Yesterday's ConservativeHome carried a report on the London mayoral candidates uniting to launch a poster campaign against the BNP. All the leading candidates were there, including Boris. The event was an initiative of Operation Black Vote - part of an industry that thrives on this kind of stunt. I understand why Boris went. Ken Livingstone has been unfairly attacking him on race issues and you can easily imagine the headlines if he had boycotted the event.
I can't help thinking, however, that events like yesterday's simply hand a propaganda victory to the BNP. They thrive on any attention they can get - particularly if it reinforces the sense that they are the outsiders against the establishment. Damian Hockney, at MayorWatch, agrees.
Margaret Hodge almost certainly helped the BNP when she talked them up two years ago. UKIP momentum only accelerated at the last European elections when an inflammatory CCHQ memo gave them attention. The BNP is best defeated when mainstream parties address voters' grievances on key issues like housing and crime. As a party they're best ignored.
