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Date Posted: 11:50:52 05/11/02 Sat
Author: Sarah
Subject: Re: BNP in Burnley
In reply to: yasmin 's message, "Re: BNP in Burnley" on 15:46:50 05/10/02 Fri

Just to add to Yasmin's points, I think we need to mention the recent victories of Jean Marie Le Pen, the National Front leader in France. Having done a piece of coursework on the position of Front National I was shocked and appalled that he was achieving 1/5 of the french vote last week. And, interestingly, so was the majority of the french public. For me this illustrates several conflicts that take place in modern democracies. As Yasmin said, democracy is based upon 'basic' freedoms, freedom of speech being one of them. However, what line should the media (who were ostensibly created as upholders of democracy - please feel free to dispute that by the way) take in dealing with groups who threaten to upset these democratic rights?

Everyone would agree that Front National and the BNP do not represent mainstream 'status quo' type politics. They want drastic changes, most fundamentally concerning the immigration laws. Interestingly enough however, I think their recent victories are at least partially due to issues not directly related to this central policy. For instance, many French voters were conscious of government corruption during the Chirac - Jospin leadership. This, and the rising crime rates (Le Pen focussed on this issue greatly) is probably what caused such an unexpected acheivement. For the BNP, I believe that much of the victory was due to voter apathy. I mean this in the sense that people have become disillusioned and have either voted for people representing change (in what ever form) or have simply not bothered to vote.

Going back to Yasmin's argument, I agree that the media have panicked over how they should approach this issue. However, I find it difficult to imagine how else they could have reacted in the context. This is the essential conflict - how do you come to a compromise between presenting facts without being seen to be endorsing frankly fascist ideologies? This is why the media have panicked and inadvertantly sensationalised the extreme right's recent victories.

I dont think the solution lies in changing how the media reacts to events as such, its about wider political changes. New Labour were swept in on a wave of optomism and motivation - 5 years later we are faced with the most disillusioned electorate in years, arguably decades. So if we want to preserve democracy while not giving power to extreme groups, we need only look to the present governments in the UK and France. Politics has to make an effort to appeal to all sectors of the community, and in order to do this they need to represent all voices. I mention specifically young people and those in rural / nothern areas. The reason why the BNP have a seat in Burnley is because the people there are fed up of being ignored. they were perceptive enough to have realised that a media generated moral panick will at least cause a shake up. Surely that is what they set out to achieve?

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