British Democratic Party: grim future for English Democrats

The problems facing Nick Griffin and the British National Party are well-documented: up to the gunnel in debt, riven by internal strife and losing members in droves..  Matters came to a head when Andrew Brons and Griffin contested the leadership of the BNP, the latter winning by a very small margin.  Brons resigned from the BNP and, as expected, now has formed a new party called the British Democratic Party.

I would not expect many of the remaining BNP members to jump ship and join the BDP.  But what of those who have left?  Some dropped out of party politics, some joined other right-wing parties, but the greatest influx of ex-BNP members was enjoyed by the English Democrats, including two members of Brons' staff.

Will the English Democrats retain their ex-BNP members?  They must be hoping beyond hope that they do.  Some ED members left the party when the ex-BNP influx began, joined the Conservative Party, or UKIP or gave up party politics.  I very much doubt ex- ED members will rejoin the party should the ex-BNP members shuffle off (or run) to the BDP.

The recent electoral success of UKIP has been a disaster for the English Democrats.  The ED 'puffed-up' its chances of beating UKIP in the Rotherham by-election.  The posts prior to the election on the website English Passport (recently re-named Kingdom of England Passport) controlled by a leading officer of the ED are hilarious.  http://kentcommunityactivist.blogspot.co.uk/2012/11/english-democrats-humiliated-by-ukip.html

Having failed to demolish  UKIP (which in any event was not going to happen) the ED now is about to be assailed by the  BDP.

There doesn't seem to be anywhere for the English Democrats to go except downward, which in one sense is a shame as it is a party with a clear English civic nationalist message: that England should have an English parliament within a federal UK.  Unfortunately the party has accrued toxic baggage, so English civic nationalists will have to to look elsewhere for a political home.

True Brits

I am for ever intrigued by the in-fighting between the minute political parties of the far right.  The latest manifestation is the creation of True Brits, in effect a BNP Mark 2.

The BNP has been losing members for some time as a consequence of organisational intrigue, not policy issues.  True Brits headline member is Andrew Brons MEP who resigned recently from the BNP after a long battle with Nick Griffin, the BNP leader, for control of the party culminating in an election contest for leadership of the BNP between the two individuals which Griffin won narrowly.

See: http://www.hopenothate.org.uk/hate-groups/true-brits/

The next few months/years will see open warfare between True Brits and the BNP for dominance. The internecine strife hopefully will exhaust both parties, but realistically I expect True Brits to come out on top.  Given some of the supporters of True Brits mentioned in the Hope not Hate blog it should make the far right even less attractive to the electorate that the BNP.

Over the past 18 months BNP members have left the party is droves and joined the English Democrats.  The ED has welcomed this influx even though the policies of the ED on UK constitutional arrangements is markedly different from the BNP and the English Democrats' statements to be a non-racist party. Will these ex BNP converts stay in their new home or will there be a rush to join True Brits?  Should this happen, and I expect it will, the English Democrats will  be weakened severely.  At the last local elections 45% of ED candidates were ex BNP members.  ED members who resigned in protest at the BNP influx are unlikely to re-join the ED. Many have found a congenial home in UKIP.

So, one consequence of the formation of True Brits is that the English Democrats could be weakened, possibly to the point of terminal decline given the latter party's debts and poor electoral showing.

Eddy Butler

Eddy Butler was a leading member of the British National Party,  but has transferred his political allegiance to the English Democrats. He secured a mention in the recently published IPPR report:

'To the extent that one agrees that ‘English interests’ require championing, it is hard to dissemble from the view that they are not sufficiently well represented in the current political system. Unlike Scotland and Wales, there is no significant political party promoting England as a locus and focus of political life. That the tiny English Democrats are currently absorbing members from a disintegrating British National Party makes clear that they will not plug that particular gap.' (12) 

12 For example, two very prominent former BNP activists – Chris Beverley and Eddy Butler – are now members of the English Democrats, the latter following an unsuccessful leadership bid against the BNP’ s Nick Griffin in 2010. Despite their membership of the English Democrats, Beverley and Butler continue to work for BNP MEP , Andrew Brons. See http://andrewbrons.eu/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=71&Itemid=120 (accessed 5 January 2012)

Mr Butler has his own blog, the most recent post is an attack on UKIP, a passion he shares with Steve Uncles.  The following is from his latest post:

'I have heard many people say that if the ‘civic’ nationalist option is the correct path to follow, then people should opt for UKIP rather than the English Democrats.

