Racist politics?

Penfailed

The BNP are standing for election in NI for the first time. It doesn't still well with me - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-12992184

"A BNP candidate in the assembly elections is a former member of the Traditional Unionist Voice.
Ann Cooper, who is standing in East Belfast, previously stood for the TUV in last May's Castlereagh by-election. She left the TUV soon after.
She later drew criticism by voicing support for seven Customs and Revenue workers, sacked for deliberately underpaying ethnic minorities.
Tweeting on the case, Ms Cooper said the sacked employees deserved a medal."

Fratton Fred

One of the great things about a democracy is that anyone can run for elections. Another great thing is that it gives people the opportunity to publicly humiliate them.

Don't get concerned about a BNP candidate running, that is their democratic right, start getting concerned if they draw any sort if support.

ceadaoin.

I would be worried that Northern Ireland is the sort of place that parties like the BNP could gain a foothold. There is a history of intolerance there that some people are still carrying on and perhaps have transferred onto minority groups? It seems like there is high incidence of attacks there that are deemed to be racially motivated?

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article6521774.ece

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/this-britain/pregnant-women-assaulted-in-racist-attacks-in-belfast-577459.html

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/3569959.stm

Bottle_of_Smoke

What's interesting about BNP is they're only likely to get support from the unionist/loyalist community. (due to 'British' being in their name)

Why is this interesting? Well one of BNP's ideologies is repatriation of citizens to their ethnic homelands. Of course this was meant for getting rid of darkies from Britain but if they were to apply this ideology to NI they should really be pushing for the Ulster Scots people to return to the lowlands of Scotland.

Though expecting that shower to be consistant would be a bit of an ask.

I wouldn't worry, they'll get a few racist protest votes but I wouldn't expect they'll get a seat.

Denerick

The problem with the BNP is if they really had to pursue their politics, they would quickly realise that attempting to find the original British ethnicity of recorded historical times will be an impossiblility; there would have to be a lot of deportation to Saxony.

'Buffoons', sums them up quite well.

COYW

Penfailed wrote: »

The BNP are standing for election in NI for the first time. I doesn't still well with me - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-12992184

As others have said, it's a part of democracy. Having the likes of Gerry Adams/Martin Ferris/.... sitting in Dail Eireann or even running here doesn't sit well with me but it's part and parcel of democracy.

sargito

Let them at it. Having far right nutter parties has the added benefit of removing that element of support from main stream parties allowing them to be more inclusive.

petroltimer

ceadaoin. wrote: »

I would be worried that Northern Ireland is the sort of place that parties like the BNP could gain a foothold. There is a history of intolerance there that some people are still carrying on and perhaps have transferred onto minority groups? It seems like there is high incidence of attacks there that are deemed to be racially motivated?

I agree, Northern Ireland could well be a place where the fascist BNP could take hold, unfortunately about a third of the county already vote for a party made up of convicted terrorists and apologists.

Nodin

Penfailed wrote: »

The BNP are standing for election in NI for the first time. It doesn't still well with me - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-12992184

"A BNP candidate in the assembly elections is a former member of the Traditional Unionist Voice.
Ann Cooper, who is standing in East Belfast, previously stood for the TUV in last May's Castlereagh by-election. She left the TUV soon after.
She later drew criticism by voicing support for seven Customs and Revenue workers, sacked for deliberately underpaying ethnic minorities.
Tweeting on the case, Ms Cooper said the sacked employees deserved a medal."

The mere fact that they aren't an NI party will more than likely rule them out for most people and indeed those that might favour their policies.

As for them running, I think it best to have these people given full scrutiny and exposing their nonsense, rather than have them sneak votes off the main parties and witness that kind of thing being pandered to in order to win back voters.

petroltimer

Bottle_of_Smoke wrote: »

What's interesting about BNP is they're only likely to get support from the unionist/loyalist community. (due to 'British' being in their name)

Why is this interesting? Well one of BNP's ideologies is repatriation of citizens to their ethnic homelands. Of course this was meant for getting rid of darkies from Britain but if they were to apply this ideology to NI they should really be pushing for the Ulster Scots people to return to the lowlands of Scotland.

Though expecting that shower to be consistant would be a bit of an ask.

I wouldn't worry, they'll get a few racist protest votes but I wouldn't expect they'll get a seat.

and get the celts to move back to central europe:D

junder

Denerick wrote: »

The problem with the BNP is if they really had to pursue their politics, they would quickly realise that attempting to find the original British ethnicity of recorded historical times will be an impossiblility; there would have to be a lot of deportation to Saxony.

'Buffoons', sums them up quite well.

As I am sure most of you are aware by now I do describe myself as a loyalist, and on the subject of the bnp I see myself as a patriot and it fills me with obsolete rage to see the bnp waving the union flag. The bnp Are not a party I have any respect for

junder

Nodin wrote: »

The mere fact that they aren't an NI party will more than likely rule them out for most people and indeed those that might favour their policies.

As for them running, I think it best to have these people given full scrutiny and exposing their nonsense, rather than have them sneak votes off the main parties and witness that kind of thing being pandered to in order to win back voters.

Agreed

Bottle_of_Smoke

petroltimer wrote: »

and get the celts to move back to central europe:D

Its just such an insane idea. Imagine all the Irish Americans/British Australians etc were to come back here :eek:

Savage Tyrant

The BNP targets the dregs of society and gives them credence for their warped ideas on ethnic superiority.
Unfortunately they also target the uneducated and poorest in the communities too. Convincing these people that "those who do not belong" are keeping them at the bottom of society by taking jobs they shouldn't be entitled to and claiming social welfare and "free houses"
That lets their racist views fester in the minds of those who otherwise probably wouldn't feel that way but are unfortunately through lack of education or means unable to see those views for what they are, racism, plain and simple.

southsiderosie

I once asked someone in Belfast about far-right groups in NI. He told me a funny story about one English far-right group's attempt to affiliate with the UDA. Apparently one of the UDA guys went on a regular walkabout with his dog wearing an Israeli flag. Of course, the anti-semetic far-right guy was appalled, and refused to do the walkabout, at which point he was told in no uncertain terms that he would not only go on the walkabout, but he would hold the leash of the dog wearing the flag.

Moral of the story: NI politics are too convoluted even for "traditional" hate organizations. And if these guys were confused by the Israeli flag, lord knows what they would have made of Sammy Duddy.

pragmatic1

southsiderosie wrote: »

I once asked someone in Belfast about far-right groups in NI. He told me a funny story about one English far-right group's attempt to affiliate with the UDA. Apparently one of the UDA guys went on a regular walkabout with his dog wearing an Israeli flag. Of course, the anti-semetic far-right guy was appalled, and refused to do the walkabout, at which point he was told in no uncertain terms that he would not only go on the walkabout, but he would hold the leash of the dog wearing the flag.

Moral of the story: NI politics are too convoluted even for "traditional" hate organizations. And if these guys were confused by the Israeli flag, lord knows what they would have made of Sammy Duddy.

Or Jim Gray or Sam McCrory. Bit of a pattern here.