Britain facing twin threat from BNP and state fascism, warn delegates

Louise Nousratpour at the Labour Representation Committee conference in Conway House
Sunday November 16, 2008
The Morning Star

BRITAIN is facing the rising threat of both "state fascism" and the far-right BNP, Labour Representation Committee delegates warned on Saturday.

Far-right groups such as the BNP are active in white working-class areas, filling the vacuum left by the Labour Party and other organisations, the committee's conference heard.

Moving a motion on combating the threat of fascism and racism, committee member Daphne Liddle called for locally focused campaigns and door-to-door visits, particularly in areas targeted by the BNP.

"The BNP puts most of its political energy into door-to-door campaigning because it knows that this is effective and it must be countered in the same way," Ms Liddle argued forcefully.

Conference also expressed fears about the growth of "creeping state fascism" through anti-terrorism legislation as well as a succession of draconian immigration and asylum acts.

Committee chairman John McDonnell MP noted that, in his west London constituency, "three or four asylum-seekers are deported every day - dragged out at all hours of the night and in handcuffs.

"This government is sending people back to the Democratic Republic of Congo and Iraq."

The agreed resolution called for the repeal of all "unjust" immigration and asylum laws, the scrapping of all anti-terror legislation and an end to private-sector involvement in the prison system and all government departments that keep public records.