I will examine this proposition.

Firstly, I will again reject the tag ‘civic’. I do not think any descriptive terms are necessary other than ‘nationalist’.

I do not and have never referred to myself as a civic nationalist, a racial nationalist, a cultural nationalist or a ethno nationalist. What is important is that we are nationalists and share common feelings and can unite around a common manifesto.'

From: http://eddybutler.blogspot.com/2012/01/ukip-option.html

So, if I understand correctly, what is being articulated by Mr Butler is that civic, racist, cultural and ethno nationalists share common ground. 

I have difficulty in defining what cultural nationalism means in England today, for some it is a nostaligic yearning for a golden age which of course never existed except in the imagination.

I support the concept of symmetric devolution within a federal structure as a solution to the West Lothian Question. Beyond that I would not consider myself to be a nationalist.  We live in the postmodern age, which I assume is anathema to cultural, racist and ethno nationalists.

I came across the following link recently.  Interesting reading in the context of this post.

http://thebritishresistance.co.uk/guest-writers/1200-the-english-democrats-betrayal-and-real-nationalism


See also:

http://kentcommunityactivist.blogspot.com/2011/09/civic-v-racist-nationalism.html

Jollies at taxpayers' expense: the BNP and the English Democrats

Interesting article on today's Daily Telegraph website.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/journalists/andrew-gilligan/8963457/EU-hands-out-holidays-paid-for-by-taxpayer.html

The article refers to the BNP, Chris Beverley and Eddy Butler.  Beverley and Butler are on the staff of Michael Brons MEP.

See:

 http://andrewbrons.eu/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=71&Itemid=120

Brons has had a colourful political career.  He was elected as an MEP on the BNP ticket and earlier this year lost by a few votes an election for the leadership of the BNP.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrew_Brons

The BNP is in turmoil.  Members have left.  Brons is involved with the Brent Group.  See: http://kentcommunityactivist.blogspot.com/2011/11/bnp-busted-flush.html
http://bnpideas.com/?p=3187
http://www.brentgroup.net/

Beverley and Butler have joined the English Democrats, although both work still for Brons.
Butler uses his blog to castigate his former BNP colleagues:

http://eddybutler.blogspot.com/2011/12/english-democrats-eastern-region-social.html
http://eddybutler.blogspot.com/2011/12/election-night.html

Beverley delivered a major speech at the English Democrats' September 2011 conference.

http://www.voteenglish.org/english-democrats-conference-report.html
http://www.voteenglish.org/chris-beverleys-conference-speech.html

I am surprised that Gilligan, in his Daily Telegraph article, makes no reference to the political party affiliation of Butler and Beverley.

The fact is that both are English Democrats whilst on the staff of Brons who is still a BNP MEP.  See: http://www.europarl.org.uk/view/en/your_MEPs/List-MEPs-by-region/Yorkshire_and__the_Humber.html#ABrons

I trust a correction will be made. We wouldn't want people thinking Beverley and Butler are only connected with the BNP, would we?

BNP: a busted flush?

It is reported today that the English Democrats' National Council has ratified the membership of former BNP big cheese, Eddy Butler.  He is not the first senior former BNP member to join, but is certainly the most influential.  Now he is a member of the ED other ex-BNP members may follow.  Having accepted Butler, the ED is effectively declaring an open door for ex-BNP members to join.  Many ED members have left as ex-BNP members have migrated to the ED. 

