Elections May 3rd: Far Right politics must be defeated

There are many reasons for engaging within the local elections and referendums for Mayors on May 3rd, not least issues around; policing, housing, education, health and transport. But there is also another fundamental reason why every decent citizen must exercise their democratic right this Thursday: The vile politics of racial and religious hatred must be defeated at the ballot box.

The anti-fascist campaigning organisation Searchlight, have for many years monitored the Far Right groups, their individuals and their links to some of the most violent and hate filled organisations' in the UK and around Europe.

For example, they brilliantly exposed Gil Gould who is a leading campaigner for the English Defense League (EDL). Essex based Gil Gould who also posts as Mick Wittman on Facebook claimed he understood the motives of Breivik but disagreed with his choice of victims.

Gould wrote, ‘I understand why he did it but he picked on the wrong people, young brain washed kids was disgusting, if he had singled out the Muslim filth causing on the troubles he would most likely be seen as a hero.’

Another is David Jones. This Nazi sympathizer is standing in Calderdale. He has just been arrested for Election fraud but it beggars belief how such a blatant Nazi supporter could be allowed to participate in any UK election.

Overall Searchlight claim that there are at least 137 people standing for the British National Party (BNP), 35 for the National Front (NF), 6 for the British Freedom Party (BFP), 5 for the Democratic Nationalists (DN) and one each for the British People’s Party (BPP) and England First Party (EFP).

The biggest fear that many anti-fascist groups have in the run up to these elections is complacency. For example, in the GLA elections Far Right groups only need 5% of the vote to get an elected representative on to the GLA. This the BNP achieved last time round and they will be once again hoping that decent Londoners do not vote on May 3rd.

Wherever the politics of hatred are standing, let's make sure they are thoroughly democratically beaten.

For more information about where the Far Right groups are standing, visit:
http://www.hopenothate.org.uk/2012/elections/

Simon Woolley