The recent election of two BNP candidates, Nick Griffin and Andrew Brons to the European Parliament raises two frightening issues.The idea that a party associated with racist and fascist policies should be representing Britain in Europe is of great concern to many and especially the Daily Mirror. Racism, in whatever form, is just not acceptable. These two candidates are certainly not portrayed by the media s anything less than ***. Where ever you have an election you’ll find nutters (remember the Monster Raving Looney Party) and extremists. It’s the nature of a free country (free? - well that is something many will be debating at the next elections). But the real issue isn’t so much their extreme views, nothing new there, after all the BNP have been around for decades. No, the real issue is how did they manage to get in this time?The sad fact is indifference. They won because turnout for the traditional political parties collapsed - both Griffin's and Brons' vote actually dropped from the number they received in the 2004 European Elections but even with fewer votes it got them in. (In the 92 general election, the BNP polled 1000 votes less than the Monster Raving Loony Party.) In effect, by note voted locals voted them in. So who else could get in? A chilling thought. “All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing”. These are the words that appeared at the Holocaust exhibition at the Imperial War Museum. They serve to remind us that in politics indifference is more dangerous than passion.I strongly recommend you watch V is for Vendetta. There’s a chilling but relevant warning in one scene when V takes over the emergency channels and delivers a speech about how we‘ve lost all our freedoms to a fascist party, “… and who is to blame? To find the answer we only have to look in the mirror.”Could this happen in the next general election? Probably. Getting people to vote is not easy and having watched a very limp commercial 30 times on the dreadful NHS TV channel (something I had to suffer for 3 hours in A&E on Sunday night) it didn’t make me feel like voting. In fact less.Maybe it’s a sign of the times that politicians would get more votes if they all went on Big Brother. Politicians all have an eye on the internet and mobiles, though few have a clue about them. No doubt they are all talking about Twitter because it’s the fad of the moment. But technology could change voting for good. If instead of postal votes we could all email, use a website or text our vote in I think we’d seeing a massive rise in voting. Of course then politicians would start to worry about who is now voting. Just look what happened when social networking was used several years ago in the Eurovision Song Contest to vote in a group of Finnish heavy rockers in fancy dress (the drummer was actually dressed as a dinosaur). Now I actually like Lordi’s Kiss influenced winning song Hard Rock Halleujah, but it ain’t exactly Eurovision.The "Not in my name" campaign, run by Hope not Hate is a simple but effective idea. Sign the petition and upload a picture of yourself with not in my name written on something.Could organisations like Hope not Hate could become powerful forces at the next elections? Very likely. The growth of community organisations are on the up, and I’m not just talking about online ones. In recessions we gather together, that old war time spirit. The danger for politicians is that large groups of people can swing together, or be led. This was apparent when papers like The Sun urged its readers to vote Conservative many elections ago. In a period of no strong leaders any leader with a strong view will get followers. Poeple like to be led.So who are Hope not Hate (not to be confused with Create not Hate, Trevor Robinsons’ fantastic organisation). It was set up by the anti-racist group Searchlight and The Daily Mirror as an anti BNP group. It has an impressive collection of celebrity supporters from the Sugarbabes and Eddie Izzard to Alex Ferguson. Whereas traditional political parties seems disconnected from the people this organisation feels very connected, and on an emotional level.There’s little doubt that the public has lost faith in politician. Just take the recent corruption scandals over expenses – sorry, that’s unfair, it wasn’t dishonesty but “an error of judgment.” The massive growth of bureaucracy, the loss of privacy, injustice and rising crime rates – all comments you’ll find on blogs, social networking sites and comments on news sites – has led to a disillusioned voter. Politicians seem more concerned with their PR than their public and seem to have the very opposite of the Midas touch – everything they touch turns to lead. Yet no one buys the spin or the numbers they use to prop it up. No one believes the politicians and that’s a very dangerous place to be. Even our councils have become profit driven and corrupt in values. That’s exactly the environment that opens the doors to extremists. One lesson history has taught us.Political marketing must be at an all time low and it won’t save them at the next election – my advice, save your limited funds because the ads won’t change a thing. A number of years ago I attended a debate with Sir