Comments on: BNP wins London Assembly seat, joining a handful of openly gay members http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-7554.html/ PinkNews.co.uk Gay News (UK and world) from Pink News - all the gay news for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered community in the UK and beyond- thegaynews from Pink News Thu, 26 Nov 2009 09:44:11 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Sister Mary Clarence http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-7554.html/comment-page-1/#comment-30522 Sister Mary Clarence Tue, 06 May 2008 03:47:00 +0000 http://www.pinknews.co.uk/?p=7554#comment-30522 “It may interest you to know that over 80% of Somalis are out of work and on benefits! A prime example of the sort of scroungers and freeloaders I would like to see expelled from the UK, and indeed the EU.”Well Roberto, you may have read Law (BA) and studied politics, but clearly immigration wasn’t on the curriculum. Somalia has been in a state of civil war since at least the nineteen nineties and generally Somalis are allowed into this country as refugees due to the dire situation in their own country. The Immigration Act doesn’t really provide for the double standards you seem happy with – gay Iranians in, Somalis out. Refugee is refugee as far as the law of the lands is concerned.Clearly there are issues of high unemployment in the Somali communities in this country, but rather than ship them back to where they came from, another option would be to educate them to the ways of our own society and provide the training and skills they need to enable them to work and support themselves.Instead we have on one side a bunch of right wing fascists yelling “Send ‘em back, send ‘em back” and on the other we’ve got the Labour Party saying, “You’re in, here’s your benefits, make your own way in life”. Neither option is a workable solution, and its about time a few people start to get real and get on with sorting the problem out. “It may interest you to know that over 80% of Somalis are out of work and on benefits! A prime example of the sort of scroungers and freeloaders I would like to see expelled from the UK, and indeed the EU.”Well Roberto, you may have read Law (BA) and studied politics, but clearly immigration wasn’t on the curriculum. Somalia has been in a state of civil war since at least the nineteen nineties and generally Somalis are allowed into this country as refugees due to the dire situation in their own country. The Immigration Act doesn’t really provide for the double standards you seem happy with – gay Iranians in, Somalis out. Refugee is refugee as far as the law of the lands is concerned.Clearly there are issues of high unemployment in the Somali communities in this country, but rather than ship them back to where they came from, another option would be to educate them to the ways of our own society and provide the training and skills they need to enable them to work and support themselves.Instead we have on one side a bunch of right wing fascists yelling “Send ‘em back, send ‘em back” and on the other we’ve got the Labour Party saying, “You’re in, here’s your benefits, make your own way in life”. Neither option is a workable solution, and its about time a few people start to get real and get on with sorting the problem out.

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]]> By: the full facts http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-7554.html/comment-page-1/#comment-30523 the full facts Mon, 05 May 2008 22:19:00 +0000 http://www.pinknews.co.uk/?p=7554#comment-30523 Richard Barnes, who was re-elected as the Assembly Member for Ealing Hillingdon, is also openly gay. He's a Tory. Richard Barnes, who was re-elected as the Assembly Member for Ealing Hillingdon, is also openly gay. He's a Tory.

