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.
TYKE IN KENT'S THEOLOGICAL RAMBLINGS
Showing posts with label edl. Show all posts
Showing posts with label edl. Show all posts
Sunday, 27 November 2011
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?
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?
Saturday, 26 November 2011
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.
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.
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