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BNP's Assembly member to be shunned by all parties
Katharine Barney06.05.08
The Mayor has refused to speak to the newly elected London Assembly member for the British National Party.
Boris Johnson is drawing up a "coping strategy" to deal with Richard Barnbrook, which could include extra police in case of violent demonstrations.
The BNP member gained 130,714 votes in last week's "London-wide" ballot, winning one of 11 seats reserved for candidates who attract more than five per cent of the vote. But Mr Barnbrook is likely to be shunned by all four parties after winning the highest office achieved by a BNP candidate.
Len Duvall, leader of the eight-strong Labour group on the Assembly, said: "All the parties want to isolate and ignore him. If civil servants refuse to work with him I expect they will be supported in their decision. Even at the results count he was out on a limb. The fact that he got in is an insult to our parents and grandparents who fought and lived through the war."
Sources close to Mr Johnson said he would not talk directly to Mr Barnbrook. The source said: "[The Mayor] has responsibilities to the wider electorate. He needs to represent those who don't agree with his views as well as those who elected him."
Reader views (27)
as disgusted as i am by the bnp,you cannot ignore the democratic process,we need to address the issues that make people vote bnp, and resolve issues real or persieved, ie i know from personal experience, that some immigrants, who have never paid into the system in this country, can claim alot more in benefits than i can, I've paid in for 30 years, it dosn't bother me, but i hear alot of people complaining about things like this not being fair,we must ensure that ALL people are treated fairly, remember that even if you describe things as being " positive descrimination" it is not positive for the poor sod being descriminated against, what ever their colour
- Shady, leics
130,714 people voted for him. This is Democracy in action - and now he is being ignored? What kind of democracy is that?
- Jon Belling, LONDON
They're scared of him, and after watching his acceptance speech I don't blame them for running away. This guy has passion, honesty and believes every single word he says. How many gravy train politicians could you say that about? None.
- Robert, Westminster
I could understand it if the BNP advocated suicide bombing or something (you know, like one of Ken's backers).. Even then, surely it would be unlawful to ignore him. This is going to backfire badly. Like it or not, a very large number of people in London voted for Richard Barnbrook to represent them, how dare the other parties ignore that?
- Jason, Pimlico
I seem to recall Boris J saying something about putting differences aside including ideological differences - what a wonderful and odious start for the Conservative Pretender.
- Joseph K, Bilston
Boris is right - most of the comments here would have been different if the person in question was a terrorist or sympathetic to their appalling cause. We cant be selective when it suits us. The BNP is an odious and unpleasant party, and those that voted for them should know better. Personally, I would have left him to dig his own hole. Apart from being racist, what else has the BNP got to offer?
- Milton, London
Big Mistake Boris, whether left or right of centre we all need to respect the democratic will of the people. You cannot just arbitrarily choose to ignore people because of their views, that's fascism! As for civil servants refusing to work with him, if they do so they should be sacked. I am no fan of Ken but your other reader is correct he would have dealt directly with Barnbrook. Terrible start Boris!
- Jed Wilde, London
First of all they lead people through there policies to vote BNP in then they add insult to injury by refusing to work/talk with them. What they suggest is against the law, and will only serve to increase BNP power. Can they not see that. I suppose not.
- William John Kempton., Edinburgh
The first time Local Government staff (not "Civil Servants") faced this problem was when a fascist was elected to Tower Hamlets council a few years ago. Then their Union's advice was lawful but "minimum co-operation". Still sound today, but sadly applicable in too many places.
We do live in a democracy, Albert Hall of Kettering. My parents were first old enough to vote in the UK's first one-adult-one-vote Parliamentary election, in 1950. Our democracy has been improved since then. For the last two general elections, there have been more MPs in Parliament than hereditary peers.
- Alan Griffiths, Forest Gate, London, UK
I voted Conservative all the way along the line and it never occurred to me that Boris Johnson would abuse his powers by ignoring a democratically elected member of the Council. This is quite wrong and I do not approve.
Is this democracy in action?
- Kathy Doyle, London
If that happens, then Wikipedia will need a good and thorough revamp on the word "Democracy". How sad!