I expect the press (the Guardian in particular following its hatchet job report on the ED AGM) will keep a close watch on the ED, as it will not be long before power shifts to the ex-BNP members.  Hopes the ED might have that there will be a big influx of new ex-BNP members may be dashed by developments elsewhere.

An organisation named the Brent Group, supported by Andrew Brons MEP has been busy setting up a 'parallel' organisation to the BNP.

See: 

http://bnpideas.com/?p=3187

http://www.brentgroup.net/

Brons is the Honourary (sic) President of the Group.

Add to the mix the close collaboration being forged between the English Defence League and the  British Freedom Party. there are now three organisations contesting more or less the same ground for members.  Of course the Griffin led BNP is still operational, just.  I am loathe to recite the Last Rites over the BNP, as anything seems possible on the fevered right of British politics.  Somehow though I don't see anything other than BNP's demise as likely, so we may be spared  the sight of Lazarus Griffin.  No pheonix rising from the ashes of the financial fire within the BNP.

A right carry on

Recent declarations of undying love and affection between the English Defence League and the British Freedom Party have come as a surprise to some given the titles of the parties.  But no matter, time will tell if this is a match made in heaven or hell.  I note John Bull has been commandeered to the cause.

Meanwhile the English Democrats, have taken to calling themselves 'The English Democratic Party'
in a forlorn attempt to be distinguishable from the far-right English Democratic Party. 

Two examples below of the fodder fed to the troops:

Remember, this garbage emanates from a supposedly serious political party.  Now I have no problem with the ED policy of seeking an English parliament.  However who are the 'We English (who) share a communal history, language and culture'?   What is the culture we share?

The ED is a small insignificant party with a manifesto stating it is a civic nationalist party.  Once you begin to articulate ideas about communal history and culture the emphasis changes.  The ED has become the home of many ex-BNP members.  Have all the ED's immigrants from the BNP forsaken their previous convictions?  What will be the longer-term impact of their membership on the ED, particularly as there has been an exodus of long - standing ED members  concerned at the scale and influence of ex-BNP immigration?

A new force on the political scene?

The right in English politics is re-ordering, again.

The English Defence League, a protest movement, is linking up with the British Freedom Party.  The latter has a number of ex-BNP members.  There could be an EDL or BFP candidate standing in your area soon.

See: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/english-defence-league-prepares-to-storm-local-elections-6267740.html

This development will come as a blow to the English Democrats who have also been recruiting ex-BNP members and as a consequence have lost a number of moderate key activists.  Outflanked on the right, the ED is coming under pressure from UKIP. UKIP is likely to embrace the policy which is the raison d'etre of the ED: the creation of an English parliament.

The squeeze is on for the ED.  UKIP and the EDL have high profiles, whereas the ED only appears as an occasional blip on the press radar.

Meanwhile, the BNP continues to function, just.  Heavily in debt, leaking members and ridden with internal strife, it is hanging on. 

The parties will continue to fight amongst themselves, busying themselves with the usual character assassinations, arguing over civic and ethnic nationalism, English 'culture' and immigration.  Meanwhile, in the real world of eurozone crisis, unemployment and poverty, people worry about their future oblivious to the issues which animate the right.

Yes, immigration is a concern to many, but it is not perceived by the majority of the population to be a matter to be questioned primarily on cultural or ethnic grounds.  We need to be vigilant and counter the vileness of people who peddle cultural or ethnic nationalism.

From my 'Uncles File' blog

Are the tectonic plates of the English far-right on the move?

http://theunclesfile.blogspot.com/2011/11/edp-edl-bnp-and-bfp.html

Redefining the political map

I have been inactive in party politics since the day Tony Blair gained the support of the House of Commons for the ill-conceived war in Iraq.  Nevertheless I have maintained an interest in the machinations of the political parties.

Recently the activities of the 'Right' have come under my scrutiny. Unsurprisingly the small parties of the Right are as busy as the small parties of the 'Left' engaging in turf wars and internecine strife. 

