The upcoming equality bill will make the British National party's (BNP) membership criteria illegal, Harriet Harman has confirmed.
Speaking during business questions opposite Alan Duncan, Ms Harman responded to concerns about the election of two BNP MEPs last week in the European elections. Ms Harman said she was "shocked and horrified" by their success but went on to say its constitution - which bars non-whites from membership – would become illegal once the equality bill was passed.
"There is no place for a political party in this country to have an apartheid constitution and the equality bill will prevent this from being the case," she said.
Andrew Brons and party leader Nick Griffin were elected as MEPs for the Yorkshire and the Humber and north-west regions with 9.8 per cent and eight per cent respectively in European elections held last week.
Later in the session a Conservative MP suggested to Ms Harman the reason voters in these two "great regions" had turned to the BNP was because of widespread frustration with mainstream parties' ability to deal with the issues of the day.
Ms Harman said that "throughout history" when there had been fear for people's jobs and standards of living "that always provides opportunities for stirring up of apprehension and fear by far-right parties". She added: "There is no place in British national life and democracy for a party that excludes people on the basis of the colour of their skin".
Ms Harman has a strong record on equality issues and is currently minister for women, beyond her roles as deputy Labour leader and leader of the House.
The equality bill consolidates all the UK's disparate equality laws into one piece of legislation, including laws related to the provision of goods and services, although it is unclear if it will be these sections which affect the party.
politics.co.uk
Just suppose the BNP, fearing legal action or even proscription, re-write their rules to allow non-whites to join. This immediately makes them more attractive to the public, particularly to people who are thinking about joining.
ReplyDeleteThe whites-only membership policy is actually an effective deterrent to many people who have concerns about immigration and multi-culturalism, but don't want to be associated with a whites-only group. Forcing the BNP to change this policy could well result in a flood of new members.
After all, it allows Griffin to go on TV and say, "We're not racist, anybody can join us. Just look at our constitution."
Think about it.
I dont agree that the bnp allowing non whites to join their party would make them more 'attractive to the public' but then again, wouldnt it be funny if hundreds, if not thousands of 'non whites' and gay men and women all applied to join at once, then made a leadership bid! the new leader of the bnp could be a lesbian black social worker! im sure this would soon lead to the bnp imploding and abandoning their attempts at electoral respectability and reverting to type.
ReplyDeleteHer equality bill bans a lot of white workers. She can't do that and then force the BNP to include black and Asian members. It looks ridiculous. The public have been angry about the demonstration. It looks as though no one really knows what to do about this. She won't get away with this. People will turn away from the three parties in droves.
ReplyDelete"I dont agree that the bnp allowing non whites to join their party would make them more 'attractive to the public' but then again, wouldnt it be funny if hundreds, if not thousands of 'non whites' and gay men and women all applied to join at once, then made a leadership bid! the new leader of the bnp could be a lesbian black social worker! im sure this would soon lead to the bnp imploding and abandoning their attempts at electoral respectability and reverting to type"....................
ReplyDeleteYour getting into the realms of fantasy, now boy.
This wouldn't be the tubby legal expert we all know and love poorly disguised would it?
ReplyDeletehttp://www.guardian.co.uk/users/deebarnes/comments
In the early years Hitler had gays & Jews in the Nazi party, later he had whole divisions of Muslims, the best idea is to make the BNP illegal end off,
ReplyDeleteGwen....
Is it possible that ethnic minorities who have a religious conflict with Islam would join the BNP in a strategic pact? There have been comments periodically contributed (whether genuine) to the BNP site of that nature.
ReplyDeleteIMO a case could be made that the BNP is in fact operating illegally.
ReplyDeleteThis is a political party seeking political power over all Brits.
Political power means the privilege of framing rules and regulations that all Brits must follow. The BNP seeks power to legislate and enforce that legislation by means of police and judiciary system.
And yet the BNP bars certain Brits from being members of the BNP for what most of us would term capricious grounds.
In short, only 'indigenous whites' may be members of the BNP, and yet the BNP seeks powers over all British citizens, whatever their colour, creed or ethnic origin.
In other words, the BNP bars members of the public who will be the subject of BNP legislation from having any role in framing that legislation.
If in fact this is legal, and I doubt it, is it right?
"Is it possible that ethnic minorities who have a religious conflict with Islam would join the BNP in a strategic pact? "
ReplyDeletehttp://ummahpulse.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=179&Itemid=71
If the Police, various returning officers and the Electoral Commision did thier jobs properly the BNP could not stand for antelecxtion.
ReplyDeleteI am very happy the the London standards board is contemplating action.
Old Sailor