Steven Baxter

Patrolling the murkier waters of the mainstream media

Daily Star’s tacit support for EDL is no surprise

It could be a good thing – at least we now know where they stand.

By Steven Baxter Published 10 February 2011 16:51

Wednesday's front page of the Daily Star has been widely seen as an endorsement of the English Defence League. Roy Greenslade of the Guardian called it "a clear piece of propaganda on behalf of the EDL", while the Independent's Ian Burrell asked, "Has the Daily Star decided to back the EDL?"

It's just a coincidence, of course, that Richard Desmond should moot the EDL's spiritual home of Luton as the base for his newspapers, but it couldn't be better timing. Who knows? Maybe the EDL will hold a "Welcome to Luton" street party for Star hacks when they arrive at work for the first time in Bedfordshire.

My fellow media blogger Five Chinese Crackers expresses the view of many of us who viewed the Star as just a worthless comic and not worthy of serious criticism, saying: "I hardly ever looked at the Star, since it exists primarily as a vehicle for selling pictures of tits to stupid people," but admits we're going to have to start taking it seriously now.

This is, after all, a national newspaper – of which there are only ten – aligning itself with an organisation that many consider to be odious, hostile to freedom and deeply unpleasant. Of course, as many other bloggers have documented down the years, Daily Star headlines often bear little or no relation to the stories below, and it's a similar case with this one. The EDL boss saying "We aren't ruling it out" is alchemised into "EDL to become political party". No matter. The Star has its story, and backs it up with a remarkably chummy editorial column.

It's been coming for a while. Back in November, Hope Not Hate wrote politely to the Star asking the paper to tone down its coverage of Muslims. It came on the back of a Star poll which found that 98 per cent of readers feared Britain was becoming a Muslim state – the most recent poll found that 98 per cent of readers, perhaps not entirely unrelatedly, backed the policies of the EDL.

At the time, I looked at the reaction on nationalist and EDL message boards and blogs, and found it was highly positive. One blogger wrote, delightedly, "This is the first article I have read, from both the national and regional media, that hasn't been critical of the EDL," and hoped for more in the future. It would seem that wish has been granted.

It seems an odd decision, on the face of it, from the Star to be so matey with the EDL. Perhaps 98 per cent of Star readers really do support the EDL; and phone polls are entirely representative of a readership's feelings on any particular subject. Perhaps there is a lot of latent support for the EDL from ordinary Brits who feel angry at what they see as the Islamification of their country, based on the kind of stories they read in the Star (and elsewhere, in slightly more complicated terms). Perhaps it's just a way of targeting a narrow demographic as a way of tunnelling out of the general slump in newspaper sales, abandoning broad appeal in favour of a particular type of reader.

As I said last week, newspapers may be reflecting their readerships, but if they're just confirming prejudices rather than reporting what's actually going on, that erodes the credibility of all newspapers even more.

If you look back further, this was a newspaper that would have had a "Daily Fatwa" edition published, had it not been for a revolt by the newsroom's union chapel. So, this isn't a new flirtation, but perhaps rather a "coming out" by the Star, and perhaps is to be welcomed by the rest of us. At least we know what we're dealing with now, and it's out in the open. At least we know where they stand.

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Tags: EDL Daily Star

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70 comments

Fri, 2011-02-11 00:20 — Claire (not verified)

Oh Paul. Dear Paul. Can you not see the contradictions in your statements? The EDL hate the Muslims, sorry 'extremist' Muslims because they, for one thing, overreact. They threaten to kill journalists for printing offensive cartoons. They call for the deaths of those who insult Islam. Yet you defend the EDL for threatening to kill students in the most graphic of ways for the crime of urinating on a statue (when they were kept in pens for hours with no toilets) and swinging on a flag. Can you not see that everyone is capable of getting a bit riled when something they hold dear is being insulted by an 'other'. It is only extremists who threaten to kill over it. That goes for hardcore Islamists and the EDL.

Maybe if you stepped out of your leafy suburb and actually got to know a few Muslims, you would see that Islamic extremists are about as representative of most Muslims as the EDL and the BNP are of most of the UK.

