The campaign is building

posted by: Nick Lowles | on: Saturday, 28 February 2009, 07:26

If you believe the press or certain ‘self-appointed’ political experts, the BNP has already won, but that is not the feeling I’m getting on the ground. No one is underestimating the task we have ahead but people are definitely beginning to mobilise.

On Thursday night HOPE not hate speakers were addressing audiences across the country. Almost 70 people attended the launch of a HOPE not hate group in Sheffield. Alan Weaver of the Midlands TUC addressed a political forum of the GMB in the West Midlands and I spoke to 80 people in Liverpool.

Following the BNP humiliation over its failed its City Centre event, the mood of the Liverpool was really vibrant. A victory had been won but everyone knew there was no room for complacency. We know the BNP will be back but by then we will be even stronger.

Eighty people was great, but we know that there is a much bigger network of people in the city who oppose the BNP. Over 1,200 people ‘new’ from Liverpool signed our petition to stop the BNP from marching in the City Centre. Add that to the 300 contacts we already had and you have over 1,500 in one city. That is phenomenal and a real resource for us to mobilise closer to the election.

What is most encouraging is that many of the people coming forward are young or have dropped out of politics through disillusionment. However, this is all changing with the threat of the BNP. The political pundits might be pontificating but there is a real campaign building on the ground.