Red meat

posted by: Nick Lowles | on: Saturday, 25 April 2009, 15:56

I’ve been involved with Searchlight for 19 years and I have to admit that I’m pretty much immune to fascist propaganda. I’ve written books about Combat 18 and the nazi skinhead scene and there is probably little that can still shock me. However, I was left speechless and disgusted by Griffin’s comments on race that were broadcast on Thursday. I knew that the BNP thought that blacks and Asians could never be British but for their leader to claim that immigration was a “bloodless genocide” was incredible.

Most people were truly horrified and appalled. Even the Daily Star took on the BNP by reproducing the photo of the England football team with crosses on the players who wouldn’t be allowed to play in the BNP Britain.

However, there is certainly no room for complacency. The BNP don’t really care about how offended 90% of people are. In these elections they only need 10% of the vote to get several MEPs elected and there are probably 10% of the population who totally agree with Griffin’s views on race. These elections are all about turnout and the parties that can motivate their core vote are likely to do disproportionately well. With Griffin’s latest comments on race appealing to the BNP’s core vote, we could well see more hardline statements and comments before the elections. By doing this he will be throwing red meat to his supporters.

The task for us, however, is to use his comments to really motivate our supporters.