Sat, 2011-02-12 03:38 — John P Reid (not verified)

gerry fable is the owner of the grauniad a muslim

Thu, 2011-02-17 16:18 — Gerry Fable (not verified)

Lox, and I quote: "Bet you none of that ever happens, Jerry Fable-not outside your nasty, paranoid little mind."

You wasn't being figurative there, you was simply abusive!

I am pleased you agree that America will attempt to engineer a war with Iran. And yes, America has attempted to instigate a revolution in Iran by promoting 'Western values' via Satellite TV. God Help them!

Fri, 2011-02-11 17:27 — Gordon Blimey (not verified)

Paul - As you seem to be a fan of the EDL I'd imagine you visit their website, videos and Facebook pages. If you do you'll be able to get the drift of where they are coming from. Now visit the numerous blogs on the Internet which analyse the tabloids and point out the myth-making and lies they are so renowned for.

Take for example the EDL's threat to protest wherever council's "ban Christmas" and now compare this to the Winterval Myth.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-11848225

http://www.thedisinformed.co.uk/2010/12/12/the-winterval-myth/

What if the fear of Muslims Taking Over and other such hyperbole you hear from the EDL and their supporters is just a product of the tabloids and has no grounding in reality? I tend to think this is the case as I've yet to see evidence that "Britain will be an Islamic country in 20 years" or "We'll be living under Sharia Law in 50 years". I'm waiting to be proven wrong on this and many other far-right paranoid distortions of reality.

Sun, 2011-02-13 15:32 — Gerry Fable (not verified)

Lox. Zionists are infidels. Not all Jews are Zionists. But Zionists control the media and banking.

The EDL is financially supported by the Zionist Alan Lake. Fact! The EDL's mouthpiece is the Daily Star, whose owner is a Zionist. Fact!

The Zionist neocons want America to attack Iran with nuclear weapons. Fact!

In order to win over world opinion America will need a bloody good excuse before nuking Iran. Fact!

The Zionists are attempting to promote a 'clash of civilisations' between Muslims and 'Christians' to sway public opinion against Islam and the Iranian regime.

And lastly, why doesn't the Daily Star support the BNP? Answer: because the BNP are a potential political threat and the EDL are just cannon-fodder, or useful idiots.

Thu, 2011-12-08 07:08 — LindbergMarley

The golden period in jewish history is when they were living under an Islamic state! Kill the gays? Again what a ridiculous statement to make! Kill non believers? Surely if this was true then there wouldn't be any non Muslims in the world since the 1.6 billion Muslims would have killed them all! http://www.personalinjurylaws.net/

Fri, 2011-02-11 17:43 — Lou (not verified)

Paul
11 February 2011 at 14:44

The problem is if the Daily Star is your only 'news' and information source. It is hardly informative and educating in an all round sense is it. There are plenty of people who only source their news from their Daily paper.

Thu, 2011-02-17 17:07 — David McPhilip (not verified)

The development, history and spread of Islam provides a warning to those who are not constipated with left wing politics that gave us socialist(Nazi) Germany and an equally bad and socialist (Marxist/Leninist) USSR. We are almost certainly heading for the third world war and one more likely based on resources and a radicalised religion than race. Something kamikaze about it to judge from the many Islamists lusting in delusion to become martyrs in their sensual garden of delights. Stinking in putrifaction more likely!

Fri, 2011-02-11 01:14 — dillon (not verified)

proud to support the edl.. working class people like me have a voice now in this country,,there are millions of us out there living in working class areas and council estates that have been ignored for years..ignore us at your peril all you politicians...ps.. claire,never voted for bnp in my life,,ex labour supporter..

Fri, 2011-02-11 17:47 — Gordon Blimey (not verified)

I don't think for a minute that Steven Baxter is saying the right-wing Tabloids, like The Star, are solely responsible for the EDL but their scare-mongering stories do have an effect of fuelling the views of the EDL and people symapthetic to their credo.

Saying Britain is going through a process of "Islamification" is just plain daft. Where is the evidence?

Also, claiming that white people are being "Ethnically Cleansed" in certain areas is a bit irrational. This implies that other ethnic groups are carrying out a genocide against whites, which is clearly not happening.

Reasonable debate is required around such a sensitive issue but it doesn't seem to be coming from those on the far-right or sections of the right-wing media.

