Driving them underground

I support tougher race hate laws, and using them to prosecute racists.

I don't think that this is an alternative to campaigning in local communities against the BNP, which is essential, but I don't see why we can't do both.

I don't see how it helps the BNP if some of their leaders are put in prison.

I think that many people who might vote BNP think crime is an important issue and I note that campaigns which point out how many convicted criminals are active BNP members are often successful.

I think we should build lots more affordable housing, do more to protect workers on low income jobs rather than letting bosses drive wages and working conditions down and close the gap between rich and poor but the Labour government should do these things because they are the right thing to do, not because some fascists are trying to exploit these issues.

I know for a fact that it is not the case that the BNP just gets its votes from former Labour supporters, or that it only does well in the most deprived areas. A majority of BNP voters have never voted Labour, and beating them is about motivating our supporters and persuading them to go out to vote as it is about trying to win over people who vote BNP.

I think it is a good thing when other, democratic parties campaign to offer an alternative for anti-Labour votes, but I think it is a bad thing when people tell me that they are voting Lib Dem because 'Labour is just on the side of the blacks'.

And I think that this, from a friend who is a long time anti-fascist organiser, is a good point:

"Some people say that if you don't give fascists a platform for their views it just drives them underground.

Good.

Six feet underground, preferably."