Although Nick Griffen lacks the charisma of other fascist leaders, he has been able to move the BNP from a gang of thugs to a minority political party. Like most political parties he has moved the to centre to expand the parties appeal. As well as exploit the low turnout and protest votes caused by the MP expense scandal.

His recent appearance on question time has given the party a boost, primarily because the media circus promoted it for weeks. Expecting it to be some major tipping point, resulting in him either converting everyone that watches or looking like a fool and loosing all support. In reality, it was just a non-event like his other media appearances.

Like most nationalist parties, the recession has provided a chance to boost supporters. Apply for a job at a government department and their will be a statement saying they “encourage applications from minorities that are under-represented.” Though well intentioned it can make a white person feel they are being discriminated against. Likewise, their are hundreds of special programmes to support minorities and special interest groups lobbying for minority rights. So its not surprising that working class whites feel they have been ignored and the BNP can help them.

The other political parties still see the BNP as just a gang of racist thugs. So their rebuttal is to simply call them racist and fascist. Even on Question Time there was a bear baiting atmosphere, repeating selected quotes and demanding Griffen explain them. Every politician has made extreme quotes on various issues, yet they are not dragged up as the issue of the day. This victimisation simply creates empathy from disenfranchised voters.

Nationalist policies have always failed to be sustainable. Hitler, Amin and Mugabe have all persecuted ethnic groups, seized their property and expelled them. The end result has always been economic collapse. An economy needs flexibility to thrive. Migration and trade provides this. Attacking the stupidity of the BNP policies is a much better rebuttal.

Because the BNP is a one issue party, expanding the debate to other policies is another strategy. Once voters realise that they do not have developed policies on crime, health, education, etc. they won’t take them seriously. So they will drift back into obsurity.

Finally, governments should not group people by race in statistics. Whites may be better off than minorities, but working class whites and working class blacks are equally poor. Programs should not be targeted at ethic groups but by socioeconomic factors like wealth, education, etc.