Fri, 2011-02-11 01:44 — Claire (not verified)

Matthew, I lived in what you might call an Islamified ghetto for 5 years, Brick Lane in East London. I have never had any problems with any Muslim trying to oppress, convert, or otherwise interfere with my way of life. English and Bangladeshi live side by side, not best friends certainly, but perfectly pleasant neighbours.

I now live in Hackney, the black ghetto. I love it here. It's a vibrant, diverse and fascinating place to live. My kid goes to nursery with a 100 different nationalities. When I was at school I never knew a single person who wasn't white British, which led to many people, myself included harbouring racist feelings. Then I went away to university and met my best friend there, a pakistani Muslim. So, every time someone makes sweeping statements about the Muslims, I know it's BS because the coolest, most interesting, cleverest man I ever met is a Muslim. The Muslim community is as diverse as any other and each person within it is an individual with their own opinions and perspectives. Criticising elements of Islam is OK. Critisising all Muslims IS racist which is why this is an accusation levelled against the EDL so much.

Wed, 2011-02-16 16:58 — Brad (not verified)

Nobody denies that EDL have racist members but you could say that about any group.

My friends are long time Labour supporters but that doesn't stop them from making racist jokes all the time.

You simply cannot trust what the mainstream media says.

Fri, 2011-02-11 02:28 — Eugene N White

I think if people are going to campaign (as the EDL do) to have their compatriots deported from their country of birth, then they should be prepared to stick their neck on the line for their beliefs. And try stating them without the protective shield of bricks and petrol bombs.

I propose an elegant solution to the whole debacle:

We have a national referendum on whether everyone who identified themselves as Muslim in the last census should be deported from the UK. If the 'yes' campaign win the vote then we will deport all these declared Muslims. If the 'no' campaign win then we will deport everyone who voted 'yes'.

It's almost perfect. At the end of the day, the EDL will get their wish of being apart from Muslims no matter what. They will probably go for the idea because every EDL supporter I've seen has been utterly convinced that they are speaking for the majority of the country. However the fact is they are only speaking for themselves, they are unlikely even to get the vote of everyone who voted BNP at the last election as I know there are many people who voted BNP for silly and misguided reasons despite not being quite that intolerant.

Win-win I think.

Fri, 2011-02-11 02:35 — Sam (not verified)

Claire, you are another dhimmi apologist that has been taken in by the multicultural dream. Have a look at the demographics, we are not getting multiculturalism but future monoculturalism - Islam to be precise!

As a woman you will become a second class citizen in your own country and when the social infrastruceture built up by a wealthy advanced country of Christian heritage eventually breaks down which it inevitably will do due to all the endemic corruption, we will be living once more in the dark ages like they do in Pakistan.

Fri, 2011-02-11 02:40 — joe (not verified)

the edl is the vile cesspit of what we allow ourselves to become, blaming migrants, islam, the recession, bankers and whoever else for their shortcomings... Its a ridiculous state of affairs when no one takes responsibility for the mess in their own life, family or country

Fri, 2011-02-11 02:47 — Sarah (not verified)

Will, take a look at history where Islam has been introduced to countries of Christian heritage on a wide scale, Bosnia and the Lebanon for example. It simply doesn't work having two such populations living side by side and inevitably ends in conflict. One day the British people will have to decide if they wish to become an Islamic state. If the answer is no, then I think we are facing a very bloody civil war within the next decade or two.

Wed, 2011-02-16 16:53 — Brad (not verified)

Europe has had mass-immigration for too long and now we are now those against it are labelled racist. The truth is most people are against immigration but people tend to vote for the party that will lower their taxes. How many times have we seen these Saudi funded faith schools exposed and nothing is done to close them? Muslim youth are being radicalised and the left dare not speak out against it.

Sat, 2011-02-19 00:39 — Lox (not verified)

Sorry, Gerry, but exactly which adjective did you find offensive? Or were you hurt and surprised when I sugested you had a mind? I don't agree that America will engineer a war in Iran-in fact, I doubt if I agree with you on anything.
If by western values you mean a society where women can leave the house without a headscarf, or where demonstrators against the government aren't beaten, arrested, tortured and murdered by the state, or where young men and women can freely mingle with one another in public, then what's your problem with that?

