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Britain First

(103 Posts)
growstuff Tue 28-Sept-21 05:38:30

The far-right group Britain First has registered as a political party.

In the past, it has been fined £44,000 by the Electoral Commission, has been fined for harassment and the illegal wearing of a political uniform. At least one member has been jailed for religious harassment.

I noticed that some posters had opinions about rumours that Gina Miller is about to form a political party and I'm sure they have opinions about Britain First.

JaneJudge Tue 28-Sept-21 13:48:09

there is the EDL too
don't they all very much stand for the same thing?

growstuff Tue 28-Sept-21 13:53:20

GrannyGravy13

growstuff and those who are not Conservative SPAD wannabes are Labour ones…

According to my son, there's not a big group of Labour wannabes - not on his course anyway.

growstuff Tue 28-Sept-21 13:55:13

JaneJudge

there is the EDL too
don't they all very much stand for the same thing?

Apparently the EDL and Britain First hate each other.

growstuff Tue 28-Sept-21 13:58:05

GrannyGravy13

growstuff all part of the con ?

I can honestly say whilst bringing up five children, sharing the running of our business with DH and spending all of every school holiday abroad (at my parents) I barely thought of politics until the lead up to elections. I cannot recall having political debate with friends much either, we were all to busy living

So how did you decide your vote?

Sorry, but a vote is a very valuable tool and needs to be used wisely.

PS. Bringing up two children as a single parent and holding down a full-time job and doing tutoring as an extra wasn't a walk in the park either, but I managed to keep abreast of what was going on.

GrannyGravy13 Tue 28-Sept-21 14:05:29

growstuff if you read my post I barely thought of politics until the lead up to elections that is when I made/found the time to be aware of what the parties were promising and what my constituency MP had done/was intending to do.

GillT57 Tue 28-Sept-21 14:07:32

I am curious as to what the 'left wing ideologies' are that some object to? I have seen some people I know, really nice, kind people, get suckered in by the Britain First group, simply by posting threads about being against animal cruelty ( who the hell is?), thus the 'mailing list' gets widened. I had to point out to one friend that by liking and sharing a tragic photograph of an abused dog, she was opening her friends' FB accounts to the vile propaganda of Britain First. She had no idea. I find it frightening that there are enough people who follow them and support them that make it viable for this group to exist.

Scones Tue 28-Sept-21 14:47:01

'The only people not seeing through their mask are idiots with little or no grasp of politics' I'm afraid I disagree with this GrannyGravy13

I'm ashamed to say my brother supports Britain First. He is not an idiot, far from it. He is an intelligent person who had all the benefits of a good education and an upbringing full of love, kindness and without any particular political bias.

For a reason I cannot understand he is full of hate and anger. He is anti-Islamic, anti-immigration, racist and has extreme far right beliefs. Britain First provides a focus for that.

That is the danger of groups like them. They bring together people with an agenda of hate, give them a feeling of legitimacy and belonging. They give them hope that their ideology will thrive and triumph.

Nobody believes they are an idiot. Everyone who supports Britain First thinks they are doing so for good, legitimate reasons and to dismiss them as idiots is to miss the point.

Britain First has failed before but I don't think we should for one moment ignore them because of that.

lemongrove Tue 28-Sept-21 14:56:25

Riverwalk

^They have a right to form a party just like Gina Miller, but just like Gina Miller you don’t have to take any notice of them.^

Oh I'm not sure about that Kandinsky - Gina Miller as far as I remember operates within the law and doesn't threaten other people, in fact someone went to jail for threatening her, so yes you don't have to take any notice of her or her party.

BF on the other hand, can hardly be ignored, based on their past behaviour.

They can both be ignored ...by any of us on here.Which is what I shall do.

PippaZ Tue 28-Sept-21 15:22:06

Riverwalk

^They have a right to form a party just like Gina Miller, but just like Gina Miller you don’t have to take any notice of them.^

Oh I'm not sure about that Kandinsky - Gina Miller as far as I remember operates within the law and doesn't threaten other people, in fact someone went to jail for threatening her, so yes you don't have to take any notice of her or her party.

