OK - decent people of Norwich. Ive put together this statement on the election results. What do people think? Anything you want included/ taken out? I thought about getting a few signatories (along the lines of our initial press release -wide group of progressive people etc) - who do people think I should invite? We are Norwich is deeply concerned by the results of the recent European and local elections, both nationally and internationally. Here in Britain, the far right and racist UKIP topped the poll. In France the fascist Font National came top with 25% of the vote. In Denmark and the Netherlands, far right anti-immigration and Islamophobic parties did well and in Hungary, members of the Jobbik party have called for the countrys Jewish inhabitants to sign a special register. These results put together strongly indicate that far too many people in Europe have felt the fear and misery caused by austerity and have drawn the conclusion that this must be the fault of migrants. They blame their own governments for what has happened to them but vote for parties whose challenge to those governments rests on scapegoating and racism, instead of challenging the austerity programme itself. We need to consider these results carefully. In this country, 65% of people did not vote - this is real political earthquake of the last week. It is also true to say that the UKIP vote at the moment appears spread too thinly to win parliamentary seats, but we cannot afford to let this change over the next year. We can be sure however, that what UKIP has been able to do is pull the whole of political discourse to the right in criticising the elite, not for their neo-liberal policies, but for allowing too many migrants into the country. We pledge to: - Put aside our differences and work together to form a progressive voice, which stands up to racism in a meaningful and coherent way. - Strongly make the case that the way to beat UKIP is not be hard on immigration, talk tough or try and beat them at their own game. Instead we will say loudly and clearly that we welcome immigrants and that they are part of the fabric of this country. As a recent Guardian report proved - The NHS would close before breakfast if it wasnt for the work of migrant workers. As Dianne Abbott MP has tweeted Worst possible conclusion for Labour to draw from these results would be a need to move right on immigration. The same goes for the other parties. - Condemn the media for their coverage of UKIPs campaign and the general reporting of the results. Nigel Farage has been on Question Time 26 times, more than anyone one else and five times more than any other party leader. In a recent 31 day period, the Daily Express ran 22 front page articles on a supposed threat of a flood of refugees. This serves to confuse the public about migration issues. No wonder the public believe that 62% of migrants are asylum seekers (reality 4%) and that 31% of the population are immigrants (reality 13%). - Focus our efforts locally on dispelling the myths about immigration and UKIP in Norwich and supporting anti-work in Great Yarmouth, where 47% of voters chose UKIP. - Lead the movement against austerity, which can help to undercut the right wing agenda. Nigel Farage is a public school educated, worked in the City of London and his pro-establishment policies would be deeply popular if unknown. We must rise to the challenge and organise against austerity and racism.
Posted on: Wed, 28 May 2014 08:42:50 +0000
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