BNP = British National Pride?

So the BNP gained two seats on the European Parliament in the recent elections, the first in their history.

Whatever you think of the British National Party, whether you see them as the only party actually standing up for the British people, or fascist scum, I think the ground they have made in recent years is definitely a sign of the tide turning and people finally saying 'enough'.

The actions of the British government throughout the Tony Blair years did a lot of damage and probably did more to aid the cause of the BNP than anything the party did themselves.

Formed as a splinter group of The National Front, the BNP is committed to "stemming and reversing the tide of non-white immigration and to restoring, by legal changes, negotiation and consent, the overwhelmingly white make up of the British population that existed in Britain prior to 1948" and proposes "firm, but voluntary incentives for immigrants and their descendants to return home."

Are the British people more racist in previous years? Or are they just tired of health tourists and the British Government's open door policy that allows virtually anyone to come to Britain and claim benefits.

I think the economy has also played a part in the rise of the BNP. People are tired of scrimping and saving for everything aligned with the rising cost of food, gas, housing, taxes etc. Especially when they see people who have contributed absolutely nothing to the country living it up at the tax payers expense.

The recent elections saw Europe take a swing to the right as the entire continent seem to feel the same way about their own national identity. This is in sharp contrast to the election of a US President dedicated to levelling the playing field and sharing the wealth.

Big government took a kicking in Europe and it will be interesting to see how the main parties react in the next few years but if they don't take the rise of the British National Party, and other similar parties seriously it could well be theirs, and Europe's undoing.

I remember being when living in Stockport, I first received a BNP flyer through my letterbox. I'd heard about them in the news occasionally and their name was mentioned in the aftermath of certain football violence but I didn't really know too much about them. I was surprised that they existed so close to where I was living but looking back, Stockport is an example of the predominantly white northern towns where the BNP now thrives.

2010 is an election year in the UK. Gordon Brown, if he survives that long as Prime Minister will be aiming for a General election victory but parties such as the BNP are likely to gain more seats. I think most people don't particularly like or agree with the politics of the BNP but do not see a viable alternative who has the interest of Briton's as their main concern.