Tommy Robinson, the leader of the English Defence League, is set to be unveiled as the deputy leader of the British Freedom Party. There's been talk for more than a year of the EDL leadership wanting to become involved in mainstream politics, but this is the most concrete development yet. I'm optimistic that this could signal the beginning of the end for the EDL, rather than the beginning of a new influential era.
The far right have been specifically targeting Muslim communities for more than a decade. Since 9/11 and the ensuing war on terror, the far right found in Muslims a vulnerable scapegoat to focus on. Muslims were being routinely interrogated in mainstream public discussions which the far right capitalised on fully. Tommy Robinson's incursion into politics will not change much then. It will just be business as usual for the far right.
In fact, Muslim communities and anti-fascist campaigners may benefit significantly from this development. Firstly, the EDL's aggressive marches will have to be curtailed since Tommy Robinson will be forced into having some degree of public accountability. He will have to tone down his rhetoric to woo voters, thus taking the edge off his typically fiery style. Quite simply, he will have to become somewhat politically-correct which will be devastating for him, since his supporters adore him for his perceived efforts to speak up against political-correctness. Gradually, his existing supporters will become disenfranchised with him as he jumps the necessary political hoops and loses credibility wearing a suit, shirt and tie.
Welcoming Tommy Robinson into the political process also means that his Islamophobic rhetoric can be challenged head-on. On the streets, Tommy Robinson is heard and applauded. In political chambers, he will be undone. I doubt that he will convince many people to vote for him believing as I do that 'live and let live' is the motto that best describes the average Briton's outlook. Moreover, Tommy Robinson's existing supporters are less likely to participate in elections and other formal democratic procedures than they are in alcohol-fuelled processions, meaning his existing fan base will not do much for him on the ballot paper. Ultimately, the presence of both EDL and BNP activists in political contestations will fracture the far right vote, meaning they will weaken each other by depriving each other of votes.
What worries me more than far right politicians like Tommy Robinson and Nick Griffin is the instances when xenophobia creeps into the words of mainstream politicians. Gordon Brown's 'British Jobs for British Workers' slogan was controversial and David Cameron's dismissal of multiculturalism is concerning. These types of declarations from our country's leaders leave many ethnic and religious minorities wondering what this nationalistic fervour alongside the termination of multiculturalism means for their futures in Britain. Alongside all of this, UKIP are on the ascent, the political party that I have heard some refer to as "the posh BNP". Our real concern then should not be about Tommy Robinson, but about the more subtle demonising of immigrants and minorities that is a reoccurring feature of mainstream British politics.
Of course, it would be convenient for everyone if Tommy Robinson would keep himself busy running his tanning salon in Luton, but if he is going to be involved in politics, I'd rather see him being defeated in debates and failing in local elections, than see him leading violent marches that achieve nothing but breed fear and hatred. Although we must never be complacent in challenging the xenophobia of the far right, I'm optimistic that the EDL are in decline and that Tommy Robinson will achieve very little in mainstream politics.
Follow Dr. Leon Moosavi on Twitter: www.twitter.com/Leon_Moosavi
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some more facts areas of the UK with high muslim population suffer from the following, and these are facts, unless someone can prove me wrong.
high crime rate
poor performing schools
dirty streets
hospitals full children suffering from illnesses due to incestuous marriages
high unemployment and benefit fraud
property prices fall
high drug problems
Mosque on every corner
women covering their faces, how can you identify them when they hit your car in a accident???
Shall i carry on???
At this rate Great Britain wont be that great for long..
The problem is they just dont listen, until it is too late.
When I was at school I spoke my mind in an intelligent way and proved many teachers and pupils wrong on many matters regarding worldwide issues but was shunned because I did not follow the line.
Years later meeting them again in the street and they say, do you know you were right about that.
It makes me happy and sad, because some things can change, but some cant.
Regards
Mandatory 5 Years For Anyone Carrying A Knife
Capital Punishment For Murders, Peadophiles and Terrorists
Reintroduction Of The Link Between Earnings And Pensions
Christian Assemblys Back In Every School In Britain
Return Of The Married Mans Tax Allowence
Matrons Back On Hospital Wards
Abolishment Of Human Right Laws That Only Get Used By Criminals
Abolishment Of Political Correctness Which Everyone Knows Is Nonsense
As you can see all policies that are sensible and would bring about real change for the better, but the media and other political parties paint them as " racists " because the BNP point out that over populating Britain with immigrants effects every aspect of British peoples life.
The only good thing about the EDL is that is gets young people thinking about Politics and as they mature instead of thinking they have achieved something by bricking a takeaway, they will protest at the ballot box and vote BNP, the only party that could deliver real change, the only party that is honest... the only party to vate for.
