THE RISE OF THE BNP AND HOW TO COUNTER IT

a discussion document produced by Revolutions Per Minute

Socialists, Anarchists, trade unionists and anyone with an ounce of dignity in them cannot be anything but dismayed by the jump in support and membership for the British National Party (BNP) in the last couple of years.

As a result of their earlier successes in capturing 5 Council seats the BNP was able to stand a record number of candidates at the local elections which took place on May 1st 2003.


The BNP are naturally jubilant at their ongoing electoral successes

In Sunderland, for example, the BNP stood candidates in all 25 wards and obtained 13.9% of the votes in an above average turn-out of 46%. The BNP had, however, been confidently predicting it would win, at least, one seat.


The BNP has attracted large numbers to public meetings, have a record number of councillors and claim to have over 10,000 members

Anti-fascists rushing to celebrate the BNP’s failure to win a seat in Sunderland should temper their pleasure by the knowledge that the fascists did win another 13 seats across England, including Broxbourne in the South-east, Sandwell in the West Midlands, Stoke in East Midlands and in Burnley in Lancashire. The five seats that they won in Burnley made them, at the time, the 2nd largest party with 8 seats but since then the BNP leadership has expelled one of the councillors after he was involved in a fight with a fellow BNP member at the Party’s Annual Red, White and Blue Festival in mid-August. 

In other parts of the country the BNP came 2nd or 3rd in a number of seats on May 1st 2003. They have also recorded respectable votes in by-elections which were held during the summer. In Stanley in County Durham they polled nearly 10% of the vote in a local ward election. They also captured a ward seat in a suburb of Huddersfield pushing Labour into 3rd place, but a few weeks later lost their only councillor in Blackburn, who resigned and declared himself an “independent”.

There is, in fact, some indication that the [very] large growth, in relative terms, of people joining the BNP is now resulting in increasing tensions with the organisation as people jockey for positions. For example, in the North East of England, some very active members of the Sunderland branch resigned throughout September and October citing an incident of sexual harassment. They also verbally attacked the organising skills, or rather lack of them, of regional organiser, Kevin Scott. They have indicated they are considering standing as ‘independents’ at the 2004 local elections.

These problems aside the BNP’s medium term objective remains on track, which is to win a seat at the 2004 European Elections, where they will stand in opposition to Britain’s participation in the EEC and against getting rid of the pound in favour of the Euro. At these elections voters will be asked to support party lists and this means, for example, if 10% of people vote for the BNP then the party would capture 10% of the seats up for grabs in a particular area. In the north-west of England such a vote would win one of the eleven seats. The BNP by winning a seat would move from the local to the [inter] national stage.

In order to resist and start to push back the BNP’s growth it is important to try to analyse why they have made such advances in recent years.

I think there are a number of reasons, all of them interwoven in different ways. These include:-

1] The take-over of the Labour Party by ‘new Labour’, which I would define as a successful [in its own terms] long-term project aimed at destroying social democracy within the Labour Party.  The working class influence on the party has been weakened as a result of the trade union defeats of the last twenty years, with fewer than 1 in 4 workers now in a union, and also the significant changes in the types of jobs people do and workplaces they now work in.  

Although Labour has always been tied to capitalism, in previous times the party was forced to, at least, express itself in favour of progressive working class objectives such as ‘Defending the NHS’, ‘Opposing anti-union laws’ and ‘preventing privatisation.’ Blair and the rest don’t even bother with this, and are tied and hand and foot to pursuing the aims and objectives of big business and corporate finance. Membership of the British Labour Party is now below a quarter of million, in Scotland it is less than 16,000 and falling.


‘New’ Labour has abandoned the working class. In areas such as the north-east of England the BNP are keen to express their concern and support for the working class.
However in areas such as Bournemouth the BNP never talk about the needs of working class people, fearing it would alienate potential middle class supporters.

2] The rise in the numbers of asylum seekers and refugees escaping persecution and poverty and fleeing to Britain, combined with the Government’s dispersal policy whereby areas, which have previously had miniscule if non-existent ethnic minority populations, have become home to often fairly significant numbers of newcomers from overseas.

In itself this does not necessarily lead to racism and fascism, but when the policy has not included any additional monies for the host community or any preparatory work to calm fears then this has allowed newspapers of the lowest rank, such as the Daily Mail and Sun, as well as television and radio stations to heighten tensions by directing people’s resentment at their own impoverished conditions towards recent arrivals.

Some of the reporting has had an almost hysterical tone to it. Rather than stating the fact that last year 100,000 came to Britain and 70,000 left, a total increase of 30,000 in a country with a falling birth-rate and ageing population, reports have suggested Britain is facing a hostile takeover or even being invaded.

