BNP VICTORY DUE TO FRENZY OVER ASYLUM
(24th January 2003)

Commenting on yesterday's council by-election in Calderdale, Halifax the CRE said Britain is facing the threat of a focused BNP, which is successfully trading on the current frenzied public debate around immigration, refugees and asylum seekers. "Political victory for the racists is a terrible price to pay for the present hysteria surrounding refugees and immigration," Beverley Bernard, Acting Chair of the Commission said.

"The current electoral influence of the BNP is unprecedented. Racist parties are on the verge of gaining a hold on a significant number of voters. No one should underestimate the threat this represents to democratic politics and social cohesion."

Ms Bernard added, "while mainstream political leaders have done more to deal with racism and discrimination in British public life than ever before, there is a section of voters for whom the arguments of racist organisations have an attraction."

"Democratic political leaders across the parliamentary spectrum have united in agreeing that racism should play no part in their own campaigns and in supporting new legislation that commits government and the whole public sector to work for racial equality", she noted.

The CRE called for these important developments to be pursued with vigour and supplemented by three additional processes:

• A public education strategy to challenge racist ideas and assumptions which opinion polls show still have a significant hold on many members of the public.
• An end to asylum seeker baiting in the media - and public understanding of the way in which such coverage legitimises racist ideas in society.
• Democratic political leaders at a local level to engage with local communities and make it their priority to develop community cohesion in their approach to local needs and local issues.

More follows "We must all work to change the experience of exclusion, poverty and racism which can lead to an alienated minority being wilfully targeted by right-wing bigots who exploit the vulnerable," Ms Bernard said.

Click here to visit the Commission for Racial Equality website.