Nick Griffin: Turning himself into a protest vote magnet?

By David Higgerson on Nov 19, 09 02:14 PM

Remember when Nick Griffin grabbed the last MEP place in the North West thanks to a handful of votes and electoral system which seems to reward the wacky, the fringed and the racist with a legitimacy they don't deserve?

He promised to fight for the people of the North West on a whole manner of issues. And off he went, only to pop up again when announcing that European war ships should sink boats with immigrants aboard as they crossed the Med. But he's not racist.

The other week, he appeared on North West Tonight upset about the fact BNFL, who run the Sellafield nuclear plant in Cumbria, wouldn't let him come in and speak to their nuclear experts. He's on a panel in the EU looking at the future of nuclear.

The reason BNFL wouldn't let him in was because they were worried about the security risk. There is, of course, always a danger that a man seeking legitimacy for his racist policies will make a big song and dance about visiting BNFL, and therefore attract protestors who are determined to show him up for what he is.

Who is to blame for this? The protestors who do overstep the mark in expressing their hatred for the BNP's hateful policies or the man who dreamt up the hateful policies in the first place and who stirs the pot whenever he can be saying things like London being ethnically cleansed?

Griffin provided the need for protest so he only has himself to blame. Playing with fire and all that - and it's understandable that BNFL didn't want a tinderbox politician like Griffin attracting the firebugs to Sellafield.

"But how am I supposed to fight for nuclear interests if they won't let me in," wailed Griffin, clearly trying to play the victim card again. Unlike most of us, Griffin doesn't seem to have twigged that there's a lot of research on the internet. Or maybe he doesn't use the web because foreigners might also use it.

Anyway, that was a fortnight ago. Griffin this week announced he'd be standing for MP in Barking at the next general election. He's also confident the BNP will run Barking Council after the next local elections. Voxpops on Sky News - which is normally very good at delivering balance voxes on the BNP - in Barking failed to find a single supporter.

That, however, isn't my main point. Griffin has clearly chosen Barking as he feels he can win there. But what about a commitment to the North West, where he's supposed to be MEP? How can he possibly continue in his current post while actively seeking election to an office which would automatically bar him from continuing in his European role?

Is he going to continue claiming his generous allowance in Brussells while campaigning hard in Barking? Or is he going to focus on Europe while letting everyone else knock on the doors in Barking for him?

Either way, for a man who craves being seen as a serious politician, Griffin is doing a very good job of acting like someone who is only out to grab a quick protest vote.

Shameful and stupid - traits we shouldn't be surprised to see from the BNP, but worth noting all the same.