Must be good, then. Capitals Letters Always Means Increased Truth.
In my eyes the EDL a group with fair complaints and some good points, but they lack the education to articualate them correctly and to know where to stop. This is compounded by the fact they are anti PC, well into football culture and tend to get drunk. I have to add the ones I know hardly know what they are doing, and while everyones getting high and mighty about them, they laugh it off genuinly not understanding what the big deal is. With that i n mind, I do agree that as RObinson moves into the politcal arena, all these shortcomings will be exposed and it will break the group down....Provided we give them enough rope, and we aren;t on their case before they finish talking!
counter protesters can march and shout their concerns but they should do it on a different day, the problem is that neither know the meaning of respect..
Firstly you should live within the laws and traditions of the country you live in and not try and change it, If you dont like it then go to a country that supports your faith, religion and ideals, may it be communism or islamic
Seems like the Tories are even more pro immigration (in reality) than Labour!
Cloistered communities are a two-way street. The truth is that the existing community has to make an effort too, as you say - "there has to be integration from both sides". But too often one lot sits back, making stupid noises about how the other lot "must integrate".
When you say "the language of the land", which one? English? Scots gaelic? Irish gaelic? Welsh? British sign language?
"Sharia law" means "Highway Code" - I think you mean Shari'ah. Most of Shari'ah is about religious observation, then next chunk is about civil law, and a vanishingly small proportion is about criminal law. I know that some Muslims, bizarrely, want criminal Shari'ah law (they would quickly regret it if they had it), but any attempt to get this should be seen as an attempt to pervert the course of justice - which it is.
There's nothing wrong with an arranged marriage, provided that both parties freely consent.
A man's honour has a lot to do with protecting people weaker than themselves. If a man kills a member of his own family,he has lost it.
Time to challenge his rabid adversary to a contest of conscience? To hold hands and leap off Luton’s tallest high-rise. Let the superior entity reveal itself, by buoying up its earthly representative. Oh dear, neither seems to have survived.
"I'm optimistic that"
three simple questions or less, can reduce any professed infallible understanding to dust.
"Muslims were being routinely interrogated"
Anyone who lays claim to great knowledge deserves a disciple at their feet. Posing queries that’ll bring that doctrine tumbling down.
"public accountability"
Why hide behind beliefs that are not open to challenge? Truth is always strengthened by examination. Only falsehood fears such foraging.
'live and let live' is the motto"
test what is taught is the mantra
"alcohol-fuelled processions"
and Dervish dance derived delusions.
"What worries me more than far right politicians"
is the universal self-deception prevalent in all humans. That could be overcome so simply and in seconds.
"Our real concern then should"
be ending our inbuilt ignorance, once and for all. That’s the answer to practically everything that ails our species.
"being defeated in debates"
is the fate awaiting each individual’s certainty. Lets do it soon. You know it’ll make (us finally see) sense.
The EDL has began to attack leftwing meetings and paper sellers.Only last Saturday [April 28th] a 69 year old was hospitalised with a badly damage eye after being attacked on a bookstall by 15 EDL supporters in Lewisham.
Over the last 15 years the BNP has made a determined effort to swop the boots of the National Front for the suits of a mainstream party and achieved some electoral success. But it has in the end failed because it remained a fascist party, led by fascists and attracting such people as its activists. The exposure of this did not come about through the 'political process' - through for example the feeble questioning of 'Tommy Robinson' by Jeremy Paxton on Newsnight - but through the persistance opposition of organisations such as Unite Against Fascism and other anti-fascist groups.
We should have learned that fascists only use the democratic process to build a suffciently large minority that allows them to seize power and destroy the opposition. The vital point is to prevent them reaching that critical mass. That needs constant vigilance and vigourous opposition.
Jeffrey Hurford
The EDL and BNP are both supported by a varied and cross society membership; just because they have "simplified" issues to gain support does not alter the fact that as long as they follow the democratic process and stay within the law, the people who choose to support and vote for them have a right to be heard.
Just as is the right of the very vocal, Muslim hatefilled and aggressive "religious" leaders and their followers who carry their anti Western/British ideas onto British streets each week with little or no counter stance/demonstrations for other muslims?
We have moved on from that stage of multiculturalism which gave immigrant cultures a free pass when it came to their attachment to premodern anti-democratic and illiberal ideas and ways. Everything is on the table now. These are times when talking will be tougher on all sides.
"On the streets, Tommy Robinson is heard and applauded. In political chambers, he will be undone."
Because inside the mainstream political process no one is interested about what people think and feel, unless there's an election on.
Whether you agree with Tommy or not, the fact is that he's out there with other extremists, being listened to and applauded. Meanwhile the Oxbridge educated, white upper middle-class faces cram the front benches of parliament utterly clueless,