This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk/7743290.stm
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Blears sounds warning about BNP | Blears sounds warning about BNP |
| (39 minutes later) | |
| White working-class voters turn to the British National Party because they feel ignored by mainstream parties, the communities secretary has said. | White working-class voters turn to the British National Party because they feel ignored by mainstream parties, the communities secretary has said. |
| Hazel Blears accused the BNP of playing on people's apprehensions and peddling "pernicious but plausible lies". | Hazel Blears accused the BNP of playing on people's apprehensions and peddling "pernicious but plausible lies". |
| She says other parties had to work to win back voters on "ignored" estates by using more "normal language". | She says other parties had to work to win back voters on "ignored" estates by using more "normal language". |
| A BNP spokesman said the comments made by Ms Blears "showed Labour are very worried about our advances". | A BNP spokesman said the comments made by Ms Blears "showed Labour are very worried about our advances". |
| The minister made similar comments in 2006 after the far-right party made gains in the local elections. | The minister made similar comments in 2006 after the far-right party made gains in the local elections. |
| Her comments followed the publication of a BNP members' list on the internet. | Her comments followed the publication of a BNP members' list on the internet. |
| She told the BBC politicians from all parties must work hard to win back the trust and confidence of disaffected voters by proving that mainstream politics has the answers they seek. | She told the BBC politicians from all parties must work hard to win back the trust and confidence of disaffected voters by proving that mainstream politics has the answers they seek. |
| 'Filling a vacuum' | 'Filling a vacuum' |
| "Sometimes people feel the political world is very far-removed from their everyday existence," she said. | "Sometimes people feel the political world is very far-removed from their everyday existence," she said. |
| "There's something about the language we use... it's sometimes like a very closed world. If mainstream political parties leave a vacuum, people like the BNP will fill that vacuum. | |
| "The BNP is a very divisive force. They aren't really interested in bringing people from different backgrounds together." | "The BNP is a very divisive force. They aren't really interested in bringing people from different backgrounds together." |
| However, she said that the leaked list published earlier this week, containing the names, home addresses, phone numbers and professions of some 10,000 BNP members, showed support for the part was relatively small. | However, she said that the leaked list published earlier this week, containing the names, home addresses, phone numbers and professions of some 10,000 BNP members, showed support for the part was relatively small. |
| Ms Blears has called for a revival of local political culture, a significant shift of power from the centre to the community and politicians who look and sound like the people they represent. | Ms Blears has called for a revival of local political culture, a significant shift of power from the centre to the community and politicians who look and sound like the people they represent. |
| She said politicians must focus on the electorate's "bread and butter issues" such as whether people had jobs and a roof over their heads. | She said politicians must focus on the electorate's "bread and butter issues" such as whether people had jobs and a roof over their heads. |
| She says BNP support is "focused on a small number of specific areas such as Leicester and east London". | She says BNP support is "focused on a small number of specific areas such as Leicester and east London". |
| "And unlike during the 30s, modern British fascism does not enjoy any sympathy in the civil service, chattering classes or the media." | "And unlike during the 30s, modern British fascism does not enjoy any sympathy in the civil service, chattering classes or the media." |