Babyshambles man takes on racism

Don’t judge a book by its cover, or more specifically in the case of Babyshambles bassist Drew McConnell, don’t judge a book by its unwashed hair and crackhouse-fancying lead singer.

One might decide from the look of McConnell and the rest of Babyshambles that the closest they get to government affairs is the back seat of one of those funny-looking British police cars. But McConnell raised eyebrows by urging Londoners to vote in the upcoming assembly elections in order to keep one of Britain’s political parties out of the assembly, NME reported Tuesday. What was his motivation? A drug law? An issue dealing with public display of reckless and gleeful drunkenness? Apparently it was only admirable concern over the state of his country. You go, Drewsky.

McConnell spoke out rather passionately, calling for voters to prevent the British National Party from gaining power. “The London assembly elections happen every four years, and last time the BNP were just 5,000 votes off getting a seat,” he said to NME. “That might sound like a lot, but 5,000 votes is actually just 0.1 per cent!”

The BNP is a right-wing political party whose aim, according to their official site, is to “secure a future for the indigenous peoples of these islands in the North Atlantic which have been our homeland for millennia.” They are generally regarded as a racist, pro-white platform that has spoken out against diversity in religion, ethnicity and nationality. Sort of like drunk grandma at Thanksgiving.

The indie rock crusader continued, “The polls are predicting the BNP to win two seats this year, which would be disastrous. As I understand it each elected member is given an office, £400,000 a year funding and, most terrifyingly in the case of the BNP, legitimacy and a platform from which to spout their vile hatred right into the heart of our nation's capital.”

McConnell will be performing at London’s Love Music Hate Racism festival April 27, in a band featuring Jon McClure of Reverend and the Makers and ex-Arctic Monkey Andy Nicholson. McConnell says his hope is for everyone who attends the festival to follow up their support with a vote.

“We know we're only musicians, and we can't change the world armed only with guitars and bad haircuts,” he said. “But there's nothing wrong with having a go, eh?”

Well spoken, Babyshambles. Well spoken.

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