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]]> By: Sister Mary Clarence http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-7554.html/comment-page-1/#comment-30524 Sister Mary Clarence Mon, 05 May 2008 11:07:00 +0000 http://www.pinknews.co.uk/?p=7554#comment-30524 Clearly Rob Neal your vote is better placed with the BNP - you're going to sorely disappointed if you think you're going to get what you want out of the Tories.I vote Tory because I want to see the immigration system improved. Asylum cases should be dealt with quicker to reduce the hardship and suffering of those in genuine need of refuge - in the same way that some other countries manage to do. Polish people are perfectly entitled to come over here to work if they have a job to come to - if they haven't got a job, they can't stay. Possibly, we should be asking why a large number of British workers have priced themselves out of the jobs market, when those from other EU countries will come here and do the job, support themselves, and as you point out, even have enough money to send home (less taxes of course that have benefited the UK Treasury). I don't know if you ever step out of your (British built, I trust) ivory tower and take a holiday in Spain, Greece or anyone of a number of other Mediterranean destinations and notice the numbers of British workers over there.For years the number of people emigrating has been significantly higher than the numbers coming into the country – that I’m sure was fine with you. We have and estimated 5.5 million British ex-pats living overseas and in 2006 over 200 000 Brits left to live overseas. For decades British oil workers have gone across the globe to work in well paid oil jobs, sending money home to their families – again I’m sure you have had no problem with this.The problem we have it that British workers coming on to the jobs market are no longer able to compete with foreign workers on so many levels. Too many people are poorly educated, either academically or in the work related skills they need, despite this they price themselves out of the jobs market, and they often have a poor work ethic. People have forgotten that work is a mutually beneficial arrangement. It is for the benefit of both the employee and the employer – not the employee alone. Of course the CBI want cheap labour, they always have, unfortunately Labour have ensured that it is a better option for people to languish on benefits that take any form of work at all.So, we can take your option and say, close the borders, then we do not have to complete, and I suppose that is a solution. Or we can accept that we clearly have a problem - we educate young people to their fullest potential, we need to train people so that they have the skills to fill the jobs that the job market have to offer, we need to re-train were necessary to ensure the workforce can adapt to changes in the markets needs and need to not only educate people in their rights in society, but we need to instill in them their responsibilities to it.I think its also slightly naïve to think that it we start ousting all foreign labour from this country that all the foreign owned companies that operate business here, will continue to do so. Bearing in mind that the legacy of Blair’s Britain is that there in almost no British-owned commerce of any sort left in Britain today, we can hardly afford to risk sanction from these companies – replacements are hardly likely to start queuing up if they pull out. Clearly Rob Neal your vote is better placed with the BNP – you're going to sorely disappointed if you think you're going to get what you want out of the Tories.I vote Tory because I want to see the immigration system improved. Asylum cases should be dealt with quicker to reduce the hardship and suffering of those in genuine need of refuge – in the same way that some other countries manage to do. Polish people are perfectly entitled to come over here to work if they have a job to come to – if they haven't got a job, they can't stay. Possibly, we should be asking why a large number of British workers have priced themselves out of the jobs market, when those from other EU countries will come here and do the job, support themselves, and as you point out, even have enough money to send home (less taxes of course that have benefited the UK Treasury). I don't know if you ever step out of your (British built, I trust) ivory tower and take a holiday in Spain, Greece or anyone of a number of other Mediterranean destinations and notice the numbers of British workers over there.For years the number of people emigrating has been significantly higher than the numbers coming into the country – that I’m sure was fine with you. We have and estimated 5.5 million British ex-pats living overseas and in 2006 over 200 000 Brits left to live overseas. For decades British oil workers have gone across the globe to work in well paid oil jobs, sending money home to their families – again I’m sure you have had no problem with this.The problem we have it that British workers coming on to the jobs market are no longer able to compete with foreign workers on so many levels. Too many people are poorly educated, either academically or in the work related skills they need, despite this they price themselves out of the jobs market, and they often have a poor work ethic. People have forgotten that work is a mutually beneficial arrangement. It is for the benefit of both the employee and the employer – not the employee alone. Of course the CBI want cheap labour, they always have, unfortunately Labour have ensured that it is a better option for people to languish on benefits that take any form of work at all.So, we can take your option and say, close the borders, then we do not have to complete, and I suppose that is a solution. Or we can accept that we clearly have a problem – we educate young people to their fullest potential, we need to train people so that they have the skills to fill the jobs that the job market have to offer, we need to re-train were necessary to ensure the workforce can adapt to changes in the markets needs and need to not only educate people in their rights in society, but we need to instill in them their responsibilities to it.I think its also slightly naïve to think that it we start ousting all foreign labour from this country that all the foreign owned companies that operate business here, will continue to do so. Bearing in mind that the legacy of Blair’s Britain is that there in almost no British-owned commerce of any sort left in Britain today, we can hardly afford to risk sanction from these companies – replacements are hardly likely to start queuing up if they pull out.

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]]> By: Roberto http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-7554.html/comment-page-1/#comment-30525 Roberto Sun, 04 May 2008 20:30:00 +0000 http://www.pinknews.co.uk/?p=7554#comment-30525 Anonymous - you might do well to look at Gordon Brown's voting record on Gay Rights, "it's terrible"!After putting a woman like Ruth Kelly (now removed) in charge of Gay Rights under Blair is it any wonder many Gays equally don't trust Labour on Gay Rights either?! Anonymous – you might do well to look at Gordon Brown's voting record on Gay Rights, "it's terrible"!After putting a woman like Ruth Kelly (now removed) in charge of Gay Rights under Blair is it any wonder many Gays equally don't trust Labour on Gay Rights either?!

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]]> By: Anonymous http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-7554.html/comment-page-1/#comment-30526 Anonymous Sun, 04 May 2008 19:38:00 +0000 http://www.pinknews.co.uk/?p=7554#comment-30526 I never understand any gay person voing tory????look up there voting record on gay rights. its terrible!!!How can you vote for a party that denouces you as a person???? I never understand any gay person voing tory????look up there voting record on gay rights. its terrible!!!How can you vote for a party that denouces you as a person????

