The European elections are coming up and I will of course be voting, but only because of the need to vote against the BNP. The Nazi's were in a stronger position than at the last elections up to a few months ago anyway, but with the scandal revolving around MP's expenses the potential they have has risen. Public disgust over this issue has turned people off from supporting the mainstream parties more than ever. A scandal against Labour may ordinarily be to the gain of the Tories, but all 3 of the main political parties have been tarnished by this issue.
Thankfully there has been concerted effort in campaigning against the BNP by Unite Against Fascism and Hope not Hate, and the danger the BNP pose is being taken seriously. It is getting a lot of attention in the press about the need for people to get out and vote to stop the BNP. It is also being taken up as a serious issue more than ever by the other political parties, who are stating more than ever before their opposition to the BNP.
This is to be welcomed of course, but it does also bring up some other issues of concern. This can be summed up by an advert I saw today in the Metro from the Green party that explained that you had to vote for them to keep the BNP out, as it was between the 2 of them who could get the last Euro seat in the northwest. The entire emphasise was put on voting for them to keep the BNP out. Not on climate change, peace issues, better cleaner public transport. Not on any issues of policy at all. It was just about voting against the BNP.
The ad also had testimony from people like Salma Yaqoob from Respect and Mark Thomas backing them in the northwest, the intention clearly to attract a wider liberal and radical left audience. Essentially this was the point of the advert, to get to that layer of people who will be voting to stop the BNP, but have no party affiliations. I find it worrying that in a time when the field is more open than possibly ever before to fringe parties, and therefore more opportunity for left wing parties, that campaigning is being boiled down to simply offering yourself as a tactical vote.
Don't get me wrong, it is definitely a good thing that parties state their opposition to the BNP, and say why they are an alternative to the main parties instead of them. But it can't be the only reason they put forward for why they are an alternative.
This is on my mind because it brings up a personal question of who I should vote for in the European elections. I will definitely vote, ao I always would if the Nazi's are standing, but I would still like have something that I want to vote for. I think it basically comes down to the Green party or No to EU. No to EU is a more leftwing campaign, and was initiated by unions. But then the Green party may well be right in saying that they're the most likely to stop the BNP in the northwest, as they would expect more votes. I hadn't heard of No to EU until 2 weeks ago, and I'm not sure they have a campaign that will amount to anything outside of London. The Green's do stand for a number of good issues, I just wish they would talk about them more and actually try to connect with people and get them involved in those campaigns.
