Anti racist campaigning keeps BNP vote low in Scotland

by Chris Bartter

A further key element of UNISON's Election Campaign was to continue our anti-racist campaigning, targeting the BNP to maximise the vote against them and to try and stop their politics of hatred gaining a foothold here.

Traditionally the BNP have not fared well in Scotland, but over recent elections they have been increasing their campaigning and the need for UNISON vigilance is greater than ever.

This election they stood four candidates in every regional list, cynically importing paper candidates from England to make up numbers so they would qualify for a Party Political election broadcast.

A number of papers commented on the hypocrisy of this tactic for a campaign that was titled 'Local People First', and one commentator pointed out that one of their candidates was simultaneously standing as a councillor in South Gloucestershire! UNISON produced a series of leaflets and posters urging people to be careful with their vote and to stop the BNP.

They were primarily aimed at members, but were also used by branches for street stalls in Ayrshire, Aberdeenshire, Glasgow and Stirling, where BNP candidates had surfaced in Council elections as well.

Advertisements were placed - with some difficulty - in local and some national papers - again targeting these areas, and direct mailshots sent to UNISON members in these wards.

The restriction of the BNP vote to less than 2% was welcome as was their trouncing in council elections, but Dave Watson - UNISONScotland's Head of Policy - warns that we cannot be complacent.

"Whilst the BNP vote remains marginal it is growing. Of course they stood in more areas this time so it is not a fair comparison but in an election that marginalised all the minority parties the BNP gained votes. We will not be relaxing."

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