BF on the other hand, can hardly be ignored, based on their past behaviour.

I thought neo-nazi groups were banned? I can't see how this differs, reading what has been posted as their view of what they stand for. The issue is not that they are standing as a party - although that ligitimises them for the naive - but on the street where they feel they are "allowed" to do as they please because of this.

It won't be long until we here the "Mother's Cross" is being handed out to those women forced to give birth.

We really do live in the most awful times.

lemongrove Tue 28-Sept-21 15:24:05

We have always lived in awful times, just that some are worse than others.
Hard to beat the 20 th century though for awful times.

JaneJudge Tue 28-Sept-21 15:26:01

growstuff

JaneJudge

there is the EDL too
don't they all very much stand for the same thing?

Apparently the EDL and Britain First hate each other.

I can't help being a bit bemused by this. Is one North of the river and one South? confused

growstuff Tue 28-Sept-21 20:50:12

JaneJudge

growstuff

JaneJudge

there is the EDL too
don't they all very much stand for the same thing?

Apparently the EDL and Britain First hate each other.

I can't help being a bit bemused by this. Is one North of the river and one South? confused

No, it's a tribal desire to be the top dog.

growstuff Tue 28-Sept-21 20:53:57

PippaZ

Riverwalk

They have a right to form a party just like Gina Miller, but just like Gina Miller you don’t have to take any notice of them.

Oh I'm not sure about that Kandinsky - Gina Miller as far as I remember operates within the law and doesn't threaten other people, in fact someone went to jail for threatening her, so yes you don't have to take any notice of her or her party.

BF on the other hand, can hardly be ignored, based on their past behaviour.

I thought neo-nazi groups were banned? I can't see how this differs, reading what has been posted as their view of what they stand for. The issue is not that they are standing as a party - although that ligitimises them for the naive - but on the street where they feel they are "allowed" to do as they please because of this.

It won't be long until we here the "Mother's Cross" is being handed out to those women forced to give birth.

We really do live in the most awful times.

The Electoral Commission claims it's not within their brief to take into account a party's policies when it decides who should be registered. They look at whether the party is following the rules.

PS. Extreme right-wing parties are not banned in the UK - only if they are deemed to be "terrorists".

growstuff Tue 28-Sept-21 20:54:49

lemongrove

Riverwalk

They have a right to form a party just like Gina Miller, but just like Gina Miller you don’t have to take any notice of them.

Oh I'm not sure about that Kandinsky - Gina Miller as far as I remember operates within the law and doesn't threaten other people, in fact someone went to jail for threatening her, so yes you don't have to take any notice of her or her party.

BF on the other hand, can hardly be ignored, based on their past behaviour.

They can both be ignored ...by any of us on here.Which is what I shall do.

But they won't be ignored by everybody.

growstuff Tue 28-Sept-21 20:56:23

GrannyGravy13

growstuff if you read my post I barely thought of politics until the lead up to elections that is when I made/found the time to be aware of what the parties were promising and what my constituency MP had done/was intending to do.

Yes, I did read your post and I still feel that political awareness isn't just for the run-up to elections.

Petera Tue 28-Sept-21 20:59:33

JaneJudge

growstuff

JaneJudge

there is the EDL too
don't they all very much stand for the same thing?

Apparently the EDL and Britain First hate each other.

I can't help being a bit bemused by this. Is one North of the river and one South? confused

These people explained it

www.youtube.com/watch?v=WboggjN_G-4

GrannyGravy13 Tue 28-Sept-21 21:05:46

growstuff some folks actually have lives, family, hobbies etc., and do not eat, breath, live politics every day.

JaneJudge Tue 28-Sept-21 21:10:30

GrannyGravy13

growstuff some folks actually have lives, family, hobbies etc., and do not eat, breath, live politics every day.