Of course, many of the countries from which people are fleeing have had their natural resources looted, dictatorships installed which are acceptable to multi-national corporations, and then seen these same dictators being sold the instruments of torture which asylum seekers are trying to escape from.

The Labour Party has reacted to the newspaper attacks by trying to ensure they are not outflanked on ‘the right.’ Hence just before the 2002 local elections Home Secretary David Blunkett accused the children of asylum seekers of ”swamping” local schools. Since then Labour has attempted to introduce even more draconian legislation aimed at attacking the rights of asylum seekers to claim benefits at a reduced rate.

All of this has been like ‘manna from heaven’ for the BNP. It has legitimised what they’ve been saying and being ignored for for years that immigration must be halted and even reversed. The asylum rumpus has been the number one impetus in creating fertile ground for the growth of the BNP.

3] There is also the continued decline in the fortunes of the Conservatives. Working-class and middle-class racists who once previously voted for them are becoming willing to consider voting BNP. In many respects the official opposition to Blair has become papers such as ‘The Daily Mail’, ‘The Telegraph’ and ‘The Sun’, all of whom traditionally call on their readers to vote Tory at the General Election.




In 1986 Rupert Murdoch put 5,500 Printworkers out of work and provoked a year long strike when he moved from Fleet Street to Wapping in east London. Murdoch’s papers are pro-new Labour. His papers have run over the last few years a whole series of racist, ill-informed and badly written articles attacking refugees and asylum seekers. Murdoch is, of course, himself an immigrant but he is unlikely to face the threat of deportation, even though he has probably done more to stoke up racial tensions than anything the BNP or NF could ever achieve.

4] Another important factor is that the BNP has reformed itself; or rather the organisation has become more skilful in presenting their message of hate and has hidden the policies which they know would antagonise white working class people. This includes the fact that there long term aim remains the establishment of a one – party state [the BNP!] in which there wouldn’t even be elections – see leaflet produced and distributed by Sunderland Fans against Racism and based on an earlier leaflet by Anti-Fascist Action.


£2 from Kate Sharpley Library, BM Hurricane, London WC1N 3XX

The removal of the ex-leader John Tyndall and his replacement by the more charismatic and, not unimportantly richer, Nick Griffin was a big help in this. Tyndall was always a liability to the party, his preference in his younger days to wear fascist uniforms proved to be a big mistake as he could never shake off the accusation he was and remained a Nazi.

But even before Griffin became leader, the BNP had been making big efforts to try and distance itself from some of its past. The crunch to all intents and purposes came about because of some major defeats in the east end of London in the 1990s. The BNP at the time enjoyed healthy electoral support in the area and it even won a seat in Tower Hamlets in 1993. However, the defeats I refer to weren’t electoral. They involved the group and their supporters’ taking some awful kicking’s at street rallies, public meetings and demonstration’s.


The BNP abandoned demonstrations and street marches in the early 1990s because Anti-Fascist Action regularly prevented them taking place.

At the time the BNP still largely held to what was seen as the traditional fascist view of ‘the road to power.’ This is where the aim is to build up a street-fighting cadre in order to control the streets. In short the BNP couldn’t ‘cut the mustard’ against the much harder and better organised Anti-Fascist Action, and in particular Red Action.


The BNP also got slapped by local members of the Asian community on the few occasions when they attempted to put into practice a ‘strategy of tension’ in the Brick Lane area, whereby they hoped to create a situation of black on white inter-racial violence.

When the hardest man in their gang, Tony Wells, now Lecomber, supported the abandonment of ‘street marches and punch-ups’ most of the by then tiny numbers were only too pleased to support him.  This went hand-in-glove with a decision to learn from their more successful cousins on the continent, whereby the more populist but nevertheless fascist Jean Marie le Pen was enjoying significant success.

Since then it has to be said that a fair number of long-term BNP members have been prepared to work long hours and face considerable hostility in some places to establish the organisation. In some areas they have become the most active of the political parties. This is not to praise them, but to recognise a fact and if they are to be defeated those opposed to them will have to show similar commitment.


The British economy would collapse without black workers.

5] The importance of local newspapers in some areas should not be overlooked. Often desperate for copy and with journalists under constant pressure to fill up the pages the arrival of the BNP has been gleefully seized upon by some as ‘exciting’ and ‘controversial’.

In areas where Labour has been in control of the local council for years there is often a difficult relationship between the local paper and Councillors, the latter often resenting any criticism or interference in their decisions by the local paper. The BNP by criticising the council and keeping the local paper fully informed have been able to exploit some of these tensions. With Labour also unwilling to refute the BNP’s arguments over asylum and immigration this has left the BNP in control of some sections of the political agenda.

Anti-fascists face a problem in that they don’t want to be seen to reply by writing letters or issuing press releases as this legitimises the BNP. On the other hand if they don’t then it appears that there is no opposition to what the fascists are saying. Striking a balance is a problem.


