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sez blarite minister margaret hodge
from the bbc
Minister says BNP tempting voters
White working class voters are being "tempted" by the British National Party as they feel Labour is not listening to their concerns, a minister has said. Employment minister Margaret Hodge said the BNP could win seats in her Barking constituency in May's council polls.
She said the area's "difficult" change from a white area to a multi-racial community had caused some people to seek out "scapegoats".
The BNP said Labour were ignoring fears over "mass immigration" to the UK
In last year's general election the BNP polled third in Barking, east London, receiving 17% of the vote.
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She said the change from a white working class community to a multi-racial community was "difficult".
"In that context, if people find there are things they can't access, you very quickly look for a scapegoat. That is what is happening," Mrs Hodge said.
"If we are to counter that perception - which the BNP seek to exploit and Migrationwatch fans - if we are to counter that we need to go out and we need to engage in a very direct way with all our voters."
The Sunday Telegraph reported that Mrs Hodge said many constituents were angry at the lack of housing and asylum seekers being housed in the area by inner London councils.
Mrs Hodge told the paper she has been out campaigning two days a week in an attempt to counter the BNP efforts.
She has found that as many as eight out of 10 white families admit they are tempted to vote BNP.
"That's something we have never seen before, in all my years. Even when people voted BNP they used to be ashamed to vote BNP," she said...
charles clark
i do think the tories and lib dems have a point here.
really though, this shows the total failure of this government to address the issue of immigration, even its own ministers are as good as saying so. by trying to stifle debate and pretend there isn't a problem, they have managed to alienate ordinary people so much that the far-right looks like an attractive option for them.
from the bbc
Minister says BNP tempting voters
White working class voters are being "tempted" by the British National Party as they feel Labour is not listening to their concerns, a minister has said. Employment minister Margaret Hodge said the BNP could win seats in her Barking constituency in May's council polls.
She said the area's "difficult" change from a white area to a multi-racial community had caused some people to seek out "scapegoats".
The BNP said Labour were ignoring fears over "mass immigration" to the UK
In last year's general election the BNP polled third in Barking, east London, receiving 17% of the vote.
...
She said the change from a white working class community to a multi-racial community was "difficult".
"In that context, if people find there are things they can't access, you very quickly look for a scapegoat. That is what is happening," Mrs Hodge said.
"If we are to counter that perception - which the BNP seek to exploit and Migrationwatch fans - if we are to counter that we need to go out and we need to engage in a very direct way with all our voters."
The Sunday Telegraph reported that Mrs Hodge said many constituents were angry at the lack of housing and asylum seekers being housed in the area by inner London councils.
Mrs Hodge told the paper she has been out campaigning two days a week in an attempt to counter the BNP efforts.
She has found that as many as eight out of 10 white families admit they are tempted to vote BNP.
"That's something we have never seen before, in all my years. Even when people voted BNP they used to be ashamed to vote BNP," she said...
Clarke warns of alienation fears
There could be "very serious" problems if people's concerns on crime and immigration are not tackled before the next election, says the home secretary.
Charles Clarke warned of the risks of voters becoming further alienated from mainstream politics.
But he said minister Margaret Hodge had overstated the British National Party threat at May's elections, although she had been right to raise the issue.
She said white working class voters were being tempted by the BNP.
The Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust also said up to 25% of voters said they "might vote" for the far-right party.
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Mr Clarke said Mrs Hodge, MP in Barking, was right to point to anger about issues such as immigration and housing but the BNP threat was only "localised".
"Personally, I think she overstated the BNP issue in this election," he said. "However, I don't think it's wrong to face up to these issues."
Conservative shadow chancellor George Osborne said Mrs Hodge had vastly overstated the case.
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Liberal Democrat Treasury spokesman Vince Cable said Mrs Hodge had been "extremely stupid in giving the BNP the kind of publicity which they would have paid good money for".
There could be "very serious" problems if people's concerns on crime and immigration are not tackled before the next election, says the home secretary.
Charles Clarke warned of the risks of voters becoming further alienated from mainstream politics.
But he said minister Margaret Hodge had overstated the British National Party threat at May's elections, although she had been right to raise the issue.
She said white working class voters were being tempted by the BNP.
The Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust also said up to 25% of voters said they "might vote" for the far-right party.
...
Mr Clarke said Mrs Hodge, MP in Barking, was right to point to anger about issues such as immigration and housing but the BNP threat was only "localised".
"Personally, I think she overstated the BNP issue in this election," he said. "However, I don't think it's wrong to face up to these issues."
Conservative shadow chancellor George Osborne said Mrs Hodge had vastly overstated the case.
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Liberal Democrat Treasury spokesman Vince Cable said Mrs Hodge had been "extremely stupid in giving the BNP the kind of publicity which they would have paid good money for".
really though, this shows the total failure of this government to address the issue of immigration, even its own ministers are as good as saying so. by trying to stifle debate and pretend there isn't a problem, they have managed to alienate ordinary people so much that the far-right looks like an attractive option for them.
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