All still to play for

Andrew Brons MEP delivers a characteristically entertaining speech to one of the British National Party's few remaining active units.

Notably, Andrew's speech, though it rightly points out the difficulties associated with the formation of a new party, does not rule it out as an option.  Andrew even refers to the probability of a re-alignment of forces within nationalism, following the elections in May.  If Andrew can go from looking the other way, during the 'blood-letting' of 2010, to challenging Griffin for the leadership of the BNP last year, then surely he might also move from an understandable circumspectness about helping to form a new party, to actually heading one.

Andrew rightly points out that the reformers' differences with Griffin were not ideological, but to do with the way things are run and the way people are treated. Although Andrew does not explicitly mention it, at the root of the discontent with Griffin's leadership in 2010 was the lack of openness with regard to the party's finances. Dismissing senior officers of the party because they expressed concern to one another, privately, about the conduct of the party's financial affairs, concern that was subsequently proven to be amply justified, is, if not quite tantamount to an admission of wrongdoing, highly suspicious behaviour by the party chairman.

Griffin has to go for another reason too. His unfortunate public persona, particularly following his dismal performance on BBC Question Time, in October 2009, gives the party a toxic aura which makes it effectively unelectable. Yes, as Andrew points out, the party has its core support. But it will not win elections relying on that. For parties to win elections they need to move out of their comfort zone and reach out to the undecided, 'the don't knows', winning them over with the reasonableness of their message.

But Griffin is practically the poster boy of unreasonableness. One look at his image and the electors think 'Holocaust denial' and 'Ku Klux Klan'. Griffin knows this, yet still he insists on hogging the limelight. Well, however bad things may get for our people, they are unlikely ever again to turn to a BNP that is led by Griffin.