Fri, 2011-02-11 18:11 — ENGAGE (not verified)

ENGAGE has been covering the Daily Express and Daily Star’s support for the EDL and its anti Muslim antics for some time. Just a few examples:

http://iengage.org.uk/component/content/article/1-news/1209-tabloids-rou...

http://iengage.org.uk/component/content/article/1-news/1180-daily-star-c...

http://iengage.org.uk/component/content/article/1-news/571-daily-express...

http://iengage.org.uk/component/content/article/1-news/971-another-day-a...

This continuous negative coverage of British Muslims by the DE and DS, and their indulging the EDL with flattering coverage on numerous occasions, gives this virulently anti-Muslim group a platform from which to espouse and amplify their racist views. Would such conduct be tolerated if the target group were another minority community?

Sun, 2011-02-13 18:28 — Gordon Blimey (not verified)

Brad - Any evidence that the left-wing are destroying Europe? Or that "multiculturalism" is to blame for society's ills?

It seems strange that both Blair and Cameron (hardly left-wing) are both in favour of faith schools, which are more divisive than any notion of multiculturalism.

Wouldn't a far right party also endorse an extreme form of multiculturalism in that they believe in the seperation of races and cultures.

Fri, 2011-02-11 08:26 — Dan Bolton (not verified)

I am not a member of the EDL nor in any division
I have been to ten EDL demos,as I believe our country has failed us and we have no choice to highlight problems within Britain which our poiliticians should of done(LABOUR).
I was labelled anti-muslim by DAILY-STAR IN OCTOBER 11th 2010 ,at EDL Leicester,my Banner I was holding , it read out! "I WAS BORN UNDER BRITISH LAWS ,I WILL LIVE UNDER BRITISH LAWS,I WILL DIE UNDER BRITISH LAWS,SHARIA LAWS NEVER" and on the reverse of my banner it read"SHARIA LAWS WILL DESTROY BRITIAN AND ALL OUR BRITISH VALUES"..Iam a true patriot of our Great country and am not racist.
I have muslim friends who agreed with me with my banner and gay/lesbians who will die under Sharia laws if its forced on us in Britain.
Sharia laws will never be compatible in our multicultural society..
Everyone in the EDL are labelled racists,nazis etc etc,but please youve got to go to theses demos to see that we have proud Muslims standing up with us for our country within the EDL crowd..
Please remember why the EDL was formed? it was due to seeing Islamists ,disrespect our armed forces,bombed our trains,buses,airports,failed on liquid plane attack,stabbed our labour MP,burnt our poppies,tried banning our word Christmas and so on.
This is our Christian multicultural country and never let ,or allow Extremists to Wreck all the good work us Brits have done
I am proud EDL have courage to stand and show no fear ,that most British working class are fearful of speaking out about extremists in case of being labelled racists.
Dan

Fri, 2011-08-26 03:00 — Daibhidh (not verified)

The lessons of history are clear and the fate of the British, now referred to as Welsh, sound a clear warning from history. The English in their turn face similar although most are unaware or prefer to remain in ignorance of events. Once the barbarian and in the current situation the Islamic and Moslem set up house you and all you hold dear are doomed. Doomed it seems by the dogma of the liberal and politically correct who subscribe to the peculiar idea that "anything is permissable" hence liberal anarchy.

Fri, 2011-02-11 08:30 — Paul R (not verified)

Tommy Robbinson has received threatening text messages saying his family will be beheaded. Armed gangs have visited two other spokesmen for the group, yet you still insist there is no real problem, they're just making it up.

Print a picture of Mohammad with you're name next to it then. Not an offesive one, just a nice painting or something.

Thu, 2011-02-10 19:05 — James P (not verified)

The EDL are open for all to join and support women's rights, gay rights, animal rights and freedom for all to choose and practice their religions in a civilised way. Can we honestly say the same for Labour now that they are dependent upon the block Islamic vote?

Fri, 2011-02-11 09:25 — Stuart Eels (not verified)

The EDL a political party? the Daily Star will probably start funding them next, heaven help us.

I, as an English get more and more annoyed seeing my country's flag flying over these mass demostrations.

Matters are not helped by the people like Dan Hodges whose lazy piece of work from a few days ago was so predictable it even got me going.

Lets not forget that Hitler was voted into power in the early 1930s. People like Sarah and Paul R will react if no one will talk to them.
Our main political parties only listen to people at election time and then not really, for example Gordon Brown and Gillian Duffy.