Refugees demand increased police protection after the murder of Payman Bahmani in Sunderland in August 2002.
Stephen Roberts was later convicted of murder.

6] I also believe that the demise and then the winding up of Anti-Fascist Action, and the inability so far of militants to develop a similar organisation has been a big boost in the growth in the BNP.

AFA was able to physically defeat the BNP in the 1990s [see point 4 above], but when the BNP turned away from street confrontations towards electoral politics AFA largely wound down its activities. Instead of harassing the BNP on the doorsteps, and on the streets as they canvassed, the group allowed the BNP to operate freely and they have used the opportunity to develop a highly developed electoral strategy.

The decision by the then only remaining group within it, Red Action, to launch the Independent Working Class Association [IWCA] has proven to have only very limited success with one councillor elected in Blackbird Leys in Oxford. The IWCA itself appears to have no presence outside a small number of areas, although a look at the issues they are attempting to take up on behalf of local people would appear to be worthy of examination by other groups and parties.

7] Also of importance has been the inability of groups and parties to overcome often bitter sectarian differences and unite to oppose the fascists. Whilst the prospect of unity under the ‘Socialist Alliance’ banner existed then a common front against a common enemy remained. Sadly, for reasons which would take up too much space, [although I would say the SWP must take the major share of the blame as they sought and succeeded in turning the Socialist Alliance into another front for their party,] this is no longer an option.

The SWP’s largest front organisation, the ANL, remains but whilst it may be able to organise large carnivals and the occasional meeting it is a fact that, on the ground, in white working class communities and neighbourhoods they have little or no presence. The ANL like most of the rest of that horrible term ‘the left’ are being forced to hope that in working class areas, at least, seats currently held by Labour are retained by them and don’t go over to the BNP.

What a choice, especially at a time when Labour is pursuing an ongoing war in Iraq, refusing to rule out privatisation in a whole range of public services and is adopting harsher and harsher policies on those fleeing persecution and repression in their own countries.


‘New’ Labour ignore the masses – one and a half million marched in London on February 15th 2003 to try and prevent war in Iraq.
Blair and his supporters have been revealed as war criminals and, as such, should be prosecuted. Unlikely, though!

Anyone with any principles would not bother voting, except I would argue in a few small seats where there are principled Labour councillors who are standing up and opposing attacks on unions, asylum seekers, Iraq and public services. And, of course, most people have given up voting and I’m with them.

So what can we do?

The first remains the most obvious – stand up to the BNP. Where you can speak out against their politics, highlight their anti-democratic, pro ruling class politics and expose their supposed concern for white working class people, at the expense of black, as a sham. 

There is a lot of information available which can be adapted and circulated. Sadly, many people are still not aware of exactly what the BNP stands for and why they are a danger.

Quotes from the likes of Lecomber about the rich being ‘genetically superior’ to ordinary people, and calling for ‘less, not more democracy’ reveals the BNP as seeking a place where the average working man and woman know their place; working for their masters. Meanwhile, Griffin has denied that the holocaust took place and shared platforms with fascists across Europe.


Refugees and asylum seekers fight back – support them.

Secondly – don’t be taken in by the idea that it is new comers to Britain that are to blame. Logic says that there was unemployment and poverty even before refugees and asylum seekers were forced to flee here from persecution and/or poverty.

Reject arguments such that Britain is an overcrowded island which can’t take any more, because whilst it is true that some cities face severe housing problems other areas are knocking them down due to a shortage of people. This is a result of a Government which refuses to intervene by developing a coherent Regional Policy to divert jobs and services away from the overheated London and the south-east region.


Less than 200,000 families own the majority of the land.
The result – overcrowding in the cities, especially in the South East of England.

Meanwhile, massive areas of land are owned by a handful of people such that whilst 189,000 families control over 40 million acres, the other 59 million of us have live on just 4.4 million. To make matters worse the former enjoy massive subsidies through the Common Agricultural Policy.

Consider getting together with friends and work colleagues to oppose the BNP. If you’re in a union then ask them what materials they’ve got to highlight the anti-working class nature of the BNP, and NF. Searchlight magazine has also produced some decent stuff in recent times. 

Where there are local Labour candidates prepared to openly oppose the Government’s policies on privatisation, attacks by their own party on refugees, the fire fighters, public sector pay and conditions then support them. If not then don’t vote. Blair remains a bigger enemy of the working class than the BNP.

Be prepared to support, and vote for, local candidates who are genuinely representative of local communities who are under attack from the ravages of unemployment, drug abuse, anti-social behaviour and who want to fight back without blaming refugees or asylum seekers for their problems. If this includes the IWCA then they should be backed.

