Coalition must tackle issues fuelling far right (UK)

The apparent failure of the British National Party to secure a parliamentary seat at the May 2010 general election has obscured the growth in support for far right groups.

In 2001 the BNP picked up 47,000 votes, in 2005 it had grown to 192,000. This year it was 563,000.

Based on a new analysis by iCoCo of the voting patterns for far right groups, this appears to be part of an underlying trend of gathering support which threatens the stability of the UK’s communities, and would lead to the need for greater spending by local government and their partners on dealing with tensions.

Under a proportional representation system the BNP would have picked up12 seats for the BNP.

Many people do have real concerns about migration and change within their neighbourhoods and we dismiss these concerns as ‘ignorant’ or ‘racist’ at our peril.

There is no doubt that the increased population numbers and changes in composition of local populations have increased pressure on local services and these do have to be understood and addressed.

It is true they are often exaggerated by the far right – but some are very real and pressing and are most keenly felt in poorer areas who already feel that they are under the greatest pressure.

In engaging with those arguments, there will no doubt be some racist views with which to contend, but for the most part people are simply concerned about the pace of change and will respond to debates which acknowledge the problems and where there is a willingness to address them.

Communications are key. We have to remember that the far right are constantly putting out messages, spreading alarm with misinformation and false rumours. Counter messages therefore have to be at least as pervasive and persuasive.

Formal publications, and even myth busting leaflets, may well only serve to reinforce the myths, or they may be disbelieved on the basis that ‘they would say that wouldn’t they’ or simply unread.

Again, there is no substitute for face to face engagement and debate, in which local people are involved and, whenever possible, are recruited as the champions in their local community.

There is also a need to engage with communities in different ways.

In particular, it is dangerous to depend upon self-appointed community leaders who may simply be the community ‘gatekeeper’ and who use their position to control communications to preserve their position of influence.

We need to develop a new model of ‘gateway’ community leaders who are willing and able to open their communities to wider and more varied influences and to empower them to do things for themselves.

It is therefore also necessary to have a much better ‘map’ of local communities which is constantly updated to reflect the changing patterns of diversity – and also to recognise the diversity within particular communities.

In long established communities, social capital and leadership has been slowly eroded. Working Men’s clubs, trade unions, local shops, clubs and societies have been under pressure and in some cases all but disappeared.

These local institutions also provided an opportunity to ‘air’ their views and discuss concerns about what is happening (or what they perceive to be happening) in their communities.

In common with many other parts of society, there is some evidence that the ‘glue’ of social networks which helped to bind local areas together has given way to an individualised community in which families provide their own entertainment and have little time for their neighbours.

This is to some extent recognised in the Coalition’s commitment to a ‘big society’. In the context of poorer, insular and disaffected communities, we therefore need to ask how civil society can be rebuilt to give people the opportunity to learn about others, come to terms with change and develop shared interests.

There is a danger in regarding the BNP as a spent force. They lost ground because of campaigns to oppose them on the ground in places like Barking and Dagenham, but also all of the minority parties were squeezed by the media focus on the three main parties, especially around the televised debates.

That may not be the case next time. We have to recognize that they do tap into real concerns, as the ‘bigoted woman’ incident showed and we need more debate, not less, to answer these concerns.

But we also need to recognize that whilst the BNP is part of the legitimate democratic framework they do stir up tensions in local communities and are often accompanied by more extreme far right groups who peddle hatred.

These tensions then have to be dealt with by public agencies and community groups who have to try to calm things down and offer reassurance – a costly exercise in both social and monetary terms.

Reuters
Professor Ted Cantle is executive chair, Institute of Community Cohesion at Coventry University. The opinions expressed are his own.-

Tories reinstate racist texts row councillor (UK)

A Tory councillor who admitted sending racist texts from his mobile phone has been reinstated by the board of the Conservative Party.

Cllr Richard Powell, a 24-year-old language school consultant, was suspended after it was revealed that he sent offensive texts over a six-month period.

But his membership has been “immediately reinstated” after he agreed to attend a diversity awareness course.
Cllr Powell, who represents Westbourne and West Cliff on Bournemouth council, still faces possible sanctions after the case is discussed at a group meeting at the town hall tomorrow.

His attendance on the course has been welcomed by councillors from all political groups in Bournemouth.

But they have voiced concerns that it may not be enough to repair the Conservatives’ tarnished reputation in the town.
Fellow Conservative Cllr Nick King told the Daily Echo: “It is all very well going to a training course but he needs to understand how that fits with the role of a councillor.

“We have to represent everybody. You can’t do or say anything that to you might be funny but to others might be grossly offensive. Even your private actions can have an impact on how people perceive you.”

Liberal Democrat group leader Cllr Claire Smith added: “I am certainly glad that he is undertaking the training but it does concern me that the reputation of all councillors has been damaged in this fiasco.”

Cllr Powell is one of four Conservative councillors currently under investigation and Cllr Smith added: “People are just disgusted with councillors in Bournemouth at the moment – they are tarring us all with the same brush, unfortunately.”

Christopher Hammond, community development officer at the Dorset Race Equality Council, said it was “content that the standards committee has addressed the issue” in recommending that Cllr Powell attend training.

He added: “However, we do feel that it is imperative all councillors act in a manner which is in keeping with their public position in both their private and official capacity, acting as community champions for all of their constituents regardless of race, sexuality, disability or religion.”

Bournemouth echo

Neo-Nazi claims life at risk for testifying in murder trial (USA)

A neo-Nazi “soldier” said his life will be at risk for testifying today against a recruit accused of killing a  Colorado Springs woman.

Kyle Robert Gray, an admitted member of the American Nazi Party, testified that he was the driver on Sept. 27 when Kandin Eric Wilson shot and killed Susana Pelayo-Perez during a bungled robbery.

In exchange for his testimony, Gray got a plea agreement that will allow him to serve between 20 to 34 years in an out-of-state prison for his protection.

“You’re not just talking. You’re testifying,” Deputy District Attorney Nathan Whitney said. “What do you think could happen to you?

“If they can get a hold of me, I’ll be killed,” Gray said.

Gray explained the structure of the party: how “prospects” like Wilson serve a probationary period before they become soldiers who follow orders from a general.

At the time of the shooting, he said there were about four party members in Colorado Springs. Wilson, known by his street name “Trailer,” had been turned down previously for acceptance before being given a probationary period in September 2009.

Wilson’s attorney, Philip L. Dubois, has suggested that the real gunman was a higher-up within the party for whom Gray is covering.

Dubois debunked some of the party terminology, asking if party members held elections or lobbied the Legislature.

No, Gray replied.

“The ANP is nothing more than a street gang, isn’t it?” Dubois asked.

“More so a prison gang,” Gray replied.

“So you were just out on the streets temporarily,” the attorney countered.

Dubois asked Gray about the tattoos he got when he became a soldier while in prison in 2007.

Gray pointed to an SS symbol next to his right eye and described another of an iron cross on his torso.

When Dubois asked him what SS stood for, Gray said it was a German word for “bodyguard.”

“So whose body are you supposed to be guarding?” the lawyer asked.

“My own,” Gray replied.

“I guess, one might say, Mr. Gray, isn’t that what you’re doing right now?”

Testimony continues tomorrow. The trial is expected to conclude later this week

Gazette