New Times,
New Thinking.

  1. Politics
15 February 2010

Will non-white people join the BNP?

And if not, er, why not?

By James Macintyre

Nick Griffin has said that he expects “a trickle not a flood” of people from ethnic minorities to join his British National Party following a ruling at an “extraordinary general meeting” in Essex allowing non-white people to join the racist group.

Well, quite, though I think he’s being optimistic. I cannot imagine any sane non-white person seeking to join such an organisation. And that there won’t be a “flood” is instructive of what sort of a party it is, behind the gloss.

Talking of gloss, here’s a worrying point.

Asked about the ruling, which was forced by the Equalities Commission, a BNP spokesman, Simon Darby, said: “Let’s put it like this — if, as a result of this, a court rules that we are now a bona fide party, that’s a great stamp of approval. If anyone says we are racist, we can say, ‘No we’re not, it’s been proved in court.’ ”

Following Griffin’s appearance on BBC1’s Question Time, this once again raises the question: is it right to bring this party in from the cold?

Subscribe to The New Statesman today from only £8.99 per month
Content from our partners
Towards an NHS fit for the future
How drones can revolutionise UK public services
Chelsea Valentine Q&A: “Embrace the learning process and develop your skills”