On the Right the only parties of any significance in an English context are the United Kingdom Independence Party (UKIP), the English Democrats (ED) and the British National Party (BNP).

The BNP is a spent force, heavily in debt, hemorrhaging members and losing seats.  Some of its members have joined the ED, not to the universal acclaim of ED members. 

The key policies of the EDs are withdrawal from the European Union and the establishment of an English Parliament within a federal  United Kingdom.   The ED claims not to be a party of the Right, but the pre-occupation with immigration and the 'threat of Islam'  voiced by party members on social networking sites certainly gives the party a 'tinge' which makes it an attractive proposition to disaffected BNP members. Some ED members are heavily involved with the English Defence League (EDL) which is a direct action pressure group rather than a political party.  The EDL is matched on the Left by United Against Fascism (UAF).

The ED is quite excited by the recent statement by the leader of UKIP that he favours an English parliament within a federal UK.  See: http://www.indhome.com/2011/07/farage-calls-english-parliament/  This is a shift from the UKIP policy that English matters should be considered only by English MPs within the Westminster Parliament.  Should the leader's comments become official policy it may result in some ED members joining UKIP.

Within UKIP there is a strand of opinion which emphasises that the party is libertarian, by which it means a party of small government. Is this a Tea Party manifestation?  UKIP has managed to avoid being tinged with racist overtones (but not entirely) so will be attractive to some ED members worried about the growing ex- BNP influence within the ED. 

One could argue, fascinating though all this may be to a political anorak, it is of no interest given the poor electoral performance of the parties at the last General Election. I am not so sure.  The major political event in the next few months will be the future of the eurozone.  Decisions will be taken which inevitably will lead to some form of fiscal and political union. The key issue in the UK is its future relationship with the EU.  The three main political parties are all to varying degrees pro-EU.   A strong anti-EU party could do well at the next general election.

Who to vote for?

The result of the general election is in doubt. Despite the poor showing for Labour post budget, the Tories are not, as yet, popular with the electorate, whilst the Liberal Dozycrats have stalled.

I think it has a lot to do with the populations' disenchantment with the major political parties over the sleaze issue. In local government elections the Green Party has done well, UKIP keeps snapping at the heels of all pro- EU candidates and the BNP will cash in on the understandable disenchantment of the poor white working class.

The key to the result of the general election will be the differential loss of votes by the three major parties to the minor parties. I haven't seen any research on this, particularly in marginal seats, but there will be some surprising results, particularly in constituencies where UKIP, the Green Party and the BNP are well-organised and/or have a history of doing well in local elections.

All to play for in the few weeks before the general election.

The rise of the Barmy Nasty Party

For many years I have worked in areas of severe deprivation in Kent and East London. The electoral success of the BNP should not be over-estimated, but why has it increased its vote and won elections? The simple answer, now recognised by central government, is that the white poor working (or non-working) class perceives it has been ignored by the major political parties whilst funding has been poured in to support ethnic minority and migrant groups.

Of course the perception is inaccurate, there are sound reasons why support has been and should be provided for migrant and ethnic minority groups. The problem has been the lack of recognition by government of the problems faced by all poor people, regardless of the diverse group they belong to. I regard the poor white working class as a diverse group and I note central government is insisting now that this is the case.

John Denham (Communities and Local Government Minister) said:

We can only challenge racism and race inequality effectively as part of a strategy that tackles all forms of inequality. This must include poorer white working class communities as well as disadvantaged minority ethic communities.

Agencies which have been blind to these issues, or thought their only remit was to address minority issues, must reassess the way they work.

I love that final paragraph. Over the years I have been berating local authorities and organisations in the 'race industry' on their collective failure to tackle the the problems in poor white working class areas. Now, I am flavour of the month!

My hope is that this sea-change in the approach is not simply a cynical government reaction to the BNP's electoral threat, but a change posited by the clear evidence of disadvantage faced by poor white working class communities.