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]]> By: Rob Neal http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-7554.html/comment-page-1/#comment-30527 Rob Neal Sun, 04 May 2008 18:20:00 +0000 http://www.pinknews.co.uk/?p=7554#comment-30527 Sister Clarence - I think Roberto has essentially covered my thoughts too on your comments. Personally I would take it that bit further though:I think *anyone* entering this country should have a valid and justified reason, EU or not. We were originally told only a handful of Eastern Europeans would come over, but I may as well be living in Warsaw for the amount of Polish living in my area. If these people have qualifications and a job to go to, I see no reason why we cannot accept skilled workers. Likewise, Chinese selling DVDs, Jamaicans selling guns and drugs and Romanians squatting outside banks with paper cups should be given the bum's-rush and shipped out on the next cargo ship.You are getting sucked into this government's own spin about immigration, and the CBI have a major axe to grind to support cheap labour. Try visiting Immigrationwatch and see their angle on it.This country's entire infrastructure is being eroded, from education (Up to 15 languages to a class), health (healthcare migrants coming to be treated) to social services, defence, housing, law order, and the economy in general. We CANNOT support this level of people. And before you suggest that the fourth richest country in the world will implode if we send them all home, just remember we have been doing perfectly well for tha last 1000 or so years. Where do these people come up with this CRAP!?Another point, if you or I work here, we also earn money and generally also spend it here, which keeps the local economy healthy; Have you ever wondered why there are so many money transfer places that have sprung up in recent years? Most of the money these people are earning is being sent back home, so it is not benefiting this country. On top of this, there is also a considerable black economy which does not pay tax or contributions. These people are leeches on the British society, and I for one am sick and tired of them whinging about asylum, when in fact they are only here to ponce off us, and then backed up by bleeding-heart liberals and do-gooders like yourself that think everyone is as nice and understanding as you are. Take off the blinkers and look around and read the signs for yourself. Something needs to be done, and it seems being called a racist is not enough to put people off any more.This country is the laughing stock of the world. "Please, come in, have all my money and go shit in the corner." Sister Clarence – I think Roberto has essentially covered my thoughts too on your comments. Personally I would take it that bit further though:I think *anyone* entering this country should have a valid and justified reason, EU or not. We were originally told only a handful of Eastern Europeans would come over, but I may as well be living in Warsaw for the amount of Polish living in my area. If these people have qualifications and a job to go to, I see no reason why we cannot accept skilled workers. Likewise, Chinese selling DVDs, Jamaicans selling guns and drugs and Romanians squatting outside banks with paper cups should be given the bum's-rush and shipped out on the next cargo ship.You are getting sucked into this government's own spin about immigration, and the CBI have a major axe to grind to support cheap labour. Try visiting Immigrationwatch and see their angle on it.This country's entire infrastructure is being eroded, from education (Up to 15 languages to a class), health (healthcare migrants coming to be treated) to social services, defence, housing, law order, and the economy in general. We CANNOT support this level of people. And before you suggest that the fourth richest country in the world will implode if we send them all home, just remember we have been doing perfectly well for tha last 1000 or so years. Where do these people come up with this CRAP!?Another point, if you or I work here, we also earn money and generally also spend it here, which keeps the local economy healthy; Have you ever wondered why there are so many money transfer places that have sprung up in recent years? Most of the money these people are earning is being sent back home, so it is not benefiting this country. On top of this, there is also a considerable black economy which does not pay tax or contributions. These people are leeches on the British society, and I for one am sick and tired of them whinging about asylum, when in fact they are only here to ponce off us, and then backed up by bleeding-heart liberals and do-gooders like yourself that think everyone is as nice and understanding as you are. Take off the blinkers and look around and read the signs for yourself. Something needs to be done, and it seems being called a racist is not enough to put people off any more.This country is the laughing stock of the world. "Please, come in, have all my money and go shit in the corner."

