We're there because we're there because...

Acknowledgements to the BNP Ideas web site for the following perspicacious comment on its recent article about the role of an MEP

David M

says:

January 24, 2012

An interesting insight into the actual role of an MEP and what goes on in the EU ‘Parliament’. However, I think we may be in danger of losing sight of why we, as British Nationalists, took part in the process of EU electoral politics in the first place. Why did we, in ‘the BNP’, mount a nationwide campaign to get members elected in the eight [sic, twelve] UK regions (as designated by our masters in Brussels)? Because, like it or not, they exist. The EU and its various institutions exist, although we would wish it otherwise because of the diminution of sovereignty that EU membership represents. Until such times as we as a nation can extricate ourselves from the EU, it is a choice between taking what some might regard as a principled stand in completely boycotting EU elections, or recognising that the process presented an unmissable national electoral opportunity for our party to promote itself and its ideology and obtain more coverage even than in a UK General Election! I recall that the first leader of the UKIP, Prof. Alan Sked, was totally opposed to taking part – ‘on principle’ – and thus departed leaving them to it. As we have seen, they progressed from 3 MEP’s in 1999 to 12 in 2004 and 13 in 2009 (coming 3rd overall). Whatever we may think of them, they demonstrated what could be achieved by a ‘third party’ political force on an anti-EU ticket in an election fought on a PR list system (The d’Hondt electoral method). As the article above points out, many of the UKIPPERS have been seemingly ineffective actually ‘doing the job’. From 1999 they have had their problems with splits and MEP resignations, (Holmes, Kilroy, Mote, Sinclaire). None of that has stopped them from being re-elected because in a sense, the election itself is a form of referendum on the EU every five years and just winning a seat means ‘job done’, whatever happens thereafter – until the next Euro election! However, in the meantime, what is important and useful to a party such as UKIP, or the BNP or any future manifestation of a nationalist party, is the status the role brings in the context of national politics and the building and nurturing of that party as a strong and credible entity in the eyes of the electorate, whose support needs to be won over in the much more important struggle for seats at Westminster. If such a party no longer exists (in any meaningful sense), then having seats in Brussels ceases to serve any meaningful purpose. [Emphasis mine].

I am not suggesting that Andrew Brons is not doing his job as an MEP very well. On the contrary. However, at the time of his election he was representing a party that had a relatively strong public profile, that was cohesive and to all intent, was on the “up”.

What I am saying essentially is that the ‘worth’ of having an MEP is now being squandered by the lack of a party for him to represent. Yes, Andrew is certainly true to the principles and beliefs on which he stood for election and bravo to that. It is he who has been betrayed by the Party leader, as indeed we all have. But in 2014 when Andrew’s term ends – and he has said he will retire – what then? Similarly, with all our Councillors (now ‘Ex’ Councillors). No doubt most of them were partly driven by a desire to serve their local community for its own sake, but their over-riding motivation was to be a part of something bigger – a machinery whose principle purpose was to progress and advance the cause of British Nationalism. Without that, the desire to sit on committees discussing drains and cracked pavements was probably less than appealing!

In other articles on this site, Andrew has discussed all the various splinter groups and embryo parties that now exist in the wake of the BNP’s implosion. He has opined that they will all fail and there is no point in adding a further one to their number. Without unity we will fail etc etc. Indeed, but to have a hope of succeeding you have to have some credibility to start with emanating from having the best and most talented people and…. having existing political representation would be something none of the other factions could compete with. The BNP Ideas ‘faction’ [sic, group] (if I can get away with calling it that) have all the best and most talented people and….they have an MEP! Failing to use that advantage in the next 2 1/2 years (until the next Euro election) would in my view be a terrible wasted opportunity. [Emphasis mine].