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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

So if the BNP have got in in the European elections does that mean..

63 replies

TotallyAndUtterlyPaninied · 08/06/2009 15:40

... We'll be gotten rid of because DP has an Irish grandad? Or I'll get lesser pay for being female?

I'm unsure on how politics work, as it worries me so I try not to hear about it.

But I do want to clear up the rumours for my own peace of mind so can someone please explain to me?

OP posts:
AnathemaDevice · 08/06/2009 18:30

knockedgymnast- Yep, 943,598 votes, to be exact. Breakdown of votes for each party here
news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/bsp/hi/elections/euro/09/html/ukregion_999999.stm

knockedgymnast · 08/06/2009 18:39

Well said Tribpot - but that's what view the scum try to peddle - that anyone who doesn't fit into their cosy 'ideology' is somehow less human

Wow, AanthemaDevice, I am so shocked. It's pretty scary and it makes me think that people do know what they are voting into.

On the local elections, I had a chose between labour, conservatives and the bnp. So really it was a choice between thieves and racists. I went for the less evil

tribpot · 08/06/2009 18:41

Yes I'm afraid if the choice is thief or racist I will choose thief. Still not honest but money is not people when it comes to fraud.

jambutty · 08/06/2009 18:44

I was in Bethnal Green (Brick Lane market) one Sunday about 20 years ago with two friends - one was a Jewish woman with Norwegian and Hungarian parents, the other had Pakistani and Scottish parents, when the NF thugs on the corner caught our eye. In between "stop the muggings, get the (derogatory word for people from Pakistan)out" they managed to ask my two friends and I whether we'd like to join them for a curry later .

knockedgymnast · 08/06/2009 18:51

jambutty seriously??

I just don't get it. I am pleased now though that with the assholes gaining 2 seats, they can be kept an eye on. Of course, it's nothing like that, but it makes me feel better. Doesn't bear thinking about the near million people that voted for them, as pointed out by AnathemaDevice

jambutty · 08/06/2009 18:56

Really. Can't tell you what my friends replied as they used very derogatory terms to describe themselves when refusing - not very politely

tribpot · 08/06/2009 19:01

It is terrible that nearly a million people voted for them. But bear in mind that is a relatively small percentage of the population in a time of low turnout and against the background of a moribund government, multiple wars and the expenses scandal. I personally believe you would have to be insane to register a protest vote by voting for the BNP but others may feel differently. I personally feel I would cut my own hand off before voting for them.

The simple truth is: they shall not pass. Let them take their ideology to Brussels. They shall not pass.

knockedgymnast · 08/06/2009 19:12

I hope so tribpot

Bumperlicioso · 08/06/2009 19:23

I've just signed that petition. Am devastated at their seats.

dalek · 08/06/2009 19:28

I have been heartened by responses on mumsnet - proves that not everybody would be happy with BNP. Was listening to James O'Brien show on LBC today - could not believe the number of people who called to say "I voted for the BNP but I'm not a racist" - the worst were the black and Asian people who voted for them - words fail me .

Hopefully them getting the seats will mean that when there is a general election it will spur on the non voters to get out and vote to keep them out - fingers crossed

Lucia39 · 08/06/2009 19:31

wombleprincess: That was a jocular reference to what happened in Germany in 1933. The Nazis burned down the Reichstag and then blamed it on the wicked Communists.

wombleprincess · 08/06/2009 19:42

woohoo arent you clever. not the only one who passed history gcse then? yes i know. didnt think it was particularly funny or clever though.

ilovesprouts · 08/06/2009 19:47

im as i have the same last name as him NO RELATION THO

Lucia39 · 08/06/2009 19:56

wombleprincess: Really? Well if you know why did you bother to ask your question? As a point of information I never took a GCSE in History!

dalek: Just a question, how do you know those phone calls were from black and Asian people? Might this not be exactly the sort of propaganda the BNP would employ to reinforce their "non-racist" credentials?

knockedgymnast · 08/06/2009 19:57

Dalek black and asian people have voted for the BNP??? Now I feel positively sick (sick emoticon)

I thought when this was mentioned on here before, it was some sort of 'joke'

Obviously the BNP would be pleased for their vote but that doesn't mean they would ever represent black and asian people, or even give a shit about them.

