Many recent political debates normally refer to people’s ‘fear’ of the BNP being voted into office or why they think the BNP is ‘wrong’. Whether or not the BNP, or any organisation or person, is ‘wrong’ is an individual’s opinion. The problem with recent debates though is that the the thrust of some people’s arguments is simply that the BNP are ‘wrong’ without looking in to why they are wrong.
This could actually infuriate the problem. By only saying that someone’s views are wrong without telling them why they are wrong patronises them and does nothing to convince them why your view is correct and theirs is not. This leaves the person holding apparently incorrect views infuriated that they can neither be taken seriously or have an informed debate. It is unsurprising then that so many people are willing to turn towards a group that they believe has some merit when other political parties do nothing to engage with them and dismiss them.
Perhaps the best route to argue is based on what the BNP is in essence. The BNP are fundamentally based around protecting the idea of Britishness and try to define it in a biological-geographical way under Art 2 of their 9th constitution. However Britishness is not based on where one is born. Rather it’s a fluid concept, symbolising an attitude and outlook that has helped this country prosper. One of the reasons why these islands have prospered over thousands of years is partly a geographical stroke of luck – they’re hard to invade. As such a country under less threat of invasion has provided a safe place for threatened people to find refuge in. These people have then maintained contacts from their home countries encouraging shipping and trade routes. Businesses as a result prosper in places where it’s both safe and full of good trade routes. Britain has provided a safe and relatively accepting country of people of different backgrounds and faiths and it is this acceptance that may infact be what ‘Britishness’ is. After all, it is argued, this is one of the reasons why this country has prosperred.
If politicians want to stop people voting BNP their strategy should stop treating them as morons incapable of engaging in arguments. Rather politicians need to engage with the public, explaining why not only the BNP is bad but also why they are better. The best way to do this is to argue what it is to be British and why immigration is not only beneficial but is one of the key characteristics of Britain’s history. The longer that they treat the public in a patronising and condescending way the more likely it will be that their fears of the BNP being voted in will become a reality.
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