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]]> By: Roberto http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-7554.html/comment-page-1/#comment-30528 Roberto Sun, 04 May 2008 18:02:00 +0000 http://www.pinknews.co.uk/?p=7554#comment-30528 I forgot to add:I know for a fact that in areas of London, by word of mouth, Conservative Voters were being "encouraged" to give a vote to the BNP. I know of Gay people who did this which was why I commented.I also know Gay Conservative voters in London and elsewhere who believe what the BNP are saying about immigration is right.They all to a man, like me, fear the rise of the Islamists in the UK and abhor the way the government panders to Muslims.This may be a hard thing to swallow but it's a fact of life these days.As Gays we have far more to fear from the rise of Islam, and parties like Respect that support them, than the BNP. Just look at that horror Red Ken was parading as a friend!!! I forgot to add:I know for a fact that in areas of London, by word of mouth, Conservative Voters were being "encouraged" to give a vote to the BNP. I know of Gay people who did this which was why I commented.I also know Gay Conservative voters in London and elsewhere who believe what the BNP are saying about immigration is right.They all to a man, like me, fear the rise of the Islamists in the UK and abhor the way the government panders to Muslims.This may be a hard thing to swallow but it's a fact of life these days.As Gays we have far more to fear from the rise of Islam, and parties like Respect that support them, than the BNP. Just look at that horror Red Ken was parading as a friend!!!

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]]> By: Roberto http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-7554.html/comment-page-1/#comment-30529 Roberto Sun, 04 May 2008 17:36:00 +0000 http://www.pinknews.co.uk/?p=7554#comment-30529 At last, Sister Mary, no insults and judgements made about my character - that's a start I suppose.Firstly, let me state for the record. I have never voted BNP.I was a one time Labour Member and Borough Councillor until I saw the light about 7 years back and resigned.I have since always voted Conservative at General Elections and Local Elections (I live in a very safe Tory Ward - the safest in the town).I do though always vote Lib Dem for EU Elections because I am a supporter of the EU and always have been. I do not vote Tory for EU Elections because of their past hesitation on all things EU. I feel the same about Labour and the EU. I favour enlargement and the Euro which I wish we'd get on and join.Has the above surprised you Sister Mary?I FULLY SUPPORT immigration from EU countries into the UK and like you see them as a breath of fresh air, particularly with their work ethic. I had some major block drive work done two years ago by Polish workers who worked from 7 am to 7 pm without a break! Try getting an Englishman to do that!Now where I agree with the BNP is in halting migrants from outside the EU. Unless they are highly skilled, like doctors, then we simply do not need them - end of story!I am apalled when I see all those men sitting in France waiting to sneak into the UK. For starters if they were real asylum seekers then the Dublin Agreement states they claim in their first safe country. They are sitting in a safe country, it's called France! This is an abuse of our system and hospitality. Thus, I have NO sympathy with them, or the hoards who try to make it into Europe by boat from Africa and Asia. They are ecconomic migrants and should be sent back.On the above I see the BNP as a good way to make a protest and force the main parties to stop pandering to illegal migrants. They should be deported.If though they are proven asylum seekers, like the Gay arrivals from places like Iran, then they get my full support. Indeed, I am on record on here in supporting the recent examples and have signed petitions to that effect.I simply have no time for scroungers and ecconomic migrants.Now, on the question of scroungers and the idle which you believe many indigenous people who don't work are. It may interest you to know that over 80% of Somalis are out of work and on benefits! A prime example of the sort of scroungers and freeloaders I would like to see expelled from the UK, and indeed the EU.Finally, as someone who Read Law (BA) and studied politics I again would have to say the BNP (if they win elections) have every right to sit to whatever office they are elected to as a legitimate and legally constituted political party. Until such time as they are banned. Remember, Sinn Fein was the political wing of the terrorist IRA and now they sit in the Ulster Parliament. If you ban the BNP then by rights you must ban Sinn Fein as well. Something to think about.I hope this has made my position clearer? At last, Sister Mary, no insults and judgements made about my character – that's a start I suppose.Firstly, let me state for the record. I have never voted BNP.I was a one time Labour Member and Borough Councillor until I saw the light about 7 years back and resigned.I have since always voted Conservative at General Elections and Local Elections (I live in a very safe Tory Ward – the safest in the town).I do though always vote Lib Dem for EU Elections because I am a supporter of the EU and always have been. I do not vote Tory for EU Elections because of their past hesitation on all things EU. I feel the same about Labour and the EU. I favour enlargement and the Euro which I wish we'd get on and join.Has the above surprised you Sister Mary?I FULLY SUPPORT immigration from EU countries into the UK and like you see them as a breath of fresh air, particularly with their work ethic. I had some major block drive work done two years ago by Polish workers who worked from 7 am to 7 pm without a break! Try getting an Englishman to do that!Now where I agree with the BNP is in halting migrants from outside the EU. Unless they are highly skilled, like doctors, then we simply do not need them – end of story!I am apalled when I see all those men sitting in France waiting to sneak into the UK. For starters if they were real asylum seekers then the Dublin Agreement states they claim in their first safe country. They are sitting in a safe country, it's called France! This is an abuse of our system and hospitality. Thus, I have NO sympathy with them, or the hoards who try to make it into Europe by boat from Africa and Asia. They are ecconomic migrants and should be sent back.On the above I see the BNP as a good way to make a protest and force the main parties to stop pandering to illegal migrants. They should be deported.If though they are proven asylum seekers, like the Gay arrivals from places like Iran, then they get my full support. Indeed, I am on record on here in supporting the recent examples and have signed petitions to that effect.I simply have no time for scroungers and ecconomic migrants.Now, on the question of scroungers and the idle which you believe many indigenous people who don't work are. It may interest you to know that over 80% of Somalis are out of work and on benefits! A prime example of the sort of scroungers and freeloaders I would like to see expelled from the UK, and indeed the EU.Finally, as someone who Read Law (BA) and studied politics I again would have to say the BNP (if they win elections) have every right to sit to whatever office they are elected to as a legitimate and legally constituted political party. Until such time as they are banned. Remember, Sinn Fein was the political wing of the terrorist IRA and now they sit in the Ulster Parliament. If you ban the BNP then by rights you must ban Sinn Fein as well. Something to think about.I hope this has made my position clearer?

