Legal test for the BNP

[Gromit]

'The legal advice we have received indicates that the British National Party's constitution and membership criteria, employment practices and provision of services to constituents and the public may breach discrimination laws which all political parties are legally obliged to uphold.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-119491 8/BNP-faces-possible-injunction-race-discrimin ation-unless-alters-membership-rules.html

Will the BNP change its rules to allow non whites and foreigners to join? Or will it flout the law?

[squarebear]

I don't really see how this would work Gromit. Surely then the same applies to the girl guides for not letting boys join?

[jake-the-peg]

I hate to be smug but:

http://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/News/Question76 7230.html

[jake-the-peg]

Yes but girl guides to aren't meant to represent the interests of boys in legislature do they squarebear?

Slight difference

[R1Geezer]

Any club can choose who they let in. The BNP actually have their rules written down and hence can be scrutinised but other clubs can assess potential new members and accept or reject them, they don't have to explain themselves. For example I belong to a conservative club and we can accept anyone but we do not unless they say they vote conservative. Are we to be the subject of the EU's thought police?

[jake-the-peg]

But you have a choice who to vote for Geezer

You don't have a choice what colour you are

[squarebear]

But you don't have a choice of whether you are a boy or girl to join the guides.

While I disagree with the BNP, they were voted in democratically and it riles me to see people try to undermine it just because they disagree with them.

If they are banned because of this, then so should every Mother & Baby club, Alcoholics Anonymous, Ladies football team and anyone else who restricts its membership.

[R1Geezer]

That's true jake. Not the best example, but there are unwritten "criteria" in most clubs anyway and certain people would never get in regardless but you won't find it in the rules. If the BNP did not have their criteria in their rules little would change all that would happen is the whole thing would become an unwritten rule.

[squarebear]

"But you have a choice who to vote for Geezer"
Yes you do. If you don't like BNP, vote for another party.

[jake-the-peg]

Political parties are not social clubs.

Pretending that they should have the same rules applied to them is being deliberately obtuse.

They form the basis that creates the legislation by which we are all governed.

It is fundamentally wrong that any component of that legislature descriminates on race or gender because it undermines the whole process of representative democracy.

The BNP do not, can not represent all their constituants.

[squarebear]

Which is why they will never be elected by all of their constituents.

I might not like Labour's policies but as they are the domcratically elected party, I must follow them.

Just being Devils's advocate here.

[R1Geezer]

I agree jake but as a legal entity they are pretty much identical. Interfering would open up a complete can of worms. I mean there are entities like the womens institute and the myriad of clubs that don't allow women, not to mention the Masons. I suppose they could a legal definition of a political party, if there isn't one already and then apply the law to that.

[jake-the-peg]

But as a legal entity they are pretty much identical?

Where do you get that from?

There are a number of laws specifically surrounding political parties.

Around the area of funding as just one specific example.

Are you making this up as you go?

[R1Geezer]

No, political parties are basically clubs, that's all I'm saying.

[paraffin]

1. No. 2. Yes.

What self respecting non white person would ever dream of joining the BNP?

[naomi24]

What self-respecting WHITE person would want to join the BNP?

[ludwig]

All that will happen is they'll just change their rules to remove the offending clause(s). It isn't going to make them go away and it isn't going to make them stop being racist.

[youngmafbog]

Naomi, that is your opinion and that of Gromits obviously, but judging by the number of votes they attracted not the opinion of alot of people.

I see yesterday the guardian reports they will ban BNP members from teaching. Will they also ban marxists or commie b*trds ? I doubt it very much.

The way to beat these parties is for the mainstream parties to cater for what the majority actually want, not what they think they want. I strnoly suspect many who vote for the BNP dont really want extremism but are sick of noo
labours attitude to the British people.

Just out of interest what exatly have they written that breaks the law ? Just becasue some legal scumbag who wants to make a name for himself says so does not make it fact.

And no I dont vote for them, but I am practical in how to beat them.

[Gromit]

judging by the number of votes they attracted not the opinion of alot of people.

It depends what you define as a lot. In a 30% turnout, they got 6% of the votes.

Out of an electorate of 45million, they got less than 1 million votes

The number of votes they got in Griffin's constituency actual went down from last time. In 2004, the BNP in the North West polled 134,959 votes. In 2009, they polled 132,194.

The BNP have a very small but dangerous support.

[Haggisdj]

Aren't the Government themselves banning people from joining the BNP? Surely if the Government push through this legislation and force the BNP to change their rules then that means that everyone has the right to join...

[Gromit]

Here is no legislation to push through, it was passed long ago. The BNP are falling foul of existing laws that all the other parties obey.