HOPE not hate blog: A right result

A right result

posted by: Nick Lowles | on: Friday, 16 October 2009, 07:43

Great news from Barnsley last night. The BNP was well and truly trounced in the St Helen's by-election yesterday, with their share of the vote falling from 30% in 2008 to 23% now. The Labour vote increased from just over 900 votes to 1,520 this time.

This was a fantastic result in one of the BNP's strongest areas. More importantly, it was a victory for the HOPE not hate campaign which ran possibly its most intense by-election effort to date. Well over 100 people got involved in our campaign over the last two months, with 45 out on Saturday alone. So, congratulations to Paul and Lorraine and everyone at HOPE not hate Yorkshire.

I'll end on a poem written for the campaign by Ian McMillan, the poet laureate of Yorkshire and official poet of Barnsley FC. It appeared on one of our many leaflets.

Hope not Hate
by Ian McMillan

The voices clamour in the noisy debate
And there's shouting and pointing and passion's high
But a still, small sound says 'Hope, not hate'
And let's just look each other in the eye
And say 'Welcome' and 'Hello' and 'How are you?'
And extend a hand of friendship not a high-raised fist
Because people talk to people because that's what people do
So let's just see things clearly and not through hatred's mist
And we can all decide, before it's far too late
That what we really need round here is Hope not Hate.

Posted: 16 Oct 2009 | There are 7 comments

Comments

Comment 1 | From: David S | Date: 16 October 2009, 08:13

Yay! Let me just say that I am pleased this has happened in Barnsley, it has the accolade of being the most down to earth place I have ever been to in Britain during my long stay in South Yorkshire ten years ago. I knew common sense would prevail here and it has. Now we await Cannock Chase...

Comment 2 | From: Graeme | Date: 16 October 2009, 10:08

This by-election was truly crucial and the result is a crushing defeat for those who want to divide communities with hatred and turn working people against each other. St.Helen's Ward has told them to 'bugger off". Well done to Paul and Lorraine, Hnh Yorkshire and all those who contributed to the defeat of the BNP. Also, congratulations to Father Marshall who, justly famous for giving his all to strking miners and their families in the Dearne during the Great Strike, again showed that the Church can be and has to be progressive. And finally, congratulations to those in the ward who stood up to the BNP fascists, above all the voters.

Comment 3 | From: David S | Date: 16 October 2009, 10:33

STOP PRESS! BNP candidate trounced in Heath Hayes/Wimblebury ward in Cannock Chase!! Shaun Grimsley came FOURTH with Labour being the winners and the Conservatives just behind. Another victory for HOPE in the West Midlands region!!! Well done to all who galvanised the anti-fascist vote here.

Comment 4 | From: Ruth Peterson | Date: 16 October 2009, 11:16

Well done everyone who campaigned and fought to make sure the BNP did not gain this seat. This is a great result and better than I hoped for.

Comment 5 | From: e | Date: 16 October 2009, 11:34

If the bnp are going to consider non-white members into its party and it amends its constitution so it does not discriminate on grounds of race or religion, I put this idea to you Nick,You should start a campain for not only black, asian or jewish or muslim people to join the bnp but also people like you Nick to join the party and over throw all the idiots that are there now and to quote from "the wright stuff" turn it from being a facist racist party into "the british nice party" If you were to stand as the party leader you would certainly get my vote!! What do you think???

[Nick replies: Not sure that I would be most welcome in BNP meetings :)

Comment 6 | From: Oswald | Date: 16 October 2009, 21:01

"Nick replies: Not sure that I would be most welcome in BNP meetings" lulz!

Comment 7 | From: Marion | Date: 17 October 2009, 20:48

The by-election story so far, according to my other 'alf: (* first time fought ** failed to nominate when previously fought) July 16th Derbyshire CC Kirk Hallam 12.0% * Warks CC Arbury and S'ford 14% (25% -11%) July 23rd Wellingborough BC Swanspool 10% * Stockport MBC Reddish North 7.9% (14.5% -6.6%) Redcar & Cleveland UA Dorm'stown 9.4 (16% -6.6%) July 30th Tameside MBC Denton North 13.6% * Broxtowe BC Brinsley 28.3% (43.99% -15.6%) August 13th K Lynn/W Norfolk DC Gaywood Chase 12.8% * Scarborough BC Hertford ** August 20th Blackpool UA Stanley 9.9% * August 27th Harrogate BC Starbeck ** September 3rd Medway UA Luton & Wayfield 6.58% * Plymouth UA Ham 2.9% * September 10th S Tyndeside MBC Westoe 11.74% * Harborough DC Welland 11.1% * City of York UA Hewarth 6.68% (13.2% -6.52%) Daventry BC Drayton 14.35% (33.11% -18.76%) September 17th Redcar & Cleveland BC South Bank ** Birmingham MBC Sparkbrook ** Amber Valley DC Ripley & Marhay ** September 24th Broxtowe BC Toton and Chilwell 3% (7.3% -4.3%) Three Rivers DC Hayling 18.83 (30.34% -11.5%) October 1st Sandwell MBC Wednesbury S ** Kettering BC Northfield 8.2% * Derby UA Allestree 6.37% (10.89% -4.52%) October 8th Eden DC Penrith West 13.6% * October 15th Barnsley MBC St. Helens 23.21 (30.25% -7.04%) Lincolnshire CC Boston NW 37.68 (20.59% +17.09%) Cannock Chase DC Heath Hayes & Wimblebury 11.07% * Bracknell Forest DC Hanworth 4.64% * October 22nd B'ham CC Sutton New Hall ** Herts CC Borehamwood N ** Wyre BC Jubilee * (result to come) Only the Boston NW result can give them any cheer. Marion

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