Fri, 2011-02-11 18:40 — Morales (not verified)

Do people really think that the media doesn't help influence the public. The simple fact is that papers are giving voices to groups like Anjem and Co on a bad news day to help create headlines. Now if we let Combat 18 talk for the UK in the world news, no question of doubt, people will percieve the UK as a racist country, especially when they have no dealing with any english people. The same is true of the tabliods news on Muslims in the UK, EDL was created on myths and is substain on it as well.

Fri, 2011-02-11 10:00 — Gerry Fable (not verified)

The EDL should be renamed the ZDL. It is a neocon Zionist front group. War is on the horizon with Iran, and with increasing tensions likely, the establishment is keen to promote a 'safety valve' and take away any potential support for the BNP. Hence the EDL and mainstream support from a Zionist media magnet.

http://www.vnnforum.com/showthread.php?t=121905

Wed, 2011-02-16 19:30 — Lox (not verified)

Hi Jerry, do you always take everything so literally? Clearly the intricacies of figurative speech are beyond you.
The fact is that if there's any provocation on the part of Iran that results in war with the US or Israel, you'll just KNOW that it's a put-up by the US.
But, hopefully there'll be a revolution in Iran before then anyway, to get rid of the elderly bigots who still run the place.

Mon, 2011-02-14 21:50 — triedeinsursE

@Gerry.
"The Zionist neocons want America to attack Iran with nuclear weapons. Fact!"

Why would America Nuke Iran when it can be flattened with conventional weapons ? Fact.

"In order to win over world opinion America will need a bloody good excuse before nuking Iran. Fact! "

No need to Nuke Iran and ruin the entire country. America has no need of world opinion for unilateral military action? Fact.

Your post is a load of Bollocks Fact.

Wed, 2011-02-23 21:20 — Lox (not verified)

Hi Gerry, yes I have heard of David Kelly. And perhaps he was murdered by British security services. In Iran, of course, he would probably just have disappeared, or been arrested on trumped-up charges and died in prison. Are you seriously telling me that you can't see the difference between a state where ruthlessness has to be hidden, and one where it's flaunted to frighten the population?
My values are those of tolerance, freedom, and gender equality. Your's clearly aren't.
I've been to Iran in the late 90s and early 00s, and most of the people I spoke to there-while they still revere the memory of Imam Khomenei-despise the corrupt bigots who hold power now. And get your head round this-a lot of them are pro-American. But since that doesn't compute with your quaint worldview, I'm sure you'll find that hard to believe.

Mon, 2011-02-14 21:52 — triedeinsursE

" Muslim bigot like Mehdi Hasan as its political editor.
Something stinks."

The SENIOR political editor !!

Fri, 2011-02-11 19:46 — Gerry Fable (not verified)

The financial backer of the EDL is a Zionist Jew called Alan Lake. The owner of the Daily Star is a Zionist Jew called Desmond Morris. Do you see a pattern emerging? No? Then think 'MOSSAD', 'nuclear war with Iran', and 'false-flag.'

http://www.vnnforum.com/showthread.php?t=121905

Fri, 2011-02-11 20:50 — jie4v7i14

Yes, it could very well be a good thing.

Bring it out into "the official" open. Why leave it fester under the skin? Lance it I say, and see what happens.

Well done Daily Star, I say, good show.

Sun, 2011-02-13 23:29 — Will Mossop (not verified)

Lox - That's not very nice is it calling me a "knucklehead" when it is you who clearly displays his/her ignorance. Still what else can be expected from apologists for the actions of Zionists, not Jewish people you understand, Zionists.
Jerry Fable has stated some straightforward indisputable facts as did I. Facts are facts, only the ignorant bury their heads.

Sat, 2011-02-12 20:17 — Shut up you tool (not verified)

Dear Gerry Fable: Desmond Morris used to present Zoo Time in the 1950s. As far as I know he was neither a Zionist Jew nor a newspaper proprietor. The man you're thinking of is Richard Desmond. I'm not aware of him being a Zionist either, though he is Jewish, and also a fairly nasty man.

I hope you're slightly less confused now. You utter, utter retard.

