Dark clouds swirl around the future of tlhe labour party. Hounded in the media and by a hostile public, now we are being held responsible for the rise of the far right in a former stronghold. The implication from the article is clear, our lack of ability to work within a local community has sowed the seeds of fascism. We have become alienated from our origins and that Stoke is symptomatic of the crisis which is engulfing us nationally.
The crux of the line of argument which the guardian proposes is essentially flawed. It seeks to justify a support for a party that is fundementally racist. Frankly, there is no justification. People who choose to support them have no excuses, the BNP is widely known for what is stands, there is no question. To attempt to fault Labour for people's support of the BNP is wrong.
In reality, labour has done much to help the people of Stoke, as Barkham's article confirms. For labour to be in government, it is essential that we act as a unifying force in this nation, a tenant of our power which the campaigners in Crewe forgot.
In order to provide this focus of unity, it becomes necessary to make compromises. So to deliver social justice it must be recognised that it is necessary to not neglect other sections of society. People now chastise us because we do not hold true to our values, yet ignore the serious progress we have have made towards making this country a fairer place. The reason we are not going further is clearly because we must not lose the postion where it is possible for us to represent all the people of this nation, not just a selected few whoever they may be.
So when we look at the BNP in Stoke, let us not try to blame this on ourselves. However, because we are not justifiying the hatred, it does not mean we should not seek to understand. If we are to win over the white working class, then we must understand and try to fix their concerns.
First and foremost is the issue of immigration and linked to that racism. Immigration provides low-skilled workers desperate to make a life for themselves, ironically, they see some opportunity in Britain that many of us have forgotten. This workers create competition, they bring down wages and local people whose jobs they are taking resent them. This creates insecurity, and it is this insecurity which results in racism. We must restore confidence in the working calss people in this country. TO do this will take a long time but the long term benefits will be revolutionary. It requires the reduction of immigration intially in these ares in order to reduce resentment and insecurity. Perhaps, in order to continue the economic benefits of immigration, immigration should be encouraged in tandem with growing large cities in order ot imitate London to a greater extent around the country.
The working class should be provided with more opportunities and education so that they too can feel the same aspirational sentiments as the immigrants who arrive here. The search for a better life should be linked against the prejudice and inequality which is stirred by the voice of the far-right.
This, however, in itself may be ineffective.Stone-cold realism is necessary here. These people's concerns are being manipulated by a well-organised attempt by the BNP. Labour membership is not in good shape, relying on the party as it is to connect is bound to fail. IT is essential to recreate a party machine that can truly affect the agenda in its own right and even keep our leaders in check. Despite the gulf in our political positions, it might be advisible to attempt to adopt and possibly copy some of the ideas that helped the republican party in America to create their own powerful party machine. Whilst they used their machine for wrong, maybe we can try to be a force for good.
To deal with the far right, we must stop beating ourselves or accept racist sentiments as legitimate concerns when they are born out of unfounded prejudice. It is our responsibility to replace those prejudices with our own, the prejudice of the hope of a better life.
Prime100
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