For some people their interests might lie in politics. My Mum (alive & family) was very active in politics and still is, so it was something we were taught to follow and question and I have encouraged my own children to do the same. Some people are interested enough in it, it is consuming like a hobby and some people's hobbies are affected by politics too

Petera, I will have a look tomorrow smile I am getting over the stress of getting home in this weather confronted by so much mayhem at petrol stations sad irony was a fuel tanker was stuck in the mayhem confused

GrannyGravy13 Tue 28-Sept-21 21:15:08

JaneJudge I do not disagree with your points, I am just trying to say that not everyone is totally involved/watching politics 24/7

GagaJo Tue 28-Sept-21 21:19:51

GrannyGravy13

growstuff some folks actually have lives, family, hobbies etc., and do not eat, breath, live politics every day.

There is a difference between living and breathing politics and maintaining a watchful eye. While working full time and having a family.

It takes no longer to watch or read the news (a range of international sites, rather than just the Telegraph or the Mail) than it does to scroll through Gransnet or watch an episode of something on the TV.

growstuff Tue 28-Sept-21 21:27:47

It is absolutely obvious from reading some comments (not by GG13) that many GNers don't even keep an unwatchful eye on politics, repeat myths and still have a vote. That's dangerous because it doesn't take much for savvy operators to put forward populist policies and to manipulate the electorate.

I agree with you GagaJo.

As I'm sure GG13 knows, south Essex was a BNP stronghold and there were even BNP councillors. The people who voted for them haven't gone away and might very well vote for Britain First. Let's hope they never have to use the "I didn't know my vote would lead to this" excuse.

growstuff Tue 28-Sept-21 21:33:28

GrannyGravy13

growstuff some folks actually have lives, family, hobbies etc., and do not eat, breath, live politics every day.

Some people actually have lives, family, hobbies, a demanding job and manage to keep abreast of current affairs and politics.

But - hey- I forgot, apparently I have a boring life. hmm

growstuff Tue 28-Sept-21 21:38:42

JaneJudge

GrannyGravy13

growstuff some folks actually have lives, family, hobbies etc., and do not eat, breath, live politics every day.

For some people their interests might lie in politics. My Mum (alive & family) was very active in politics and still is, so it was something we were taught to follow and question and I have encouraged my own children to do the same. Some people are interested enough in it, it is consuming like a hobby and some people's hobbies are affected by politics too

Petera, I will have a look tomorrow smile I am getting over the stress of getting home in this weather confronted by so much mayhem at petrol stations sad irony was a fuel tanker was stuck in the mayhem confused

When I first went to Germany as a 15 year old, I was struck by how politically aware 15 year olds were. As part of the denazification process after WW2, a conscious effort was made to make people more aware of politics, so they became people who didn't just have stuff done to them. It started in school and there is a culture of political awareness. Of course, people disagree, but their arguments are informed. I suspect that's how they're mature enough to accept compromises in coalition governments.

GrannyGravy13 Wed 29-Sept-21 07:55:09

growstuff I have never implied that you have a boring life.

We here are posting on the N & P thread so obviously we have an interest in both. I am just surprised that folks are inclined to think that everyone is just as interested.

PippaZ Wed 29-Sept-21 10:39:54

growstuff

PippaZ

Riverwalk

They have a right to form a party just like Gina Miller, but just like Gina Miller you don’t have to take any notice of them.

Oh I'm not sure about that Kandinsky - Gina Miller as far as I remember operates within the law and doesn't threaten other people, in fact someone went to jail for threatening her, so yes you don't have to take any notice of her or her party.

BF on the other hand, can hardly be ignored, based on their past behaviour.

I thought neo-nazi groups were banned? I can't see how this differs, reading what has been posted as their view of what they stand for. The issue is not that they are standing as a party - although that ligitimises them for the naive - but on the street where they feel they are "allowed" to do as they please because of this.

It won't be long until we here the "Mother's Cross" is being handed out to those women forced to give birth.

We really do live in the most awful times.

The Electoral Commission claims it's not within their brief to take into account a party's policies when it decides who should be registered. They look at whether the party is following the rules.

PS. Extreme right-wing parties are not banned in the UK - only if they are deemed to be "terrorists".

Ah, thank you growstuff. So we just wait to see whether they uses unlawful violence and intimidation, especially against civilians, in the pursuit of their political aims.

Up to July of this year I see five groups neo-Nazi groups have been banned under the terrorist laws.

Sometimes we just sits and thinks ...