Margaret Hodge: Working class labour voters switching to the BNP

[egb_hibs]

White voters are deserting us for BNP, says Blair ally
By Melissa Kite, Deputy Political Editor
(Filed: 16/04/2006)

White working-class families feel so neglected by the Government and angered by immigration that they are deserting Labour and flocking to the British National Party, a minister admitted yesterday.

In a sensational claim, Margaret Hodge, one of Tony Blair's closest allies, said that eight out of 10 white people in her east London constituency of Barking are threatening to vote for the far-Right party in next month's local elections. Once traditional Labour supporters are angry at a lack of affordable housing - and blame immigration, and Labour, for the changes.

"They can't get a home for their children, they see black and ethnic minority communities moving in and they are angry," said Mrs Hodge, the employment minister. "When I knock on doors I say to people, 'are you tempted to vote BNP?' and many, many, many - eight out of 10 of the white families - say 'yes'. That's something we have never seen before, in all my years. Even when people voted BNP, they used to be ashamed to vote BNP. Now they are not." Mrs Hodge said the pace of ethnic change in her area had frightened people. "What has happened in Barking and Dagenham is the most rapid transformation of a community we have ever witnessed.

"Nowhere else has changed so fast. When I arrived in 1994, it was a predominantly white, working class area. Now, go through the middle of Barking and you could be in Camden or Brixton. That is the key thing that has created the environment the BNP has sought to exploit." Mrs Hodge claimed the anger is not down to racism. "It is a fear of change. It is gobsmacking change."

She also complained about a "lack of leadership" from her party on race, and said the "political class", including Labour, was frightened of the issue. "The Labour Party hasn't talked to these people. This is a traditional Labour area but they are not used to engaging with us because all we do is put leaflets through doors. Part of the reason they switch to the BNP is they feel no one else is listening to them."

Labour is so worried about the rise of extremist parties that 50 of its MPs have joined a campaigning group to counter the threat. Privately, ministers fear that BNP candidates could poll up to 25 per cent of the vote in some areas. The BNP is mounting an aggressive challenge in Barking and Dagenham and, it is feared, will win seats in May's elections.
A BNP metting
The BNP is mounting an aggressive challenge in Barking and Dagenham and may win seats

Mrs Hodge said white families are angry at the lack of housing since immigrants began arriving in the area, and because asylum seekers have been housed there by inner London councils. "There was nowhere for the local people to move to and we did not reinvest in social housing, nor did the Tories. Neither of us have done enough of that.

"It isn't that we have done nothing. But where we haven't done enough is affordable housing for families and the quality of life for families. Were we to blame for the change? No, it happened on the back of Right To Buy. But we could have built more affordable housing. We must do that. It isn't happening yet."

She also blamed inadequate action to clean up estates. "What we haven't significantly addressed are these issues that are the quality of life on council estates. It is the poorest whites who feel the greatest anger because there is no way out for them."

Mrs Hodge, who has been spending two days a week on the doorsteps since the BNP began targeting her constituents, urged her party to re-engage. "The Labour Party hasn't talked to these people. This is a traditional Labour area but they are not used to engaging with us because all we do is put leaflets through doors. Part of the reason they switch to the BNP is they feel no one else is listening to them."

While she rejected talk of the far-Right being on the verge of a major breakthrough, Mrs Hodge conceded that they were likely to win seats from Labour on May 4. "I think we could lose one or two [seats].

"It's an incredibly serious issue. It's the big issue. We need very much stronger leadership nationally to promote the benefits of the multi-cultural society. We have got to do it, the Labour leadership have got to do it. All the political parties have got to do it.

"I think if we are not careful and we don't respond and learn the lessons from Barking and Dagenham we could see that same fear of change trickle out elsewhere."

Mrs Hodge's assessment of white, working-class anger was backed up by Phil Woolas, the local government minister and MP for Oldham East, where there were race riots five years ago. Dozens of BNP candidates stood in previous elections there, but this time there are only two.

