Today marked the arrival of a list of BNP (British National Party) members into the public domain.  It details over 12,000 names and addresses of BNP supporters.

For any of our international readers allow me to familiarise you with the BNP.  Lead by Nick Griffin, the British National Party is a far-right political party that promotes white nationalism in the United Kingdom.  For a further explanation see Wikipedia.

As can be observed from the BBC, BNP members, as a result of the leaked list, have allegedly started receiving threats and abuse.  This has lead Mr Griffin to seek protection of his members human rights through EU Legislation.  The list also has certain career ramifications for particular members.

I am pro-human rights and I feel that one's political beliefs should generally be regarded under the umbrella of personal privacy.  The BNP is a fully registered and legally legitimate political party.  Yet, it is at this point when my loyalty to my generalised belief wavers.  I find it extremely difficult to feel any sympathy for members of the British National Party with regard to any embarrassment or subsequent termination of employment that occurs as a result of this list.  And here is why;

It's undeniable that the BNP has had a colourful history.  It is able to boast former members such as David Copeland, "The London Nailbomber" whom during 1999 killed three people and injured 129 during a bombing campaign targeting the Black, Bangladeshi and Gay communities.  Incidentally Copeland was also affiliated with Combat 18 which is an armed neo-Nazi organisation operating in the UK.  The BNP leader, Nick Griffin has also been spotted toiling with the likes of Combat 18 as demonstrated in this short clip:

I bring forward these points to gauge the kind of party that might be run under Nick Griffin and the sort of ideals that he and like minded members might hold which include abolishing Multi-culturalism in the UK.  And while officially the BNP officially refrain from supporting neo-Nazi actions, the leader can be quoted spouting anti-Semitic verse.

It saddens me to think that people are supportive of such types and embrace their dressed up agenda of hatred as legitimate political manifesto.  I'm unsure of how to perceive their affiliation with such causes; is it nieviety, lack of education, or simply hatred in its purest form?

I totally resist any calls for abuse and communal menace that may result on the members of the party relating to this list, supporting such actions is truly inhuman and would place me in a similar state of moral questionability to that of BNP members.  It seems likely that some members may endure undesirable career ramifications as part of this ordeal (i.e. Police officers are not allowed to be members of the BNP), and this I say is their own fault and will serve them justly.

Perhaps this "outing" of BNP members will awaken their senses and ignite their good moral judgement.  Or perhaps it will give Nick Griffin much desired national coverage he so needs to spread his bigoted manifesto of intolerance.

A quote to end that displays irony in its purest form and demonstrates Griffin’s ability to flip-flop on political subjects when it suits the party:

"He [Griffin] told the BBC's the party would be using the Human Rights Act to try to protect the identities of its members, despite the BNP being against the European legislation."

*If you like this article you might like to read Homeland.

• OurManInYoMamma wrote ...

• at 10:49, Thursday 20 November 2008

"When this story broke i downloaded the file, saw the Google Maps Mashup of the people, checked for local BNP from my hometown (2 of them!), and generally got really interested and engaged in this breaking story. As with many other people who pertain to be liberals, see how Mike Butcher changed too at TechcrunchUK, i felt rumblings of 'hang on this is a bit wrong finding out about this' starting, so i stopped doing it.

Freedom of thought and freedom of speech are paramount to our form of democracy, and this is annoyingly the bottom line."

• UrbanFox wrote ...

• at 17:45, Monday 1 December 2008

"I am nor "for" the BNP but I do agree that multi-culturalism is to blame for a lot of the problems the UK is facing.
The writer here feels free to call names and point fingers. Is he/she not aware that he/she is also spreading hate? Just because his/her hate is aimed at a far-right political party does not mean this article isnt enticing hatred towards members of the said party.
Just sounds like this article was written by the typical wishy washy apologist which plagues our society.
I suggest the writer should grow up before talking about grown-up matters.
There is no black and white in politics but rather lots and lots of different shades of grey "

• Dr. Birkin wrote ...

• at 09:44, Wednesday 3 December 2008

"I fail to register UrbanFox's argument as valid. The comment is obviously been posted to start an argument. If you re-read the article I think it's hardly name calling and finger pointing. The statements are backed up with references. And no the article is not spreading hate. It's an informed opinion backed by evidence. It's simply my views on the matter and while I feel a lack of sympathy for the BNP. Multi-culturalism is what makes Britain so diverse. Yes it does cause problems, but certainly not most of them and in my opinion the pros of multi-culturalism greatly outweigh the cons. Without a multi-cultural society it's not just "immigrants" that would be forced out, but also travelers, jews, muslims, and gays and lesbians. And that's just where it would start. Is that a place you would like to live? Coincidentally, do you fit into any of these cultural groups UrbanFox? "

• UrbanFox wrote ...

• at 11:35, Wednesday 3 December 2008

"We are at par then as I fail to register your article. It doesnt contribute to anything other than to demonize a minority. Yes, the BNP members are a minority just like so many others. I do understand your lack of sympathy for this particular minority. I lack sympathy for muslims for instance. But while it seems you are allowed to pick on the BNP, by saying I lack sympathy for muslims I will no doubt be labelled bigoted and racist. That is what is wrong with your reply. You hide behind the oh-so-PC arguments of how good it is to have a multi cultural society and I simply refuse to hide behind anything. And no, I do not fit into any of the cultural groups you mention and even if I did what would that prove? That you simply want to start yet another invalid argument. Do not that saying my previous comment was an attempt to start an argument you simply tried to discredit MY opinion. Again, not very grown up of you, is it? "

• NewbieDoo wrote ...

• at 10:35, Saturday 18 April 2009

"Rookier is not 'naming and shaming' or 'pointing fingers'. The names and information given in this article are already public knowledge. There is no new information here that could be considered an infringement on anyone's right to privacy. rnIt is very wrong to publish anyone's private details in any sort of 'outing'. Even if the person concerned has done great harm others. Though the law is slow and inadequate it is still the best route. If I viciously attack someone because I feel it was wrong of them to viciously attack another, how I am any better than them?rnAlso, even if you do believe in retribution, what if the details/information given are incorrect? You may end up vilifying and attacking an innocent person."

• urbanfox wrote ...

• at 19:46, Wednesday 13 May 2009

"@NewbieDoo err...things have changed since november (when the article was posted). Names have been made public. So I`d say that the previous exchanges between myself and our editor are a tad out of date. I for one have lost interest in this issue as its now available to the masses and therefore open to zillions of interpretations. Wish you had joined us earlier :)

"