Advertisement
Non-voters blamed for BNP success
Reporter: DAWN ECKERSLEY
Date online: 09/06/2009
NORTH-WEST Euro-MP Chris Davies claims those who failed to vote played a big part in the British National Party gaining its first European seat.
Nick Griffin, leader of the far right party, is now a Euro-MP after scoring 8 per cent of the North-West vote.
Despite the BNP polling 5,435 votes in Oldham, Liberal Democrat Mr Davies, who was re-elected on Sunday, said: “There will be a lot of good people who wanted to make a gesture of protest so did not bother to vote. As a result, they woke up to find they had a BNP representative.
“In the European Parliament, the BNP will join a small group of racists and hate-filled extremists from other countries. The vast majority of Euro-MPs know from Europe’s history that their ideas lead only to death, destruction and misery.”
Labour’s Oldham East and Saddleworth MP Phil Woolas, the border and immigration minister, vowed that the Government would not scapegoat immigrants.
He added: “Our shake-up of the immigration system is bringing better border controls, visa management and citizenship policies to manage migration and help genuine immigrants to integrate better.”
Former Failsworth School pupil Lee Jasper (50), who was former London Mayor Ken Livingstone’s race adviser, said the BNP’s success posed a huge threat to the black community.
He added: “It’s a critical moment. We are suffering a national crisis in confidence in race relations.”
The BNP also won a seat in Yorkshire and Humberside when Andrew Brons won 10 per cent of the vote.
Defiant Mr Griffin said: “It’s a great victory and we’ll go on from here. The country is a bankrupt slum — we have 30 years to turn things around and save this country.”
Church election views
GREENACRES Reverend Neil Chappell is inviting Oldhamers to share their thoughts on the European elections.
Reverend Chappell will travel to Lyon in France this summer for the 13th Assembly of the Conference of European Churches where he will represent the Congregational Federation Churches of England, Scotland and Wales.
The meeting will take place at Greenacres Congregational Church next Tuesday at 7.30pm and everyone is welcome.
There will be a short presentation on the assembly followed by an open discussion.
Have Your Say
BNP’s success posed a huge threat to the black community wat a load of rubbish the british people are at risk with the way labour and other look after this country and letting in all sorts of people who milk the place dry claiming benifits and stuff
The BNP show there lack of any patriotism when they describe Britain as a "bankrupt slum". In fact the UK is still the 4th largest economy in the world and in the same dominant position it was a 100 years ago.
The success in the polls is limited only 7.9% of those who voted actually voted BNP which means over 90% didn't want a far right extremist party to represent them.
maybe bnp won because people are fed up of no jobs for the british when eu workers come to this country and work for next to nothing
Chris Davies is quite correct those who failed to vote in the Euro Election played a part in the BNP gaining a seat in the European parliment.
However, the vast majority of the blame lies with the MP's themselves exorbitant expenses claims.
It is totally scandalous that a Euro MP can claim in excess of £300'000 per annum in expenses.
Society in every state is a blessing, but government even in its best state is but a necessary evil in its worst state an intolerable one. Wherefore, security being the true design and end of government, it unanswerably follows that whatever form thereof appears most likely to ensure it to us, with the least expense and greatest benefit, is preferable to all others. Thomas Paine 1776
Chris D avies is quite correct...those who didn't vote should be ashamed of themselves...people died and made many many sacrifices to win the right to vote.
The people who did not vote are the people who do not care what happens.You can’t second guess how they would vote. If voting was compulsory we would all be shocked at the outcome. Citizens of all parties are becoming sickened by the shocking abuse of the Human Rights laws, the sheer greed of many of our politicians and the crippling under manning of ALL our enforcement agencies. The people who vote UKIP, BNP and the like are trying to tell the big guns something. I hope they are listening!
Interesting that Chris Davies thinks the BNP success is because of people failing to vote. I was thinking exactly the same in his case.
The BNP are true politicians, they talk a good game to the media and word things just right! However when you start to dig deeper then you find out the truth, if only people had taken their time coming to a decision. I did not vote and I understand how people can say I am partly responsible, however if you could give me a party worth voting for then maybe I would have voted!!! I have no faith in the world of poliTRICKS!
"Race adviser"says it all really.
apathy,greed and not giving a second thought to the TAX paying british people got the BNP in, WAKE UP you clown
people are fed up to the back teeth with the lot of you, you might actually go to brussels to do some work now, your gravy train has lost its wheels
Just a point for BNP supporters - there are MORE British people living and working abroad than there are immigrant workers in the UK. Do you want them to be forcibly brought home?
I was almost a non-voter. I disagreed with Heath's decision to take us in & Wilson's fiddled YES referendum. I disagree even more strongly with the obscenity of MEPs like Chris Davies cuddling up to an income of around £300,000 p.a. They are simply greedy opportunists, being paid with our money, to stab us in the back. But I voted (EU Dem. as a protest against sticky fingered MPs) just to keep faith with those real men lying under white crosses in various War cemeteries.
i wonder if there will be an expenses claim for losing their deposit??
Should Mr Davies wish to see the reason why people failed to vote or cast a protest vote for the BNP, should he wish to see why voters are fed up with greedy trough swillers, should he need to see how powerless & inneffective our representatives are, should he need to see where our money is wasted: Then let him buy a mirror.
im glad bnp got in and sick of hearing "disolusioned labour voters didnt know who to turn too" YES we did know what we was doing when we voted. those that voted for bnp were making a point weather they wanted them in or not.
kardan .i agree with what your saying but eu workers dont come here and work for next to nothing they get nmw and do tonnes of overtime which they can do because all their family are back home,i know a few that rent a house and 4 share it so the rent is cheap they send all the money home so money goes out of the economy but not back in as they dont spend it here. it is wrong and im sick of it too
Not sure were Chris Davies is coming from, but everyone I have spoken to voted BNP and I am not talking protest voters, they are sick of the one sided system, look at the latest 400 seater mosque with 20 car park spaces
Where I live voting in federal elections is compulsory and consequently all the rubbish that wouldn't normally get off their lazy arses rock up and vote ALP (labour) ......
'Where there's muck, there's brass!' as the saying goes. Readers may be intersted to know that the word 'system' comes from Latin and refers specifically to the sewer pipes running under ancient Rome. So when the LibLabCon say the 'system needs reforming' they mean it will carry what is always has but less openly. Whopeee....bring on the Bang & Olufsen!
What Chris Davies hasn't said is that if the EU elections were still first past the post instead of propotional rep the BNP would not have won any seats. Lib Dem policy is to support PR which means the election of extreme parties -ergo Davies supports the election of the BNP.
If you don't like extreme parties gaining seats don't support PR!
What a wakeup call! At last! Yes AT LAST!
Lets hope our 3 main parties take note, and jack up there acts and start to deliver!
There again - Maybe I am just dreaming..........
Can't find a reference to sewage pipes & systems on-line. I must have the wrong computer cistern.
no the only ones to blame are Labour! failure to run this country is the only thing to blame for the BNP's success!
all the political parties will be pleased the bnp got 2 seats,because all the news coverage about the bnp seats divert the attention away from their currupt goings on.the people voted for this party,because they are sick of the likes of these politicians sending this country to the dogs,most probably,if every one went out to vote,the bnp would have got a lot more votes,so mr davies wake up and smell the coffee
By keefey @ 09/06/2009 12:56:09
Report this comment (7490)