Mr Woolas said: "We are winning the fight up here by acknowledging that anti-white racism exists, by being fair and being seen to be fair on housing and schooling. We took the white, working-class vote back."

[Only Registered Users Can See Links. Click Here To Register]

[Archie]

I visited Burnley recently - one of the most depressed places I have ever been to. It is beset by a collapse of local industry, stagnant or falling house prices (you could get a Cornonation Street type terrace for £30k) and obvious geographical racial segregation. The result - 6 BNP Councillors.

I think she is right to raise the issue, but I'm less sure about the Telegraph spin.

I have said here before, it is not a sensible response to change and dislocation in an area simply to shout racist at those who feel threatened - we must understand and engage with all of the community.

[Colr]

Labour has spent a great deal trying to improve the lot of the urban "working class" - if people want to make themselves feel supperior by shitting on minoroties rather than grasping the opportunities that the government are trying to createthat is very sad. The result may well be that the Tories get in and cut back the programmes such as Surestart that are costing the rest of us so much.

[hoagy boy]

Trying to improve the lot of the working class
To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
C'mon Colr lets be honest People are Isolated In certain areas,As Archie say's just calling them Racist and walking away solves feck all.

[Colr]

Originally Posted by hoagy boy

Trying to improve the lot of the working class
To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
C'mon Colr lets be honest People are Isolated In certain areas,As Archie say's just calling them Racist and walking away solves feck all.

Come on. There have been more programmes of assistance for education, work, childcare under this government than existed since the 70s. labour have made genuine attempts to reach out to the isolated groups you are talking about and, especially, their children to break the cycle of deprivation. These things take time but they have definately been making the effort and spending the cash.

[Archie]

Originally Posted by Colr

Come on. There have been more programmes of assistance for education, work, childcare under this government than existed since the 70s. labour have made genuine attempts to reach out to the isolated groups you are talking about and, especially, their children to break the cycle of deprivation. These things take time but they have definately been making the effort and spending the cash.

I agree - but there is an issue of perceived injustice that allows the BNP to exploit.

Archie (too feart to listen to the radio right now).

[hoagy boy]

Originally Posted by Colr

Come on. There have been more programmes of assistance for education, work, childcare under this government than existed since the 70s. labour have made genuine attempts to reach out to the isolated groups you are talking about and, especially, their children to break the cycle of deprivation. These things take time but they have definately been making the effort and spending the cash.

You are more Intelligent than to believe that Colr
To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
Surely

[egb_hibs]

Originally Posted by Archie

I visited Burnley recently - one of the most depressed places I have ever been to. It is beset by a collapse of local industry, stagnant or falling house prices (you could get a Cornonation Street type terrace for £30k) and obvious geographical racial segregation. The result - 6 BNP Councillors.

I think she is right to raise the issue, but I'm less sure about the Telegraph spin.

I have said here before, it is not a sensible response to change and dislocation in an area simply to shout racist at those who feel threatened - we must understand and engage with all of the community.

Archie, have you been away on the road to damascus? your last burst of posts seem are of a different tenor than i expected!

anyway, I agree with you on all points here.

[Colr]

Originally Posted by hoagy boy

You are more Intelligent than to believe that Colr
To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
Surely

I have to believe the evidence of my own eyes.

[egb_hibs]

Originally Posted by Colr

Come on. There have been more programmes of assistance for education, work, childcare under this government than existed since the 70s. labour have made genuine attempts to reach out to the isolated groups you are talking about and, especially, their children to break the cycle of deprivation. These things take time but they have definately been making the effort and spending the cash.

there's a similar article to this in this week's spectator (no doubt a concerted effort to attack new labour).

however, that article, cites research carried out by jon cruddas, labour mp for dagenham, that asserts that labour are more and more openly disdaining the white working class of these areas, because they are simply not a key demographic for electoral success. everything is aimed at middle class swing voters.

i brought up the possibility of this happening a year or two back on here. IIRC Al lambasted me claiming that BNP's vote came from otherwise tory voters
To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
It always seemed a stretch to me given the territories in which they were making headway, but Al spoke with great authority,