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]]> By: Sister Mary Clarence http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-7554.html/comment-page-1/#comment-30530 Sister Mary Clarence Sun, 04 May 2008 13:12:00 +0000 http://www.pinknews.co.uk/?p=7554#comment-30530 Rob Neal, Roberto – another example of your political compasses being broken I think – can’t speak for anyone else but I voted for Boris, at this election and Stephen Norris at the last GLA/mayoral election. I voted Tory at the general election. I am a member of the Tory party. I have long argued on here that the Tories have changed – often in the face of much criticism. I’ve argued that the old guard have gone and that those with the more extreme right wing views are being pushed out of the party.Then along come you two, extolling the rights of the extremist, far-right BNP, ‘understanding’ their point of view, ‘understanding’ why people would be so concerned about the immigration issue, and complaining when democracy doesn’t go their way. Both making it clear that actually you’re Conservative voters and that anyone who doesn’t share your barely concealed dislike of anything immigration is a Marxist or a hissy fit queen.Clearly what you fail to ‘understand’ unlike Boris and David Cameron who do, is that Britain has legal obligations that require this country to let certain immigrants in – refugees who require a place of safety. Removal from the EU, which I believe that the BNP are in favour of us doing, would abdicate us of responsibility to uphold those treaties signed as part of our EU membership, whilst also causing economic collapse as our industries no longer benefit from EU and EFTA free trade agreements. It wouldn’t however free us of our obligations under the Treaty of Europe, signed many years before, and similarly requiring us to provide safe haven for those fleeing persecution. Should we try to extract ourselves from this, there would likely be fallout directly from the United Nations – which of course we could I suppose extract ourselves from as well.As Boris and David Cameron are both aware, Britain needs about a million migrant workers to allow the British economy to continue to grow. The CBI has made it very clear about the disastrous effects on the economy were these workers not here. The London Chamber of Commerce has also issued a warning about its concern that so many Eastern European workers are returning home to their own now economically prospering countries, leaving shortages in the hospitality industry and public services like hospitals to name but a few. These migrant workers are not initially allowed to draw on pubic funds and must work to stay or they must go. They are allowed to receive some work related benefits to subsidise the horrendously low wages the poorest in society are expected to work for, but of course they must be working and paying tax to get them. Annually there is an enormous economic gain from having them here.Ironically of course, those who complain about migrants coming over here and taking all the jobs, usually haven’t got one. The reason for that they will tell you is because, a migrant has taken their job. Ironic, because these migrants are the ones helping to pay for this person to sit on their arse all day for the last five years, watching Loose Women and Trisha, day in day out. Ironic as well because for the fifteen years before the influx of Eastern European migrant workers there were umpteen other reasons why he or she couldn’t find a job. All very well to wait for the Chairman or Shell’s job to be offered to them, or to wait for that knock on the door from NASA in desperate need for a pilot for their new space shuttle, ‘Deluded Fantasy’. No one blames them for not taking a fill in job in the mean time. What if they weren’t at home for that knock on the door – it doesn’t bear thinking about.There is an enormous skills shortage in this country that cannot in the immediate future be filled from within and therefore unless the economy is to stall, we need people from overseas to fill those posts.Of course if we were to follow the BNP’s immigration policies, remove ourselves from the EU, the Treaty of Europe and potentially even the United Nations, the ensuing economic collapse would mean there weren’t any jobs for migrants or otherwise anyway. Yes, I see the logic now – induce economic collapse and then there won’t be any jobs at all for anyone, so the migrants can’t steal ours – cunning.To be fair, I do take your point that the BNP vote is a protest vote. No one, not even the BNP thinks that they will be running the country. Most people are rational enough to understand that most of what they are saying is sensationalised (more so than other most other politicians) and they are making their point by exaggeration and hyperbole of an issue, or issues. The difficulty with that is that it is only ‘most’ people that understand that and there will always be some who are not able to carry out a sanity check on the information they hear, and therefore will take it as true. The more people that hear their message, the more people who potentially take it at face value, or believe that it is in part true – increasing tensions, unrest and all the problems that ensure from that.A less cumbersome tool to engender social change would be to join one of the main stream political parties that does have real influence in local, regional or national government and promote policies that you have a belief in. Local associations do have influence on national polices. They select those standing as councillors, for regional office, or prospective parliamentary candidates. One right wing extremist on the GLA will influence nothing in the way that they want to. In fact, the lightly outcome is that things will go the other way, with those who would lean to the right on an issue, tending to lean a little further to the left to distance themselves from the BNP. In the run up