Melanie Phillips (pictured) explains the BNP’s popularity in her Spectator blog as being the result of ‘the threat from Islamic supremacism and the concern of the disenfranchised white voters that the political establishment is supinely going along with the progressive Islamisation of Britain’.

‘All around them they see the establishment responding to Islamist bullying with acts of appeasement. Jihadis parade on the streets threatening to behead infidels — but it is white objectors whose collars are felt by the police. The mainstream political parties are all petrified of saying anything about either the steady encroachment of Islam into Britain’s public space or the linked phenomenon of mass immigration.

[…]

‘So the BNP has been handed an extraordinary electoral advantage: it can tell voters that it is the only party prepared unequivocally to denounce such things. The rise of Nick Griffin is intimately related to the unchecked march of Islamism in Britain. The BNP is, in one sense, merely the other side of the jihadi coin.’

The remarks are highly derogatory in presenting Muslim lobbying for equality under the law, for example in establishing Muslim faith schools, analogous to the existence of Christian, Jewish, Sikh and Hindu schools, or the extension of racial hatred laws to cover anti-Muslim prejudice, as ‘Islamist bullying’, ‘appeasement’ and the ‘unchecked march of Islamism in Britain’. Phillips also uses the actions of an extreme minority of Muslims (al-Muhajiroun), to suggest that the BNP’s attitude towards Muslims are to be appreciated as legitimate concerns.

Phillips plays the BNP’s own game in extending the repulsive behaviour of al-Muhajiroun to British Muslims in general, thereby justifying the BNP’s obnoxious attitudes.

British Muslims have categorically and consistently distanced themselves from the actions of fringe groups that delight in sparking controversy with their outlandish claims and basking in the subsequent media spotlight.

It is disgraceful that Phillips should seek to rationalize the BNP’s anti-Muslim prejudice by using the actions of a fringe group which British Muslims have overwhelmingly rejected, or in suggesting that equality under the law for Muslims represents 'the steady encroachment of Islam into Britain’s public space'.

What does Phillips suggest we do to address the concerns of those driven into the arms of the BNP?

She writes:

‘This is why all decent people must join in the fight against Islamic supremacism. Support for the BNP would plummet if the political mainstream were to limit immigration, denounce cultural Islamic imperialism and refuse to give one inch to sharia law, saying no to polygamy, sharia finance, sharia courts and all attempts to set up a parallel Islamic society in Britain.’

No mention here of the existence of the Jewish Beth Din courts which are regulated by the same legislative act that permits the right to arbitration through Shari’ah tribunals. Should these too be refused the right to operate?

And whither evidence of a parallel Islamic society in Britain? This recent report by Lancaster University suggests that far from leading parallel lives, British Muslims are better integrated than their European counterparts.

As commentary today dissects Nick Griffin appearance on BBC Question Time yesterday, it is shocking that Melanie Phillips should echo and cast as reasonable the party’s claim of a steady ‘Islamisation of Britain’. It is in the same vein as an earlier column by Leo McKinstry in the Daily Express and only serves to provide the racist BNP with a veneer of mainstream respectability.

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james fin   |2009-10-23 20:43:17 This woman is far more dangerous than Nick Griffin. Griffin, despite being narrow minded, ignorant and possibly evil, is at least honest about his motives. The same cannot be said about Mel P.

April  - Miss   |2009-10-23 21:38:17 Regarding the BNP party it's sad that the BBC allowed Nick Griffin to take part in the debate on Question time last night. I am a great believer in freedom of speech. However, the views espoused by such a party is clearly illegal and immoral. It is fact even though we have the freedom of speech ,this contains restrictions and clearly the views or concept of such party threatens the establishment and stability of our country. I have lived in the UK most of my adult life and I'm more at ease here than my country of birth. My dad who sadly has passed away, was in the army amongst high ranks and having met soldiers from different nationalities always spoke highly of the British. Wherever, I go in the world I speak proudly of being British as I feel we generally are more humane and compassionate and that is we have fundamental characteristics that differentiate us as human beings from the animal species. Sadly, the BNP has its own hidden agenda and trying to use the current financial crisis to woo its supporters. As has been argued on many occasions that in such periods of discontentment people use immigrants as scapegoats. However those with some form of education (not necessarily academic) would not let themselves be brainwashed to adopt such philosophy ,that is instead of showing compassion to turn to hatred. I for one do not judge people by colour, creed or religion, but by one's actions. I have friends and family from different religions and colours and never once thought about being of a different colour as my love is the same for all of them. It worries me that people like Nick Griffin does not have any moral values or commonsense ,otherwise he would not holding such lowly values. If only we took 5 minutes and thought of our purpose in life. For example are we here eternally? Do we live for our benefit or for the welfare of society on the whole. Life is like a holiday but the difference is we do not know how long it would last. We may not see tomorrow and must consider ourselves lucky every morning we wake up and remain healthy. We never know what can strike us in life .Thus, we have to live every day as if was our last and be proud to have lived a life that our conscience will never reproach us when God calls us as it would be too late... We should not let material need take over our rationality or people like Mr. Griffin would entice people that he has a clear vision and obviously best one.. Have faith and belief in you and would not need to become members of the BNP to bring hatred to mankind but instead show love. I believe that Religion is an excuse to justity the increase of BNP membership list .Those adults need to be reeducated just like children at school have to follow Citixenship lessons. There is enough of bad things happening that around in the world causing suffering to millions worldwide. We must unite to erase such immoral and unethical thinking so that we will remain proud to be British in our country and worldwide

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