The Nationalist Spring?

Richard Edmonds' endorsement of Andrew Brons' recently outlined strategy for closer co-operation between nationalist parties (see report at BNP Ideas) is to be warmly welcomed.

I hope that Richard was speaking with the backing of the leadership of the National Front, rather than in a purely personal capacity.  Be that as it may, it is a good sign of things to come, the first green shoots of 'the Nationalist Spring', perhaps.

The next step should be for the National Front and other nationalist and quasi-nationalist parties, to follow the good example already set by the Democratic Nationalists and affiliate to the newly formed Centre for Democratic Nationalism (CDN), without any unnecessary delay.

Those nationalist party leaders who may have set their minds against closer co-operation with others would do well to read (or re-read) the following passage from John Tyndall's magnum opus, The Eleventh Hour.  They should ponder his words of wisdom well for their abiding relevance to the current state of political nationalism.

Mr Tyndall is here reflecting on the obstacles encountered during the effort, in 1966-67, to bring about the unification which produced the new party known as the National Front.

"A familiar figure to everyone in this world is the man who likes to be a big fish in a small pond. If the pond is enlarged and additional fish are brought in, he may find himself with rivals and lose some status, and this is something he could not bear. This type is very common in political groups and a constant barrier to the achievement of more effective combinations.

"Going hand-in-hand with this mentality, and usually combined in the same person, is a terror of entering what might be called, to use an Americanism, the 'big time'. These people feel comfortable only in the atmosphere of cosy little clubs. Though they pay lip service to the theoretical idea of growth and the eventual winning of power, in practice their minds are set against these things, and their instinct is to resist any development likely to bring them nearer. Graduating from the tiny nucleus and entering the real political arena where one is playing for much higher stakes requires a certain mental adjustment. The challenges and responsibilities become immeasurably increased, and the men are then sorted out from the boys. Public exposure is much greater and the political charlatan and hobbyist is shown up in a much more glaring light. The fellow at home in a little clique will very often find this environment frightening and so prefers to avoid it."

Tyndall, J, The Eleventh Hour, Third Edition, 1998, Welling: Albion Press, p 197

The last three sentences of the passage might have been written with Griffin in mind, though they probably were not.