I must represent poison in my diet. It is just another food, after all.

Michael Rosen presents the best put argument yet on the folly of allowing the BNP to appear on Question Time

The BBC also has a requirement to represent different ‘communities’ and to be itself diverse. It is also clear it cannot do this if it represents the BNP for the simple reason that the BNP wants to eliminate different ‘communities’ and diversity. Griffin has made it clear that he wants to whiten the BBC itself – with his comments about the black Friar Tuck on ‘Robin Hood’ for example and his booklet on Jews in the BBC. In other words there comes a point where total diversity breaks down. And that’s when there is a political party that wants to use the BBC in order to smash the very polity that is putting that party on air. It would be as if, I, believing in principle I should eat a variety of foods, also on that principle knowingly drink poison. ‘Ah well,’ I say to myself ‘I must represent poison in my diet. It is just another food, after all.’

No platorm for the BNP

You can’t “expose” the BNP on Question Time:

There is also no prospect of such a programme resulting in the BNP’s being ‘exposed’. It is said that since most BNP members can’t put together a coherent argument, they will easily be shown up and ridiculed. But they do not need coherent arguments. Most guests on Question Time do not have coherent arguments. It is a programme, like Have I Got News For You, or Mock the Week, in which the key is to have a good line at the right time. It is carefully choreographed and practised. What the BNP need, therefore, is carefully phrased incitements, presented in a plausible manner. The fascists have demonstrated on the streets and in previous media appearances that they are capable of this much. Even if they were as dumb as an American Idol contestant, there would still be no chance of their being ‘exposed’. The important things that would require exposure – the matter of the BNP’s record, its ideological lineage, the violence and criminality of its members, etc. – are points that require time, patience and evidence to explain. None of those assets are available on a panel quiz show.

In defense of egging fascists

Daniel Davies takes on the “the usual crowd of wowsers and pursed-lip good-government types” to explain why egging Nick Griffin was not just a good idea, but necessary:

And in this particular case, the egging itself is actually a very important speech act and a significant contribution to our national debate. Based on the fact that they got two MEPs elected, non-white British citizens might justifiably be looking with suspicion at their white neighbours today, thinking that a significant proportion of us were secretly harbouring fascist sympathies. In fact this isn’t true; the absolute number of BNP votes was slightly down on 2004, and their electoral success was purely an artefact of overall low turnout. It’s therefore an important point to be made, to our own population and to the world’s watching media, that Nick Griffin isn’t in fact a newly popular and influential political figure; he’s a widely reviled creep who not only doesn’t lead a phalanx of jackbooted supporters, but actually can’t even set up for a TV interview without being pelted with eggs. The voice of the British populace does not shout “Hail Griffin!”, it shouts, “Oi Fatty, cop this! [splat]”. And the only efficient and credible way to demonstrate to the world that Griffin is regarded as an eggworthy disgrace, is to actually and repeatedly pelt him with eggs.

If only BBC’s PM programme had had Davies on, instead of the flood of BNP sockpuppets insisting they had no love for the party until the egg throwing made them rethink their position and that the real intolerance came from the anti-fascists.

Nick Griffin: the yolk is on you

Triumph of the will ends up with egg on his face:

Donna Guthrie from Unite Against Fascism explains what happened and why. The interviewer brings out the usual guff about freedom of speach and democratic elections, but Donna counters them very well, making it clear how Griffin’s speech ends in attacks on Black or Asian people.

A Very Lucrative Victory

bnpfail

[Pic from Adventures In Historical Materialism]

If it wasn’t grim enough up North before it certainly will be once that odious prick Nick Griffin and his sidekick, former politics lecturer and National Front leader Andrew Bron take office in Brussels – but not for them. No credit crunch for Griffin and Bron. They’ll be doing quite nicely thank you.

No wonder candidates are desperate to get elected:

In the last five-year term of the parliament, it is estimated British MEPs have been able to claim more than £1.8m in expenses and allowances.

They have been receiving more than £363,000 a year in expenses without receipts including £259 a day for “subsistence allowance”, the infamous “sign in and sod-off” payment.

Travel expenses of £87,407 a year are permissible and there is £3756 available as an additional annual travel allowance.

Read More