the bnp in east london

[NORMANTHEDOG]

do you have a problem with the gains they made or are you happy they made them

[willspal]

No I don't have a problem and can fully understand why people felt the need to vote BNP.

I am neither happy or unhappy about them gaining votes but having seen the footage on TV and having my inlaws all being born and bred in Barking and listening to them about how the areas have changed (for the worst) its no surprise at all.

WP

[Lonnie]

I'm actually glad that the got more than was predicted, purely and simply, because now, the major parties just might sit up and take notice of what the people want.

[feebee]

I am pleased they did so well, it's about time.

[ll_billym]

I wouldn't say happy as such but if it makes the government review it's immigration policy then I think that some good will come of it.

[Lonnie]

With reference to my earlier answer, I stand by what I said, but it must never be forgotten, that the BNP actually stand for Apartheid, and the complete breakup of this country. Oh, sorry, I nearly forgot, isn't that what this present goverment is doing?.

[Philtaz]

I can't describe it as 'having a problem' with the gains they made but as others have said it's the major kick up the backside the major parties have needed for a long time.

Due to the current trend of political correctness in this country(Union Jack flags removed from town halls, piggy banks deemed offensive to Muslims, Christmas renamed Winterval etc), combined with the current shambles that allows illegal immigrants and criminals to roam this country unchecked it would appear that Enoch Powell's famous 'rivers of blood' speech may quite possibly transpire to be not too far wide of the mark.

If the current trend continues I predict a BNP Member of Parliament in the next ten years. You've only got to look at what George Galloway achieved in the last election to see that the reverse trend could happen in Britain's major cities.

[Loosehead]

It's been said before by others, the BNP are only benefiting because the current system has abandonned the general public. Surley 40 years of Liberal thinking are what is causing this. We are a short step from the ultimate left wing dream, anarchy, perhaps that's the aim.

[shammydodger]

Be careful what you wish (and vote) for out of frustration.

[gary baldy]

Far right parties historically only make short term gains. They only profit from protest voting and when the morons that vote for them realise that at best they are incompetent fools and at worst that they are violent, criminal thugs then they are usually turfed out back to the gutter where they belong.

The BNP are a meaningless non entity in the same way as Mosley's New Party, The BUF and the NF were. The BNP will eventually consigned to the dustbin of history in the same way.

[Drusilla1S]

The success of the BNP in the local elections reminds me of the situation in France recently, when Le Pen made it through to the presidential finals.

The effect of his success was twofold. The political establishment awoke to the fears of the indigenous population, but his success also rekindled the political interest of the silent majority of French people who do not hold racist views and and he was drubbed in the final contest with Chirac.

Similarly, I do not believe the BNP will maintain this level of success in Barking because all of the parties will fight these seats more aggressively next time and take greater notice of the fears, even the irrational ones, of the local populace.

If this acts as a wake up call to local and national politicians, it may actually prove beneficial in the long run and lead to necessary improvements in the housing and social conditions in Barking.

[squiperly]

I fully agree with Philtaz - you'd think from what you see and hear in the media that English people are in the minority, and everything English should be stamped out. Also, I believe that the political system is causing people to vote for extremist groups; we have the Conservatives who people aren't voting for because of bitter memories of the 80s, Labour seem to have let everyone down, Liberals - well, what can I say without breaking every PC rule in the book. There ARE no other parties for us to vote for!!! We have enormous choice in just about every other field in life, but still we have a choice of just the same old 3 political parties we've had for over a century!!! Nobody seems to be bothered about Joe Average any longer - and if the major parties are supposed to represent US (we the people that is, not the USA!) then why do we all seem to feel so excluded?!

[WendyS]

I wouldn't vote for the BNP, but I can quite understand why many people did. All the main political parties have been ignoring the immigration issue for far too long and the protest vote was probably one of anger and frustration of people in specific areas who felt that that their issues were just not being addressed.

It will be very interesting to watch how the elected BNP councillors actually perform in office.

[kev100]

If it makes the main parties sit up and think about the peoples wishes and fears how can it be bad.

[Toureman]

I agree with most of the answers, it is a wake up call to the so called sensible parties!

As every other sane person, I would not like them to actualy win an election!

[vehelpfulguy]

gary baldy says that the people who vote BNP are morons.

So people who vote for a party that is trying to protect the long term future of this country are morons.

But the people who vote labour, a party who allow rapists, paedohpiles and murderers to walk the street when then had a perfectly good chance to send them back their own country, are OK.

The people who vote labour, who have allowed hundreds of thousands of illegal immigrants to live here in the uk, are ok as well.

The people who vote labour, who have allowed crime to escalate in the years they have been in office, are ok as well.

I am not sure who are the morons here.

[gary baldy]

There is a common thread between the far right parties of inter war years and the far right parties of today and that is that they are violent, opportunist racists.

Dont try and convince yourselves that the BNP are 'trying to protect the long term future of this country'. They are a one policy party and that policy is one of hate. Outside of their racist core they have no policies and no ideas.

The BNP have lost their seat in Keithley because the morons who voted for them have realised that they are useless and have no intelligence or skill in politics so havent bothered voting for them again.

I am intrigued to see a) the BNP's other policies (ie the ones nothing to do with immigration) and b) a proven track record of capable governence.Can anyone who supports and who votes for them out there enlighten me?

[Ward-Minter]

I find it quite amusing that I am slightly more right-wing than Baroness Thatcher, deplore modern Britain, dream of bygone times and Blyton's England, believe immigration is the root of modern evil, depise anything Islamic which I find offensive and pure evil, am in total favour of both corporal and capital punishment, wish death on many people and am in favour of nuking the middle east.

However, I could NEVER vote for the BNP and have never realy considered it. Thugs in suits is just so true.

[Le Chat]

As much as it would be tempting to vote BNP, you must also realise that their policy on women is the 'kitchen sink' theory of yester year!!