Boris Johnson initiates EDM against BNP in London

This has been issued by Boris Johnson MP:

“This House notes that in May 2008 there is a possibility that at least two members of the BNP will gain a seat on the London Assembly. As things currently stand there is a grave risk of these two members of the BNP having a deciding vote on the Mayor’s budget. This is a potentially disastrous situation in which a future Mayor of any party could depend on BNP support to pass his budget. We call upon all politicians from all parties to denounce the BNP in London and ask for all politicians to work together to combat anyone who seeks to play the race card in London politics. We call upon the Government to use its powers to combat this very real threat.”

Comments

[Sean Fear]

What's this supposed to mean?

I certainly don't want to see the government "use its powers" against the BNP, because that gives the government the green light to "use its powers" against any group that disagrees with it.

As for "playing the race card", Ken Livingstone has built his career out of it.

[Machiavelli's Understudy]

I'm certainly no friend of the BNP, and I'm perplexed by what this self-declared libertarian (although from his speeches and actions, he seems more likely to have classic liberal sympathies) could mean when he says "...We call upon the Government to use its powers to combat this very real threat.”

Considering the Government has quite far-reaching powers these days, what could he mean? I'd be gravely concerned if he was imploring the Government to use whatever instruments it has at its disposal to block democratic participation on political grounds.

[MH]

Pathetic. Boris plays straight out of the politically correct left playbook. We don't like it, so try and ban it. How about defeating their corrosive ideas through effective argument and popular policies? This guy really does not remotely deserve to be Mayor of London, anymore than Livingstone does.

[Alan S]

This looks like an all too transparent response to the (unfair) claims that Boris is a racist.

[englandism.com]

OMG? Not Boris too, pray it isn’t so.

First David trousers the English Card and now Boris is attacking the fundamental Libertarian principles of English democracy and, even more perversely, the Conservative party.

Cue someone with the: I disagree absolutely but will defend your right to say it line.

The BNP are scummy little pond dwellers but you counter them with counter argument not with gagging. I assume that Boris wants to gag the more manic street preachers of Islamic extremism in exactly the same way?

Some of them are rather chummed up with Ken.

[WG Graceless]

Hold on...as i understand it, you have to call upon the government for any early day motion. Otherwise do you not think he would have it front and centre of his electoral platform?

As for the "politically correct left playbook" - he's not going to put effective argument and policy in an EDM is he? Why don't we wait to see what he says on the matter? If it stops Ken Leavingsoon mouthing off about race like he's the doyen of the subject then I, for one, am all for it.

[Alison Lockyer]

Leave it out guys - its really difficult to try and rebut the accusations that you are a racist other than saying 'i'm not'. Being called a racist when you are not is just as bad as racism in my book.

[Adam]

It appears that Boris is very sensitive at having been labelled a racist by his opponents and is trying extremely hard to show that he is not. He needs to be stronger than that, and not kowtow to livingston's lefties and their feeble slurs on his character.

[Alison Lockyer]

I forgot to add earlier that i've heard boris speak at lots of different events and he is always the protector of free speech. I don't think he intends to silence the BNP but instead make sure politicians do not stoop so low as to give them an easy ride. Surely you have all missed the point?

[Malcolm Dunn]

EDMs are a complete waste of time whatever the subject.Self indulgent gesture politics at a waste at its worst.
Having said that ,if Boris is going to go out into the field and make the argument against the BNP rather than just ignoring or abusing them as most do then that is a good thing.

[David]

Seems a perfectly reasonable stance to me. Good on Boris.

[Christina Speight]

If the people elect BNP assembly members then the mayor has to live with that, asking himself why they didn't vote for HIS party.

It could be immigration perhaps?

Sheer rage and frustration at all the present parties is quite likely to produce such an outcome.

This is merely a campaigning ploy by Boris

[Not Boris]

At a time when the Tory Mayoral candidate should be going for Red Ken's juggular over the Lee Jasper scandal, Boris goes on the defence.

This is clear evidence that Boris has been rattled by the racist accusations. It's his own fault for using expressions like "water melon smiles" and "picanninies". No true libertarian or classical liberal uses language like that.

The Whips say that EDM stands for "Extremely Dim Member". How true!

[David]

"If the people elect BNP assembly members then the mayor has to live with that, "

Yes, and this is one oway of living with it, to wit, ensuring that one isn't dependent on doing deals with them to get the budget through.

[Helen]

Well, what does he want the government to do about the BNP? If nothing then why call for action even if it is just a pointless EDM?

[Steve Williams]

" We call upon the Government to use its powers to combat this very real threat.”

What powers exactly would those be ?

The people of London have every right to a voice in the assembly and if that means one or two BNP elected members there to act as a counter balance to Mayoral proposals surely that can only benefit Londoners.

[James Cleverly]

Rather than turn his guns on Boris, Livingstone should be worried about actual racists.

The most recent attacks on Boris are just a smokescreen to distract people from what is happening at City Hall. Calling all his critics “racists” weakens the word and make Livingstone look stupid.

I'm not sure an EDM is the best vehicle for this but Boris is right to indicate that if Livingstone is genuinely worried about racists and racism in London politics it should be the BNP he looks to, not us.

[Emily]

Where did this story come from?

The EDM is not listed on the Parliamentary website, and the text of the motion is not in official "House" language (i.e. one very long sentence with lots of semicolons).

Curious...

[Richard Calhoun]

" We call upon the Government to use its powers to combat this very real threat.”

This is really a most unsatisfactory statement from johnson and he must be asked to explain it clearly.

No bluff, no jokes, just what does he mean??

[Editor]

Emily: I was emailed the EDM text from the Boris campaign. Hopefully it will be on the official site listing EDMs soon and we can see who else has signed it...

[Derek]

Like other visitors, I am puzzled as to what the motion means in practice. If any political party is legally entitled to stand, then they can only be defeated in the ballot.

[Paul]

Absolutely awful, why can't politicians refute the arguments put forward by the BNP rather than avoiding debate and making cheap political gestures. It really doesn't run well with the general public and Boris should know better. Complete arrogance from the three established parties on this issue; no wonder people are looking for alternatives. I wonder if Boris et al would actually like the BNP and possibly other parties banned?

[michael mcgough]

Perhaps Boris will call on the government to use it's powers to call in the EUgendarmerie for early morning calls in Dagenham,Barking and Debden.

I am beginning to think Boris's intellect has been hyped as much as Brown's.

[Janice Livings]

All the more reason to vote BNP I think as Boris has obviously been drinking the PC coolaid.

[Justin Hinchcliffe]

As others have asked, what does Boris want the government to do? Ban the BNP? This EDM only serves to remind people of the charges levied at Boris from Lee Jasper and his crew. Silly EDM - most are...

Wish we had Andrew Boff as our candidate...