Vindicated

posted by: Nick Lowles | on: Sunday, 14 March 2010, 09:53

Earlier this year the HOPE not hate campaign came under criticism from some quarters for our Barking & Dagenham strategy. In our view the council was far more at risk from the BNP than Margaret Hodge’s parliamentary seat. As a result the HOPE not hate strategy focused on the key swing wards which the BNP needed if it was to take full control of the council.

It was, to us, a fairly obvious strategy. However, not everyone agreed and there have been rumblings of discontent about our approach.

However, in an interview with The Guardian, BNP leader Nick Griffin clearly states that the council is the party’s key priority. He even says that one of the reasons why he is standing is to draw the flak away from the party’s council candidates. He went on:

“In terms of the benefits for the party, and especially our drive to take the council, well, that's the real prize. It really is.” This confirms our view. Obviously Griffin would like to win a parliamentary seat but he is standing to raise the party’s profile in the area so it has a better chance of winning control of Barking & Dagenham council.

If this then is the BNP’s real goal it is also important that we focus our effort on stopping them. And that means stopping them winning the necessary seats to take control. In addition to the seven wards where the BNP already has 12 councillors, it needs to win in another three to five to take the council. By targeting these swing wards – which will ultimately determine whether the BNP take control of its first council and a £200m a year budget – we can stop them from winning. This isn’t to say that we are not interested in other wards, because we are, but every campaign has to focus its resources and we have those swing wards in our sights.

I think Griffin’s admission in The Guardian vindicates our position.

You can read the full Guardian piece here:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2010/mar/13/nick-griffin-margaret-hodge-barking-dagenham