The link between EDL and UKIP: Hate!

If we needed proof about the symbiotic relationship between Far Right extremism and Right wing parties which feed on bigotry and intolerance, we need look no further than English Defence Leagues statement: ‘Let’s support UKIP’

The band of thugs and bigots that is EDL is urging that ‘all nationalist parties should stand aside in areas that Ukip have a good chance of winning’.

And whilst UKIP themselves argue -‘We don’t want anything to do with them,’ many would say that they are different sides of the same coin. Both parties have a strong xenophobic streak, the difference is that the cloak of respectability has fallen from the EDL, has it has the BNP, UKIP and its slightly less hate filled xenophobic group are mopping up votes from both the extremist element and from Conservative heartlands, many of whom believe that Cameron should be much tougher on immigration issues.

In their usual race batting manner, Tommy Robinson, EDL’s leader, told political website Backbencher:

Who is going to change what is happening in this country from the point of immigration and Islam?"

We are more than a year away from the European elections but the battle lines are clear: Roma, Romamians, Bulgarians, Muslims, Africans, and ‘Johnny-non white-foreigner’ will be blamed for the ills of Europe - not the banking world and also the spectre of more ‘foreigners coming over’, will be used as a fear factor to ensure many more vote for bigotry and intolerance.

Sadly, fear is a greater motivation to vote than optimism. We must ensure that hope not hate prevails.

Simon Woolley