The British National Party ( BNP ) has annouced that it will be standing in 100 cvonstituencies at the forthcoming general election. Their ain in choosing this number is to exploit election regulations and get maximum publicity for their odious and disive veiws. They will be trying to get their message of race hate disseminated through the election broadcasts, mail shots and other communications. They will be targeting areas where they received a high vote in the 2004 European and London Elections and where they have local councillors.

The last few years have seen a sharp rise in the support for the fascist BNP. Between the European elections in 1999 and those in 2004 their share of the vote rose eightfold from 102,664 votes in 1999 to 808,201 votes in 2004. This masive rise represented nearly 5 percent of the vote. In the London Assemblt elections, they also came very close to winning a seat.

In other words, last year the BNP came within a hair's breadth of obtaining seats in the European Parliment and on the London Assembly. The 2004 results were the highest electoral support achieved by any fascist part in Britain. They did not get elected because of the huge vote taken by the far right UKIP ( UK Independance Party ), which got 12 MEP's and 2 London Assembly members elected, and the campaigning against the BNP.

The 2004 results represent the highest point so far in the pattern of growth in the BNP over the last 5 years.

Recent research shows the potential for this vote to grow further - unless the reasons for it are combated. One reputable survey conducted showed that 25.8% of the respondents either voted for the BNP, identified with them or considered that they might vote for them in the future.

Surveys like this-which indicate a wider potential reservoir on whch the BNP can draw-show that unless the BNP is met head on through the local campaigning and national action and by rejecting the racist myths that they propagate, they could make a qualitive breakthrough onto the national political stage. This is their aim.

The BNP is trying to emulate the growth pattern of extreme right parties across Europe. In France, Austria, Italy and elsewhere far tight and fascist parties have already made sufficient inroads to get enough votes to be elected to regional and national parliments and to the European Parliment. Local bases were built as launching pads into the national political debate and, in turn, into national parliaments. As in Britain, this rising electoral support is taking place in the context of increasing racism and the demonisation of asylum seekers and migrant communities, in particualar Muslims. Attempts to bend racism to limit the breakthrough of the far right were entirely counterproductive.

As the experience from other European countries shows, it is much harder to reverse a breathrough bu the far right after it has occured, than it is to stop it in the first place. Campaigning has raised awareness and prevented the BNP getting elected in some areas.

Why We Must Stop the BNP.

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