- Ric, Brixton
This is why support for the BNP is growing. Rather than dealing with the underlying issues that fuel support for this despicable organisation, the political view is just to ignore them, pretend they aren't there, and hope they will go away. It is significant that over 5% of Londoners who can be bothered to vote voted BNP. If the issues (or perceived issues) are ignored, I predict that figure will only increase next time.....and the opposing politicians only have themselves to blame.
- Gene Hunt, London UK
Social fascists, what ever their political colour, seem to infest many of the publically paid for jobs of the GLA, the term ‘jobs for the boys’ under Ken seems to ring true. But, to deny the BNP member a voice is to deny a substantial number of Londoners a voice – that to me is true fascism.
- James, Chelmsford
Yes, That's right. Ignore it and hope it goes away.
The French had a similar wake up call for their government a few years back.
Their government thought about it for a bit and decided to hijack a couple of right wing policies (not planes) and they are now living in a country with such lovely areas of "enrichment" that the good honest tax paying people of France daren't go into.
And if you thought that this could never happen here. Think again, it's already here and it's on your doorstep.
- Jimbob, Kensington
This is a bit one sided, yes?
- W.Box, ilforf essex
Funny, I thought we were living in a democracy? Most other European countries have representatives from the left and right in regional and national parliaments. It just proves how insecure and possibly scared our elected politicians are at not being able to counter the BNP's arguments, many of which seem to be getting through despite the best efforts of our "free" media.
- Grant, Swanley Kent
So much for democracy.
If this is what the Tories now stand for and what we can expect from a future Tory government - thwarting those they disagree with from doing their jobs? It's the sort of thing you expect from the extreme-left.
Barnbrook was elected fair and square and has every right to represent Londoners. What about all those who voted for him? Don't they have rights?
Boris Johnson needs to go away and have a quiet think.
- Mike Newland, London, England
I despise the BNP but this man was elected by a democratic process. He is now to be frozen out of the democratic process.
That is detestable and two wrongs do not make a right.
- Victor, Nw Kent, Swanley, England
If elected politicians wish to shun the BNP member, they should be free to do so.
But civil servants is another matter entirely. If GLA civil servants, who are paid to work with the elected representatives, refuse to work with a member who has the support of over 5% of the London voters this strategy will backfire.
Democracy means people have the right to vote for who they want - even nasty xenophobes. The BNP will make huge propaganda dividends if civil servants refuse to accept Barnbrook as a legitimate elected member of the Assembly.
- Dan, London
This makes me uneasy - he is a democratically elected member of the GLA and as such should be treated courteously and professionally.
- Sarah N., London, UK
This is the difference between Ken and Boris. Ken would have spoken directly with Richard because he (Barnbrook) was elected by Londoners. Ken was never scared of upsetting anyone, whereas Boris seems to be starting in that position Day 1 and he’s showing weakness, doesn’t bode well for the next 1,459 or so.
- Kevin, Romford
Can it be correct that civil servants, employed at the expense of London taxpayers, are legally entitled to make politically-inspired decisions about whether they can "refuse to work" with a representative who has been elected by their employers?
Furthermore, were a civil servant to "refuse to work" with a Labour or Conservative politician, are we to take it that no disciplinary procedures would be undertaken against them?
- Alasdair, London
Disgraceful. What right have they to try and disenfranchise those people who voted BNP? Isn't this a democracy any more?
- Rob, King's Lynn
The BNP is an ugly, unpleasant organisation, but 130,000 Londoners voted for them. At some point, the "affirmative action" /"positive discrimination" brigade will have to address the concerns of white working class voters who have been ignored by the GLA and the main political parties. Because if they continue to ignore those voters, the BNP will have considerably more votes at the next election. Already, the BNP candidate came second in many districts across the country. Next time, they will come first. Politicians need to stop pretending the BNP don't exist and instead start working to include disaffected whites into society.
- Cameron, London, W2
This is wrong. Barnbrook has been voted into place by more than 130,000 people. He therefore has a right to his place on the Assembly, and therefore has the same rights that any other member has. No matter how odious his views may appear.
- Ken, Bexleyheath
As horrible as the BNP are,this man was elected in a democratic vote. They would not do this to a terrorist.
- Bob, London
And I thought we lived in a democracy.
- Albert Hall, Kettering