This world has truly gone mad, now I'm going to lie down in a quiet corner...

jambutty · 08/06/2009 19:58

Was it an O Level, Lucia?

jambutty · 08/06/2009 20:05

My understanding (I may of course be wrong) is that only white people are allowed to join the BNP. Any fool can vote for them, of course.

chipmonkey · 08/06/2009 20:30

I think parties like the BNP gain seats when nice normal people get too complacent and don't turn up at the polling stations. Gives the nutters more of a say. In our European elections here in Ireland, I really didn't rate any of the candidates but made sure to cast my vote in an effort to make sure that the right-wing Libertas didn't get in. Hadn't even researched them that much but knew that if MIL was for them, they couldn't be good!

northernrefugee39 · 09/06/2009 12:36

I've put this in the news section, but will pop it here too
action.hopenothate.org.uk/page/s/notinmyname
It's a petition to be presented to the European Parliament on the day Griffin and Brons take their seats.

Morloth · 09/06/2009 13:22

I think the fact that they are doing relatively well should be a bit of a wake up call for the other parties/mainstream society.

Rant and call them racists and yell about it, but they are attracting people and need to be dealt with as a real force.

If the reaction to the BNP on Mumsnet is any indication, they are only going to get stronger as people "kick back".

Many people are very very angry and have found a way to express that anger through the BNP. It is not right, and they are very unpleasant, but it is the way it is.

I don't vote here at all (I don't feel it is my place as a visitor and I still vote in Australian elections) so I don't know all the details - but I think people perhaps need to rethink their actions/reactions with regard to this party.

northernrefugee39 · 09/06/2009 13:41

But Morloth, as far as I understand, they managed to get in because of voter apathy, not because of a huge surge in interest in the BNP, which is why so many people are incensed.
In Aus, you have compulsory voting don't you~/
I'm not sure yet how i feel about that.
Someone on the radio was saying the other day that people with A in their name, at the top of the list, used to regularly get more votes simply because people went in and ticked the first box.

Morloth · 09/06/2009 16:29

We do have compulsory voting (but as we are overseas we can opt out, but choose not too).

Honestly I am not too keen on it. I think if people wish to be apathetic then they should be allowed to be, they should not however then whinge about the government. Given the Australian penchant for apathy though, this could result in around 30 people regularly deciding the Government every 4 years .

On the other hand, we hold our voting on weekends, special arrangements are made for those who need to work on weekends. There is very much a community feel when it is voting time, often involves a sausage sizzle/beer standing around chatting about stuff with people you normally wouldn't - but it is possible we just need more street parties.

I do think that many people are feeling disaffected (both here and in Australia) and I am not sure screaming at them about being stupid and racist is actually the way to approach it. I think offering a palatable alternative is likely to achieve better results.

I reckon about 95% of people just want to live their lives in peace, it is the 5% of royal PAINS IN THE ARSES who ruin it for everyone I think - I don't believe all those people who have voted for the BNP are all racists/stupid types. I think there are many people who are sick and tired of the 5% being allowed to terrorise everyone else and who want something done. The BNP have done a very nice job of marketing themselves as the people to sort it out.

Obviously as an economic immigrant (albeit a white one), I personally am not too keen on the BNP, but I can see why people are finding them attractive.

chipmonkey · 10/06/2009 00:27

But Morloth, if people are angry and disaffected why not just vote Lib Dem or Tory? Voting the BNP into power is a bit much!

onagar · 10/06/2009 01:56

"if people are angry and disaffected why not just vote Lib Dem or Tory?" I expect because they are just as bad. Certainly they were all in on the expenses thing.

All voting slips should have a box for 'none of the above' and also for "I want a public debate on finding a new system"

Morloth · 10/06/2009 12:15

I have no idea chipmonkey - that seems like something the Tories and the LibDems should have a think about.

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