Help build self-defence groups in communities and areas under attack from racists and fascists.

Look out for any initiatives aimed at [re] creating a militant anti-fascist group and come along to any meetings.


Thanks to Tony Hall.
If you or your organisation would like a cartoon or illustration drawing then you should consider contacting Tony.
RPM can put you in touch.

Mark Metcalf – October 16th 2003

LABOUR POLITICIANS ENCOURAGE THE FASCISTS

Many people will have been shocked by the successes of BNP in Britain in the last few years, not to mention the electoral successes in Europe of people like Jean Marie Le Pen. But it is the failure of social democracy which is leading the fascist advance.

Voters are increasingly disillusioned with parties such as the Labour Party in Britain and the Socialist Parties across Europe, which offer little different from their right-wing opponents.

Whilst communities and livelihoods are being torn apart by the effects of capitalist globalisation these social democrats offer the same programmes of privatisation and deregulation, along with regeneration programmes that tear apart working class communities and offer low-paid office and bar work. As a cover for these policies they echo the right wing in their attacks on immigrants and calls for tougher law and order.

Statements by the Home Secretary David Blunkett about schools being ‘swamped’ by refugees, which has parallels with Thatcher’s’ late 1970s attempt to undercut National Front popularity at the time; can only encourage racists and fascists.

Every time the Fascists make a noise or win a seat the social democrats adopt more of their agenda. This encourages racists to blame ‘foreigners’ for the many problems that are created by the capitalist system that the Labour Party backs so enthusiastically.

In reality the very forces that the social democrats support drive refugees and ‘economic’ migrants here. They are the front-line victims of the globalisation of capital, and the wars and repression it causes. Their countries natural resources have been looted, dictatorships installed [or puppet Governments such as in Afghanistan] which are acceptable to the interests of capitalism and imperialism, and these same dictators have been sold the military hardware [*] and instruments of torture that many asylum seekers are trying to escape from.

You cannot fight racism and fascism without fighting capitalism, and this means opposing those who support it so enthusiastically such as Blair and ‘new’ Labour.

We need an anti-capitalist movement prepared to drive the fascists off the streets whilst attacking the capitalist system which spawns them.

Issued by Tyne and Wear against Racism, PO Box ITA, Newcastle NE99 ITA

 

[*] every taxpayer in Britain subsidises arms exports to the amount of £30 a year, the UK continues to arm 30 of the 40 most repressive regimes in the World

http://www.red-star-research.org.uk/ – for all the information on Labour’s links with big business


A mural on Cable Street commemorates a famous victory over fascism in 1936.

The following leaflet was given out in the Roker and Fulwell areas in the weeks leading up to the last General Election. It is reproduced as we feel sure readers will find it of great interest. It was taken from an earlier leaflet produced by Anti-Fascist Action.

THE BNP’S LOVE OF BIG BUSINESS AND THEIR HATRED FOR WHITE PEOPLE

In Sunderland there is despair that things will ever get better as drug and alcohol abuse multiply amongst the young. What future for our youth? Little or none under this present Government. Labour’s links with big business now means the working class is unrepresented in Parliament. Blair’s party is up to its neck in the corporate trough and has intensified the attacks on working people started by the Tories in 1979. But just in case things couldn’t get any worse the people of Sunderland are now about to get leaflets from the ultra-Tories we know as the BNP. Whilst posing as the defenders of white people they fail to reveal their actual contempt and hatred for them or that a vote for the BNP is a vote to make things worse for white and black people. The BNP don’t believe that the majority of  white people should be allowed to vote. Don’t believe us, take a look:

“What we urgently need and must have to survive is very much less democracy, a very much smaller more carefully selected and more intelligent electorate… Granting a vote to each and every one of the natives of Britain was madness. Lunacy could hardly go further!” [BNP – January 1995]

Or how about the following from their hero, Hitler that society should be run by “a picked number of human beings ….not troubled by humanitarian feelings… the capitalists have worked their way to the top… which again proves them as the higher race, they have the right to lead”.

So, according to the BNP, the capitalists are the higher race, so clearly when the far-right speaks of racism they refer to a belief in the natural superiority between races but also, and even more decisively, within races.

On occasions the BNP may cry crocodile tears for the condition of the white working class, but they are also very evidently the sworn enemy of that class. It is the very people that they now seek to influence that they also hold in the most contempt.

For fascists like the BNP, any form of democracy represents an intolerable interference by working people in the running of society. So when the BNP say they want your vote that is exactly what they mean. Their eventual aim is to deny you the right to any say or representation. Something else to remember when they come knocking on the door.

SUNDERLAND FANS AGAINST RACISM,
PO Box 601,
SUNDERLAND
SR2 7XY

sunderland_fans_against_racism@hotmail.com