Tim Bell at the Houses of Commons on politics and advertising. Even Tim admitted that ads make little difference.The biggest influence in the next election could come from groups like Hope not Hate, religious and community groups and even environmental groups, just look at the power and influence Greenpeace exerts. Then there’s the influence of charities like Action Aid (Who Pays? Campaign) to force change. If they are in tune with the common feeling they are in a powerful position to encourage their supporters to act, just as the newspapers use their readers.There’s no doubt that we are seeing some dramatic changes in society and in the consumer. That we are entering one of the dullest and most ineffectual periods of British politics. The consumer has unlimited power, if they but knew it, and if it isn’t used then the bad guys will abuse it. Maybe the bigger questions is, has the whole approach of party politics now reached an end and do we need a new type of social governance? One that is more honest, ethical and accountable to the people. It’s up to you, it’s your vote.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QzaqfLmUUCQhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xzbxizbc0bQ&feature=relatedhttp://action.hopenothate.org.uk/index.php/content/home-wk/http://www.london-student.net/2009/05/26/hope-not-hate-misses-the-point/
Indifference? Hmmm...moot point, that. There's usually a good turnout at general elections, where people know it counts. However, in our ill-educated society, it's just as well that not everyone votes, or else we would have more of the far right elected. As is the case in countries where voting is compulsory, such as Holland. If we want people to engage with our ridiculous first-past-the-post electoral lottery, then take any interest in our unnaturally adversarial and morally redundant political system, we will need to educate people as to what is important in life. I don't see that happening in our country. I'm finding it harder and harder to engage with politicians who are against everything and for nothing. People cannot vote for politicians they see as irrelevant to their lives. In the meantime, yes, it is an issue, but we have to get used to the existence of the far right. We are tolerant in this country. Even to extremism. But history shows only so far, only so far.
Hi Chris,
Not sure that advertising will ever be in a position to 'save' democracy; that's surely got to be down to us as a society. And society will vote if it feels compelled enough to do so. And that, I'm afraid, comes down to the quality of our politicians and our belief and trust in their party's legislative programme. It is them after all that represent us.
No, to get people voting, you have to get them engaged and at the moment, people just aren't. The expenses scandal, the fact that very little fundamentally separates the the two main parties in everyday life, the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and the banking crisis have all taken their toll on how we feel about Government and its lack of judgement. And this is the same society that is fed up with the two main parties simply playing out a contunously-looping, media-hyped, point scoring agenda; rather than taking the time to address our concerns about crime, the health service, our armed forces, the economy, climate change.
No, if we could get back to a sense that our politicians genuinely cared about public service and had empathy with the issues that face us all on a daily basis and were prepared to debate, work together and legislate like grown ups, then choice would go some way to being restored and people would see that there is a benefit to voting.
Mark (above) makes the point that when it counts - as in a general election - turnout increases. Politicians, we as society etc, need to make it count far more than we do. Public outcry at the recent expenses scandal shows what 'people power' is capable of (however sensationalised), so all is not lost.
Adding additional voting forums (such as sms, social networking, email, etc) should make it all the easier to 'make the effort' too (and governemnt ignores these new technologies at its peril - just look at the recent US elections as an example of how the parties and the individual campaigns effectively embraced the new technologies). But no, advertising, social networking etc won't save democracy - we need to shout and do that from every available channel and forum possible. We're in control and we have the most ability that we've ever had to make the changes needed to improve our lot.
Nice blog - keep them coming.
Tim
In bad times, Joe public has a grass is greener mentality to voting. Placing their vote from one to the next, seeing if they can do any better. In times of genuine civil unrest the grass seems no greener anywhere & the fascists benefit.
Every party has been tarnished to varying degrees, given the recent events & we are the ones who stand to suffer. it's a case of "Their cook up, our ass".
I hope that the success of the BMP party shocks & motivates more votes. this could be more powerful than any traditional ad campaign.
CHRIS ARNOLD
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