to be out than in), want to reverse maternity rights, and heaven knows what else. I completely agree they are a party for white middle aged, middle class men. Like my FIl, who has voted Tory all his life, but will be voting UKIP next time because he just cannot tolerate the fact that Cameron introduced equal marriage. Nice.

rainbowfeet · 02/10/2014 14:03

I can understand why people who live in areas that are widely populated by immigrants feel that their local areas have changed for the worse & therefore say they want to vote for UKIP.. Until last year I lived in one of those areas... A London borough that has become an unfriendly & intimidating place to live, shop & socialise in. Of course I know not all crime is committed by the migrant residents but a large percentage is. Large groups of them gather around the streets & are very intimidating, they pick pocket & there is a very high rate of bag snatches, car theft & ATM snatches.
I am not against immigration but we need to control it more as we have far superseded what our little island can take. I do accept that many parts of this country in years past have benefitted from migration but back then they seemed more willing to mix into the local community, the huge groups of them now mean they don't have to.
I didn't like how in my dc's school over the last few years numbers of non English speaking children was rapidly growing & with such big class numbers & few staff education can only suffer.

This was only a borough on the outskirts of London I can't imagine how awful it must be for white/British to live in boroughs such as Tower Hamlets & Newham...

If this makes me racist then so be it.. But it can't be a coincidence that the area I now live in with a very low migrant population is a much nicer place to live... There is much less crime, I feel safe day or night.

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