Labour's Definition of Equality

The Falkirk MP Eric Joyce considers he's saved one of Scotland's hotel chains from doom and disaster.

According to Eric Joyce, (I'm not providing a link to his blog), he discovered the BNP had made arrangements to launch their Scottish campaign at the Inchrya Grange Hotel, Falkirk (a MacDonald chain) last Saturday. Eric Joyce didn't approve of the event happening in his constituency so, on Friday, very publicly, he set about ensuring the event didn't take place. He admits to contacting the hotel manager who, to give him credit, refused to discuss the hotel's bookings diary with him - possibly because it was none of the MP's business. Undeterred, Eric Joyce then set about a Twitter campaign against the hotel, asking his Twitter followers to email or tweet the hotel 'to express your concern and to request that MacDonald Hotels refuse bookings from the British National Party'.  Some did send threatening emails and tweets.

Under this pressure the hotel capitulated and cancelled the event with only 24 hours notice: Eric Joyce, of course, was delighted.

As far as I believe the BNP is a legal political party. I understand they booked and paid for the function under the name 'BNP Scotland', although Eric Joyce says there is a well-known investment house (Paribas) with the same acronym in his constituency; thereby implying the hotel didn't realise the manner of the function.

I have no time for the BNP but they are as entitled to campaign as any other legitimate political party.  Eric Joyce's actions are completely undemocratic and should be condemned as sinister and bullying.  He underestimates the ability of the Scots to judge the BNP for themselves and by taking this action he has, quite possibly, encouraged some to look more closely at the BNP and its policies.  The consequences could result in an increase in BNP votes here in Scotland - the very outcome Eric Joyce said he wanted to quench.

Another aspect of this story is the action of the hotel.  Can you imagine booking a function with the MacDonald Hotel chain when they are content to cancel it with 24 hours notice because the local MP doesn't agree with it?  The chain describe itself as independent, yet there's nothing independent about allowing your MP to influence your business and pandering to his undemocratic, discriminatory requests.

Eric Joyce hasn't had his troubles to seek in his years as an MP.  Last year he was convicted of drink-driving and was the most expensive MP in Westminster in 2010 with his £200,986 expenses bill.

If a Labour MP is ruthless enough to disregard equality and discrimination legislation so publicly, how does the party operate out of the public gaze?  Something to ponder.

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Iain MacWhirter - The Differences Between the SNP and BNP

Today's Herald publishes an article by Iain MacWhirter entitled 'Why SNP believes we are the people... wherever we're from'.

The subheading is - 'What's the difference between the SNP and the BNP?'

Apart from praising Iain's daring in tackling the subject of race and immigration, this extract from his last paragraph sums up my thoughts on the matter.

We must stop allowing the BNP to dictate the terms of the debate on national identity. Racism and ethnic chauvinism in all their forms are repellent and inexcusable. But this is not the same as love of country or celebration of community identity. The SNP is not racist, and never will be, because it does not have, at its root, any concept of national or ethnic superiority.

Source: Herald

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Thursday's Question Time - A Senior View

Yesterday I was invited to be a guest at a bridge club I've never attended before. It is a ladies club and as many of you will surmise, the age group isn't youthful. Many at these clubs are highly educated women who have had much experience of the world and life.

During the beverage and melt-in-the-mouth shortbread break, I heard one conversation turn to last Thursday's Question Time.

Tuning in to the conversation I heard one group of seven women talking avidly about how they considered Nick Griffin had come out best and I realised they were talking about Question Time last Thursday.

Not one to miss an opportunity (unless I'm feeling shy), I asked the chairwoman if she would mind if I asked a question to the room and when I explained my reasons, she was kind enough to say yes.

I asked the room "Did the programme expose the weaknesses of the BNP arguments and policies?"

In a room of 23 (plus me) of mature women not one said yes. The major comment was about the behaviour of the other panelists who seemed hell bent on doing their (pathetic) best to decry the man. I know where I live many people vote Tory but also many vote SNP more and more and I have Pete Wishart to represent me in Westminster.

In fact, at the end of the afternoon, so many women I would never have thought had so much interest in politics, said Nick Griffin, aside from Dimbleby, was the only person on the panel not to be abusive.

I know, a small ladies bridge club (and believe me not all vote tory!), to be so verbose about a political TV programme may sound unusual, but I wonder how many small groups around the UK think the same.

None supported the extreme policies of Nick Griffin's BNP but they did have major concerns about how the 'main stream' parties are dealing with various issues which are well documented elsewhere, although my link is just one example.

That was my afternoon, I do hope yours was enjoyable. In case you're interested I was playing with a Scottish Master and I didn't play (bid for those of you who play bridge) too well. I know my partner and she was, like most good bridge players, diplomatic in saying she'd also made mistakes.

Oh how I wish more of society was so tactful, but we seem to have lost the ability to acknowledge others play so much of a part of our lives, often without our awareness.

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Scottish BNP Speech - In a Tent in England

My thanks to Scunnert Nation

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