Will exponents of far-right extremism such as the BNP and UKIP be strong contenders in the 2015 general UK elections? Previously, I’d snort at such an idea, but now it doesn’t seem so ridiculous.
Let’s review the most recent evidence. The UK Independence Party (UKIP) won the 2014 European elections, gaining almost double the amount of votes obtained in 2009. This is the first time that mainstream parties Labour and Conservatives have been defeated – a sure sign that as a nation, our political ideals are changing. But why is that?
For me, the answer is simple. We’re fed up of broken promises and we want to see real, measurable change for all the main issues affecting the country – our involvement in warfare alongside our incestuous big brother America who screws us regularly, control of immigration and the requirement for cultural integration. For extremist parties such as UKIP and the British National Party (BNP), these issues are at the top of the agenda. These parties seem driven to actually take action in the areas that are affecting our lives the most. Following the recent recession and the cuts in employment, I can’t blame people for being drawn to the idea of British citizens having priority for British jobs, as opposed to foreign nationals.
However, I don’t support these parties myself. In fact, I don’t think there’s any party out there I’ve ever agreed with 100%. That said, I will still vote when I can after doing all the necessary research to figure out which is ‘the lesser of evils’. For some people, this leads to ‘tactical voting’ – they say it’s better the devil you know and that may explain why only mainstream parties manage to make the cut in general elections. The 2011 referendum on Alternative Voting could have reduced the need for tactical voting had it been successful, however as those that have studied politics will know – referendums are expertly timed so that the government can predict the outcome. In simple terms: They are a con.
Secondly, in the past, smaller parties just didn’t seem to have enough people backing them to become a serious contender in the race for parliament and that has also deterred potential voters. Could this be about to change?
In 2010, so many of us put our faith behind the Liberal Democrats party to improve our lives. A lot of those same people are now angry that in the Conservative-Lib Dem coalition, all these wondrous promises for more employment and less tax have evaporated at the local chemical plant that mirrors the state of our politics. One toxic emission after another and we’re struggling to breathe.
This is where right wing parties have another advantage – they break through that fog with their seemingly no-nonsense approach to politics. They are unapologetically blunt with their manifestos – no confusing statistics, no long-winded explanations; just ‘Here is the problem. Here is what we’re going to do about it’.
At their disadvantage, however is the fact that many don’t want to be associated with parties labelled by the media as ‘racist’, whether that is the case or not. Admitting to supporting one of these parties could isolate people from their social groups and severely damage their reputation. Furthermore, UKIP have been accused of supporting gender discrimination, wanting to allow sexual harassment in the workplace and wanting to scrap maternity leave!
Although I pray a party with such outdated and sexist views never makes it to government, the benefit of a surge in votes for extremist parties is that it may give the mainstream parties the kick up the backside they so evidently need and I do think it’s high time they got the message that their empty words aren’t good enough – stick to your words or step down!
UK general elections will be held on 7th May 2015. No vote, no grumble!
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