There are lots of arguments being had about how they got in, how it’s Labour’s fault as their vote collapsed and it happened ‘on their watch’ etc. However, having just *listened* to Nick Griffin on Radio 4 this morning, a couple of things occurred to me about the efforts to ‘Stop The BNP’.

A key part of the BNP’s appeal is being against ‘our masters’, the ‘liberal media’, the ‘liberal establishment’ – its a kick back against mainstream politics. The anti-politics “they’re all a bunch of *$£!!*s’ idea is nothing new, but has reached new heights recently. By everyone coming together to Stop The BNP, perhaps the very people who care enough about politics to see the danger are in fact playing into the BNP’s strongest message:

“We’re mad as hell about *that lot* telling us what to do, we’re not going to take it any more”

The BNP’s rhetoric is all about the promotion of the ‘indigenous white population’. They are giving people something to vote *for*, whatever other stuff is going on (not far) beneath the surface, that’s a very simple, powerful, positive idea for some people.

If you asked the ‘man in the street’ what the BNP stand *for* (or UKIP or the Greens for that matter), they’ll be able to tell you. Ask them about Con/Lab/Lib and they’ll be struggling. Or more likely, they’re all the same.

So when you haven’t got any good positive ideas to relay to the electorate, you have to settle for #thebnparetwats. How about some engagement with and proper argument against the ideas the BNP are putting out there, not childish name calling.

It’s too serious for that.