to the General Election the Conservatives, will, I’m sure, take clear measures to ensure there is no association between them and the BNP. Rob Neal, Roberto – another example of your political compasses being broken I think – can’t speak for anyone else but I voted for Boris, at this election and Stephen Norris at the last GLA/mayoral election. I voted Tory at the general election. I am a member of the Tory party. I have long argued on here that the Tories have changed – often in the face of much criticism. I’ve argued that the old guard have gone and that those with the more extreme right wing views are being pushed out of the party.Then along come you two, extolling the rights of the extremist, far-right BNP, ‘understanding’ their point of view, ‘understanding’ why people would be so concerned about the immigration issue, and complaining when democracy doesn’t go their way. Both making it clear that actually you’re Conservative voters and that anyone who doesn’t share your barely concealed dislike of anything immigration is a Marxist or a hissy fit queen.Clearly what you fail to ‘understand’ unlike Boris and David Cameron who do, is that Britain has legal obligations that require this country to let certain immigrants in – refugees who require a place of safety. Removal from the EU, which I believe that the BNP are in favour of us doing, would abdicate us of responsibility to uphold those treaties signed as part of our EU membership, whilst also causing economic collapse as our industries no longer benefit from EU and EFTA free trade agreements. It wouldn’t however free us of our obligations under the Treaty of Europe, signed many years before, and similarly requiring us to provide safe haven for those fleeing persecution. Should we try to extract ourselves from this, there would likely be fallout directly from the United Nations – which of course we could I suppose extract ourselves from as well.As Boris and David Cameron are both aware, Britain needs about a million migrant workers to allow the British economy to continue to grow. The CBI has made it very clear about the disastrous effects on the economy were these workers not here. The London Chamber of Commerce has also issued a warning about its concern that so many Eastern European workers are returning home to their own now economically prospering countries, leaving shortages in the hospitality industry and public services like hospitals to name but a few. These migrant workers are not initially allowed to draw on pubic funds and must work to stay or they must go. They are allowed to receive some work related benefits to subsidise the horrendously low wages the poorest in society are expected to work for, but of course they must be working and paying tax to get them. Annually there is an enormous economic gain from having them here.Ironically of course, those who complain about migrants coming over here and taking all the jobs, usually haven’t got one. The reason for that they will tell you is because, a migrant has taken their job. Ironic, because these migrants are the ones helping to pay for this person to sit on their arse all day for the last five years, watching Loose Women and Trisha, day in day out. Ironic as well because for the fifteen years before the influx of Eastern European migrant workers there were umpteen other reasons why he or she couldn’t find a job. All very well to wait for the Chairman or Shell’s job to be offered to them, or to wait for that knock on the door from NASA in desperate need for a pilot for their new space shuttle, ‘Deluded Fantasy’. No one blames them for not taking a fill in job in the mean time. What if they weren’t at home for that knock on the door – it doesn’t bear thinking about.There is an enormous skills shortage in this country that cannot in the immediate future be filled from within and therefore unless the economy is to stall, we need people from overseas to fill those posts.Of course if we were to follow the BNP’s immigration policies, remove ourselves from the EU, the Treaty of Europe and potentially even the United Nations, the ensuing economic collapse would mean there weren’t any jobs for migrants or otherwise anyway. Yes, I see the logic now – induce economic collapse and then there won’t be any jobs at all for anyone, so the migrants can’t steal ours – cunning.To be fair, I do take your point that the BNP vote is a protest vote. No one, not even the BNP thinks that they will be running the country. Most people are rational enough to understand that most of what they are saying is sensationalised (more so than other most other politicians) and they are making their point by exaggeration and hyperbole of an issue, or issues. The difficulty with that is that it is only ‘most’ people that understand that and there will always be some who are not able to carry out a sanity check on the information they hear, and therefore will take it as true. The more people that hear their message, the more people who potentially take it at face value, or believe that it is in part true – increasing tensions, unrest and all the problems that ensure from that.A less cumbersome tool to engender social change would be to join one of the main stream political parties that does have real influence in local, regional or national government and promote policies that you have a belief in. Local associations do have influence on national polices. They select those standing as councillors, for regional office, or prospective parliamentary candidates. One right wing extremist on the GLA will influence nothing in the way that they want to. In fact, the lightly outcome is that things will go the other way, with those who would lean to the right on an issue, tending to lean a little further to the left to distance themselves from the BNP. In the run up to the General Election the Conservatives, will, I’m sure, take clear measures to ensure there is no association between them and the BNP.

