No to the politics of hate and Barking

Last night I presented a motion to the regional Green Party, the London Federation of Green Parties, calling on Barking Greens not to stand a candidate in the general election in Barking, where Nick Griffin is standing for the BNP. The motion was seconded by London's Green MEP, Jean Lambert. We had a passionate and open debate and voted to call upon Barking not to stand a candidate. There were strong feelings on both sides and some wanted there to be an opportunity for Barking voters to be able to support a real progressive candidate from the Greens. But the majority of us agreed that the threat from the BNP there and the resulting media circus is just too dangerous for British politics, and that we must ensure that no door is left ajar to allow the BNP to enter parliament.

Their hate filled politics, which has already seen them enter the European Parliament and the London Assembly, would then infect the UK parliament also. There would be an immediate impact on hate crime and attacks on the black and etnic minority communities in London as well as on the LGBT community. We hold no candle for New Labour or for any of the other parties, but all efforts in Barking must be directed at working with anti-Fascist groups and ensuring that the BNP do not win there. As a result, Greens are prepared to look at the bigger picture and to put the danger of electing a BNP candidate to parliament before narrow party or sectarian interest. In this regard, Greens have acted in support of Barking's and London's progressive politics.

Green Left issued the following statement today:

“Green Left welcomes the decision of the London Federation of Green Parties to call for no Green Party candidate to stand in the forthcoming general election for the constituency of Barking, in order to maximise the anti-Fascist vote. We regard this as a decision in favour of all progressive groups campaigning against the BNP in Barking and we pledge our full support for all efforts to defeat Nick Griffin and the BNP there. Despite wishing to provide voters with a progressive alternative, under the circumstances we consider it the best strategic decision not to stand a candidate in this election. We call on all voters in Barking to vote against the politics of hate and the BNP”