Have never really looked at the BNP manifesto properly, but it seems like their stance on a lot of issues goes pretty well with what a lot of people believe.
They're pretty "national socialist" too, wanting universal free healthcare, decent pensions etc. On things like capital punishment they say they'd like to re-introduce it but they'll have a referendum - this is fucking clever.
This ties in with their whole policy about greatly increased democracy, with more referenda, greater decentralisation etc.
The race stuff is reasonably played-down - although there are some very nutty fascistic news stories, like about the NUT being a Communist, pervert-paedo-loving front - but I think a lot of people would agree with it.
So why are they only getting, what 5% of the vote?
I reckon it's for 3 main reasons:
1: the unfair 1st-past-the-post electoral system which makes most people think a vote for a small party is a wasted vote
2: A lot of people don't want zero-immigration
3: Most people *do* think that the BNP is a fascist party, and so hate them on principle.
What do people think of these?
I know that a lot of people slag off those who would argue against the BNP simply by saying "they're fascists" (myself included), but tbh I think that is probably the main reason most people don't vote for them.
As for what does this mean I really don't know. I just thought I'd throw it out there and see what people thought
Yeah, i would say its mostly down to number 3.
The media, encouraged by the left with their symbolic anti-fash actions against the BNP portray the BNP as an out and out evil organisation which i think turns alot of ppl away from it.