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]]> By: Rob Neal http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-7554.html/comment-page-1/#comment-30531 Rob Neal Sun, 04 May 2008 08:19:00 +0000 http://www.pinknews.co.uk/?p=7554#comment-30531 Well all I can say is if nearly 70,000 turkeys voted for Christmas, maybe they knew something you don't. We are not talking about a handful of reactionaries, this is the population of a medium sized town.A lot of people voted for not for Boris, but against Ken. There is a difference. Likewise, many voted for BNP to prove a point that so many are disillusioned with the mainstream parties and want something done about immigration.The BNP have already stated they are not anti-gay, they just want some perspective, and what people do in their own homes is their own affair.I think it's pretty common knowledge that gay people are a peaceful bunch, and don't go around preaching hatred and blowing up buses.As Roberto pointed out, all these socialist whingers are constantly screaming for democracy until it's not in their favour, then all of a sudden it becomes mob rule. You can't have your cake and eat it, my little Marxist fairies. Boris has two years to prove that the Tories can turn London around, and will hopefully demonstrate that they are in turn capable of running the country. Ken has eight years and turned London into a ghettoised slum with rampant crime, (an awful lot committed by immigrants), so we shall see what transpires. Well all I can say is if nearly 70,000 turkeys voted for Christmas, maybe they knew something you don't. We are not talking about a handful of reactionaries, this is the population of a medium sized town.A lot of people voted for not for Boris, but against Ken. There is a difference. Likewise, many voted for BNP to prove a point that so many are disillusioned with the mainstream parties and want something done about immigration.The BNP have already stated they are not anti-gay, they just want some perspective, and what people do in their own homes is their own affair.I think it's pretty common knowledge that gay people are a peaceful bunch, and don't go around preaching hatred and blowing up buses.As Roberto pointed out, all these socialist whingers are constantly screaming for democracy until it's not in their favour, then all of a sudden it becomes mob rule. You can't have your cake and eat it, my little Marxist fairies. Boris has two years to prove that the Tories can turn London around, and will hopefully demonstrate that they are in turn capable of running the country. Ken has eight years and turned London into a ghettoised slum with rampant crime, (an awful lot committed by immigrants), so we shall see what transpires.

