BNP Sorcery & Witchcraft

With regards to the weather the day has been a wretched affair with heavy rain in the morning of the kind that makes it a task of Herculean proportions just remove the bed covers. To compound this an icy, energy-sapping wind has prevailed for most of the day forcing me to get the wood burning stove into action before most of today's Premier League fixtures had even started.

A quick venture into Comet and Currys on an oven reconnaissance mission earlier in the afternoon had revealed a distinct lack of Christmas shoppers and plenty of empty parking spaces.

Switching to politics and the impact of the recent "Racism Cuts Both Ways" campaign, which of course was another splendid BNP initiative, has not stopped at the doors of Westminster. Last Thursday notice of an intended Early Day Motion was presented in direct response to our efforts. Glancing through the wording, I couldn't help but chuckle about the general spreading falsehoods theme which would not have looked out of place in a 17th Century trial for witchcraft. In fact just to add a bit of panache they could have added something about the BNP poisoning wells and turning milk sour as well.

In any case here it is complete with a list of the instigators and supporters so you can judge for yourselves:

216 BRITISH NATIONAL PARTY RACISM CUTS BOTH WAYS CAMPAIGN 9:12:08
Jon Cruddas
Frank Dobson
Simon Hughes
Mr Charles Walker
Adam Price
Mrs Louise Ellman

* 32 Glenda Jackson Mr Jim Devine Jim Dobbin John Battle Colin Burgon John Hemming Mrs Ann Cryer Mr Neil Gerrard Alan Simpson David Lepper Mr Mike Hancock.

That this House deplores the Racism Cuts Both Ways campaign being waged by the British National Party (BNP); believes that this is a deliberate attempt by the BNP to whip up racism by spreading lies and misinformation; is particularly concerned that the BNP is now intending to target secondary school children; and deplores the incitement of racial violence by the spread of falsehood in such propaganda.

Something that you should all note however is the amendment proposed by the Democratic Unionist Party MP for East Londonderry, Gregory Campbell. I am not 100% sure of his motives, but he has intrigued me and a number of other people by suggesting this should be tagged on the end:
`but does nonetheless accept that, whether fascists or democrats use the phrase, racism does indeed cut both ways.'

Whatever sentiments Mr Campbell is trying to convey however, seem to be completely beyond the understanding of Labour life peer Lord Mitchell. On Wednesday in the House of Lords, whilst trying to assert his own identity, for which of course he had every right, he seemed totally oblivious that as a consequence he was negating the indigenous population to the status of a non-people in their own land.

The issues that came up were interesting. We talked about being British Muslim and being British Jewish. We talked about integration. As a Jew I talked a lot about assimilation and the fact that the Jewish population in this country is declining rapidly because of intermarriage. To a lot of people that is a threat to the Jewish community. We talked about Sharia law. We talked about the way universities deal with examinations being held on religious holidays and the issue of food that is common to both religions. We both have some rather arcane and difficult dietary requirements that are difficult for other people to understand. Nevertheless, for observant Jews and Muslims, these are very important. Most of all, we talked about the real common threat to both communities of the resurgence of the BNP and everything that it is doing. Whether it is attacking Muslims today or Jews yesterday, it is the same people attacking all of us in the same way.

Imagine, if you will, the squealing and howling from the likes of Lord Mitchell and his fellow Labourites should anyone from the BNP ever dare to discuss the "threat" to and "decline" of the white population due to their constant promotion of mixed race relationships.

Moving up to the north east of England and the superb electoral performance by the BNP's Mark Walker on Thursday in a County Durham by-election is still the talk of the town. Mark, a fellow ornithologist, lost to Labour by only two votes, a fact that seems to have caused his opponents a great deal of distress. The Northern Echo( BNP Claims Moral Victory in Poll ) printed a follow up article this morning containing this quote from Mark:

“The result showed the BNP as Labour’s only opposition in County Durham establishing the party firmly on the political map.
“I am disappointed, but it is a tremendous result for me to stand in a town that I am not even from and come this close.
“It just goes to show how far the party has come and it makes me want to work even harder.
“All we are trying to do is improve our local community and make the country a better place.”

Meanwhile Labour's Henry Nicholson seemed to be afflicted by a state of denial when he informed the paper:

“He got the sympathy vote following the publicity around losing his job, but the vast majority of people we encountered do not want to see the BNP in.
“The BNP make a lot of promises that are not even in a town council’s remit, but underneath all the dogma they are an extreme right-wing party and the vast majority of good Shildon people can see that.”

Can I ask everyone to be on their guard against people ringing up and claiming to be an official from the Party? We have recently received reports of people telephoning members claiming to be from BNP head office, asking them ridiculous questions and recording their responses. This of course is illegal, but you can nearly always tell when your telephone conversations are being recorded by the presence of soft beeps every couple of seconds or so.

Finishing off with a snippet of nature news provided for us by one of our Nottingham councillors. It concerns a bird that I have never seen before and one making only its second recorded trip to Nottinghamshire. The penduline tit, might sound like a nasty illness afflicting the elderly but in fact it is a most beautiful little creature. You can read the full report here, but I'll provide you with an RSPB photo nevertheless.