Thu, 2011-02-10 17:37 — Will Mossop (not verified)

You don't think there may be a very simple explanation for the sudden promotion of the EDL by Desmond's paper then?
An increase in anti semitic attacks primarily by islamists has been its precursor.
The EDL leadership is deeply concerned about Israel from a Zionist perspective. It routinely flies the Star Of David at its demos.
"Tommy Robinson" said multiculturalism works" when any true English Nationalist knows that it does not.
It isn't so much the English Defence League; it is more the Zionist Defence League which is using disgruntled English to do its work for them because they know they do not have the numbers themselves.

Thu, 2011-02-10 17:54 — Helen Wright (not verified)

All I know about them, is that they don't want muslism extremists living here, or given government funding and the media hate them because they deplore anyone who says anything remotely anti-muslim.

What else do they represent that is so deplorable?

That isn't a newspaper I read, but it would have been interesting to know what they said, wihout the usual lefties piling in to see who could be the most vocally outraged.

Faux outrage is the full time companion of those seeking to restrict freedom of speech. Whatever quarter is comes from.

Thu, 2011-02-10 18:38 — Paul (not verified)

The UK is truly sick and tired of dogmatic left wing politicians that defend the barbaric practices of militant Islam. The Daily Star are simply ahead of the curve and can see the wind is starting to blow in a new direction. Most European countries are seeing a similar rise of right wing movements as Islam becomes a greater and greater threat.

I'm well educated, well paid, work in a highly skilled medical job and live in a nice middle class suburb generally immune from the problems that are starting to arise. I'm probably a natural socialist, however I fully support the EDL as they represent the truth and the hard earned freedoms of UK society - something our current politicians appear to weak to uphold!

Fri, 2011-02-11 14:35 — 785ucjyqwkjj

Dan Bolton - No one tried to ban Christmas - you do know that don't you?
You're not REALLY that stupid are you?

Sun, 2011-02-13 00:20 — james mawdsley (not verified)

where's the outrage about the guardian allowing hamas spokesmen to write articles in their comments section, as far as i know the EDL have not yet killed any children.

Thu, 2011-02-10 18:41 — 785ucjyqwkjj

Helen - It seems that that that's 'all you know', but that you somehow found your way to the NS blog to tell us about it.
I take it then you don;t know about their links to the BNP, or that they are formed from football hooligan firms, or that they actually view ALL muslims as extremists, or that their Leader is a convicted violent criminal who used to be in the BNP, or that their marches usually descend into violence and racist chanting? But of course, you don't know that do you 'Helen'?

Fri, 2011-02-11 14:53 — Matthew (not verified)

Claire you are wrong and very confused with your argument and you are in a minority dhimmi if you truly believe the crap you state.
Firstly is is NOT racist to be against islam as it is not a race ,
"English and Bangladeshi live side by side, not best friends certainly, but perfectly pleasant neighbours. "
so thats great to live just side by side in the east end at best is it???
and by the way i know the area the cockneys have literally been ethnically cleansed from that area and you experience of a school with 100 different nationalities pretty much sums it all up!
out of all the nations and cultures in the world why has it been the english that have had to be ethnically cleansed via immigration and birth rates from the 3rd world???
and why do you because when you were growing up you never saw a non white English so harbour racist views where's the logic in that?
so all pakistanis are racist because the vast majority of them never see a non pakistani brown skinned face???? as of course they never had the mass immigration we have had.
At the end of the day you cant hide the truth and the edl is simply a symptom of these problems that are growing and wont go away and the edl will grow and grow with that along with its cross section of supporters.

Thu, 2011-02-10 18:53 — ? (not verified)

So with the sub heading " Far right group to filed mps & outlaw koran" witch are both lies they are supporting us.... grow up just because they publicize us doesn't mean they support us how many news paper reported on 9/11 doesn't mean they support islamists.

Thu, 2011-02-10 18:55 — Morales (not verified)

It seem that the Daily Star are too happy to have Anjem Choundary and Co be the spokemen for the muslims, even though they represent 0.01% of muslims in the UK, without that group, EDL would have hardly any proganda to spread, both party exists on the behaviour of the other and The Daily Star is it mouthpiece. It will a sad day for the UK, when the views of The Star represent us!