[Colr]

Originally Posted by egb_hibs

there's a similar article to this in this week's spectator (no doubt a concerted effort to attack new labour).

however, that article, cites research carried out by jon cruddas, labour mp for dagenham, that asserts that labour are more and more openly disdaining the white working class of these areas, because they are simply not a key demographic for electoral success. everything is aimed at middle class swing voters.

i brought up the possibility of this happening a year or two back on here. IIRC Al lambasted me claiming that BNP's vote came from otherwise tory voters
To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
It always seemed a stretch to me given the territories in which they were making headway, but Al spoke with great authority,

It was also the theme of the Channel 4 programme on the working class a few months back - you might recall we discussed it - the presenter had a very narrow spread of evidence but made similar points to those you are making.

[egb_hibs]

[Only Registered Users Can See Links. Click Here To Register]

bbc report, which, without telegraph spin, isn't really much different

[Archie]

Originally Posted by egb_hibs

Archie, have you been away on the road to damascus? your last burst of posts seem are of a different tenor than i expected!

anyway, I agree with you on all points here.

Well it wasn't in Burnley anyway!

Actually I have posted before on the need to understand and address dislocation as a factor in racial tension.

What exactly did you expect?

[SkyeHibs]

There is a worrying report on the BBC news on this issue today:

[Only Registered Users Can See Links. Click Here To Register]

Sad to say Scotland is not excluded from these general trends. I believe the Skatchel song that we witnessed for some time at ER is part of the wider problem and a rise in intollerance.

[Cowshed Graffiti]

Originally Posted by egb_hibs

White working-class families feel so neglected by the Government and angered by immigration that they are deserting Labour and flocking to the British National Party, a minister admitted yesterday.

Then those white working class families are a bunch of feckwits then. Fascism will not improve their lot. And their ills are not the result of too many "different" people being allowed in to the UK.

[Bartok]

Originally Posted by Cowshed Graffiti

Then those white working class families are a bunch of feckwits then. Fascism will not improve their lot. And their ills are not the result of too many "different" people being allowed in to the UK.

You are of course dead right on that. It's a protest vote which indicates that Alf is alive and well and living in SE12, but we knew that anyway.

[egb_hibs]

Originally Posted by Cowshed Graffiti

Then those white working class families are a bunch of feckwits then. Fascism will not improve their lot. And their ills are not the result of too many "different" people being allowed in to the UK.

this is the kind of attitude does little to address the problem. what's being peddled to them is socialism shot through with racism. both stupid ideas, but which do you think is most appealing to people who voted labour pre-blair
To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.


in any case, if the mainstream disenfranchise people, extremists will always fill the void. it has ever been thus, and taking the view that this means we should just ignore people as 'feckwits' has never solved anything. quite the opposite.

[egb_hibs]

Originally Posted by Dixie Chicken

You are of course dead right on that. It's a protest vote which indicates that Alf is alive and well and living in SE12, but we knew that anyway.

or maybe they're just a bunch of reactionaires dismayed with the modern labour movement as are half the posters on here.
To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

[Cowshed Graffiti]

Originally Posted by egb_hibs

this is the kind of attitude does little to address the problem. what's being peddled to them is socialism shot through with racism. both stupid ideas, but which do you think is most appealing to people who voted labour pre-blair
To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

It really, really isn't socialism. If you think it is, I begin to understand the pathology of your political misconceptions.

Originally Posted by egb_hibs

in any case, if the mainstream disenfranchise people, extremists will always fill the void. it has ever been thus, and taking the view that this means we should just ignore people as 'feckwits' has never solved anything. quite the opposite.

OK, you give that skinhead a nice big hug and tell him you understand how he feels, then.

[Bartok]

Originally Posted by egb_hibs

or maybe they're just a bunch of reactionaires dismayed with the modern labour movement as are half the posters on here.
To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

How many of our posters support the BNP?