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]]> By: Steven http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-7554.html/comment-page-1/#comment-30533 Steven Sun, 04 May 2008 02:26:00 +0000 http://www.pinknews.co.uk/?p=7554#comment-30533 Wow if i lived in england, i would have voted BNP as well. And sister mary and MC calm your lard asses down. It may come as a suprise, but i doubt your pathetic opinions will change the minds of who gays vote for... but thanks for playing! Wow if i lived in england, i would have voted BNP as well. And sister mary and MC calm your lard asses down. It may come as a suprise, but i doubt your pathetic opinions will change the minds of who gays vote for… but thanks for playing!

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]]> By: Roberto http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-7554.html/comment-page-1/#comment-30534 Roberto Sat, 03 May 2008 18:09:00 +0000 http://www.pinknews.co.uk/?p=7554#comment-30534 MC - yes, I am Gay and Civil Partnered.Sister Mary - the usual outburst from you I see.Now dears, I was merely pointing out that there are Gays who voted for the BNP. I didn't because I don't live in London and vote Tory.It's a shame so many closed minded queens on here are so quick to shoot the messenger rather than accept that there are people in this world who disagree with them. MC – yes, I am Gay and Civil Partnered.Sister Mary – the usual outburst from you I see.Now dears, I was merely pointing out that there are Gays who voted for the BNP. I didn't because I don't live in London and vote Tory.It's a shame so many closed minded queens on here are so quick to shoot the messenger rather than accept that there are people in this world who disagree with them.

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]]> By: Sister Mary Clarence http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-7554.html/comment-page-1/#comment-30535 Sister Mary Clarence Sat, 03 May 2008 16:58:00 +0000 http://www.pinknews.co.uk/?p=7554#comment-30535 Never thought I would MC, but I can't agree with you more.There is clearly something wrong with the education system in this country if it produces anyone stupid enough to come out with some of the shite we've had on here in favour of the BNP over the last couple of days.Interesting Roberto your comments about the rise in London of the Islamists and how many people want it stopped. I'm sure you can substitute 'Islamists' for 'homosexuals' and it should still cover the view of most BNP supporters.Apparently a few stupid turkeys do vote for Christmas …. Never thought I would MC, but I can't agree with you more.There is clearly something wrong with the education system in this country if it produces anyone stupid enough to come out with some of the shite we've had on here in favour of the BNP over the last couple of days.Interesting Roberto your comments about the rise in London of the Islamists and how many people want it stopped. I'm sure you can substitute 'Islamists' for 'homosexuals' and it should still cover the view of most BNP supporters.Apparently a few stupid turkeys do vote for Christmas ….

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]]> By: MC http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-7554.html/comment-page-1/#comment-30536 MC Sat, 03 May 2008 16:04:00 +0000 http://www.pinknews.co.uk/?p=7554#comment-30536 Roberto you are a disgrace and I do not believe you can possibly be gay whilst siding with a fascistic party that would ban homosexuality.Shame on you - go and spread your divisive racist muck elsewhere. Roberto you are a disgrace and I do not believe you can possibly be gay whilst siding with a fascistic party that would ban homosexuality.Shame on you – go and spread your divisive racist muck elsewhere.

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]]> By: SW http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-7554.html/comment-page-1/#comment-30537 SW Sat, 03 May 2008 13:32:00 +0000 http://www.pinknews.co.uk/?p=7554#comment-30537 Why would a gay person vote for an anti-gay party? Why would a gay person vote for an anti-gay party?

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]]> By: Roberto http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-7554.html/comment-page-1/#comment-30538 Roberto Sat, 03 May 2008 12:30:00 +0000 http://www.pinknews.co.uk/?p=7554#comment-30538 I can tell you that I know for a fact many Gay people in London voted BNP. I don't by the way live in London so I wasn't one of them.The feeling by many is that they have more to fear from the rise in London of the Islamists, taking over pockets of London, than the BNP. Like many they want it stopped along with the pandering to Muslims everytime something or someone upsets them.So before all you hissy queens have a fit remember that there are fellow Gays out there who don't vote Labour or Liberal.As I have said before, Barnbrook won an election and represents a perfectly legal political party. If people don't like it then that's tough as this was still a democracy the last time I looked! I can tell you that I know for a fact many Gay people in London voted BNP. I don't by the way live in London so I wasn't one of them.The feeling by many is that they have more to fear from the rise in London of the Islamists, taking over pockets of London, than the BNP. Like many they want it stopped along with the pandering to Muslims everytime something or someone upsets them.So before all you hissy queens have a fit remember that there are fellow Gays out there who don't vote Labour or Liberal.As I have said before, Barnbrook won an election and represents a perfectly legal political party. If people don't like it then that's tough as this was still a democracy the last time I looked!

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]]> By: anon http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-7554.html/comment-page-1/#comment-30539 anon Sat, 03 May 2008 11:12:00 +0000 http://www.pinknews.co.uk/?p=7554#comment-30539 Some think he's queer himself Some think he's queer himself

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]]> By: Fred Jones http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-7554.html/comment-page-1/#comment-30540 Fred Jones Sat, 03 May 2008 08:23:00 +0000 http://www.pinknews.co.uk/?p=7554#comment-30540 I don't think Barnbrook will be put off by the prospect of sitting near queers - no doubt the London Assembly has policies against unwanted sexual harrassment by homos. I don't think Barnbrook will be put off by the prospect of sitting near queers – no doubt the London Assembly has policies against unwanted sexual harrassment by homos.

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