Fri, 2011-02-11 15:06 — Hova (not verified)

Unfortunately what we have is that the united right wing press have systematically twisted situations in order to target a minority, painting them as alien outsiders that have to be exterminated.

and of course, this isnt completely new phenomenon. Even if we go all the way back to the 6th and 7th century, exactly the same thing happened to the jews and indeed muslims within europe. Countless other cases with other religious minorities throughout the middle ages etc. It is human instinct to find a common enemy and in the 21st century, the media is a vehicle for doing so.

Now from my experience, I dont see a massive problem with muslims as a whole, but rather there are issues where muslims who live in ghettoised areas, where their parents are not well educated and indeed they are not well educated, then there is a vaccum for extremist thought to enter disguising itself as a means of identity for these lost youths. Surely one must ask that if the quran was the main reason for radicalism, why we dont see muslims in every town and city denouncing the west. Surely we must ask why there are probably more muslims working in the NHS and in our schools then there are in stupid extremist groups who really exist to piss off the majority of law abiding citizens.

Now people can argue with me and say, 'the edl only want to get rid of the extremists', and i ask how so ? Firstly, on many of their 'marches' they denounce Islam as a whole- that includes extremists and normal people who happen to be muslim. Secondly, they somehow beleive that by rioting in city centers they will eradicate extremists ? Ofc not, all they do will be to fuel the fire of resentment toward young vulnerable muslims and push them to become radicals, thus infusing the flames of hatred.

Problems exist, but the EDL have no answers to solve them beyond what i imagine are probably the most dangerous, totalitarian and orwell-on-acid means if doing so. Any person who actually aligns themselves after assessing such a reality must really learn from the history of such movements.

Tue, 2011-02-15 02:21 — Anuj Gupta (not verified)

Come on man! Mehdi is a great Senior Political Editor and I think you should show some respect.

The Labour Party is not serious political party, so I'm going to join EDL or UKIP.

That Reggie is crazy but he does make sense about the Labour Party.

Out of principle, I will never vote Tory. They are completely evil.

Reggie is going to be right about his favourite man David Cameron.

EDL or UKIP may be the only political parties to stop Cameron and Clegg.

Fri, 2011-02-11 01:32 — Claire (not verified)

Dillin, I don't know you but I believe you when you say you haven't. It worries me that the voice of the working class is focussing on scapegoating Muslims. If all the Muslims left the country tomorrow the conditions would not improve. They are not to blame for our problems. The far far majority don't want any trouble with the English, they just want to get on with their lives same as everyone else. I understand that people feel ignored, but how is uniting against the Muslims going to change that? The politicians are the ones to be angry with, not the Muslim community. Some Muslims in some Muslim countries commit acts of great violence. That does not mean that all Muslims are violent. Please. Go out and talk to some Muslims. Get to know a few. Not vocal supporters of the extremist movement, but normal people like yourself. You might be pleasantly surprised. They don't want the extremist factions speaking for them anymore than I want the EDL speaking for me.

Fri, 2011-02-11 15:06 — acg (not verified)

"[...]and by the way i know the area the cockneys have literally been ethnically cleansed from that area"

Please look up the word "literally" (and ethnically cleansed for that matter) I do not think it means, what you think it means.

Also, if Islam is not a race, how on earth can cockneys be an ethnisity?

Sun, 2011-02-13 04:53 — Gerry Fable (not verified)

Yes. You are correct. I realised it soon after and hoped no-one would pick up on it. It is 'dirty Desmond' the porn baron who owns the Daily Star. He's a Zionist Jew and the Daily Star has an agenda beyond newspaper sales by promoting the EDL. The EDL is a neocon Zionist front group. War is on the horizon with Iran, and with increasing tensions likely, the establishment is keen to promote a 'safety valve' and take away any potential support for the BNP. Hence the EDL and mainstream support from a Zionist media magnet.

http://www.vnnforum.com/showthread.php?t=121905

Fri, 2011-02-11 15:13 — Matthew (not verified)

acg im not in the business of looking up words like "literally" in dictionaries.
because islam is a religion???
and id you go from 100% of an area to under 10% and replaced overwhelmingly by 3rd world muslim Bangladeshis that's ethnic cleansing without looking up words in dictionaries for fun.
To look at it syply the other way
if Islamabad became 90% white Christian that would be ethnic cleansing also.