British working class feels betrayed - flocks to BNP

Margeret Hodge, the UK's Employment Minister has been campaigning in her electoral district in East-London: Barking and Dagenham. While canvassing white families she asks them whether they are considering voting the anti-immigration party BNP.

In a sensational claim, Margaret Hodge, one of Tony Blair's closest allies, said that eight out of 10 white people in her east London constituency of Barking are threatening to vote for the far-Right party in next month's local elections. Once traditional Labour supporters are angry at a lack of affordable housing - and blame immigration, and Labour, for the changes.

Margeret Hodge is regarded as a staunch ally of Prime Minister Blair. It is no coincidence that she asked her voter base these questions and it is no coincidence that she is giving voice to their dissaffection. Labour sees the anti-immigrant right gaining strength accross the Western world. The question for Labour is "what to do about it?". Sofar immigration has been good for the Left because immigrants need the support of the state more than indigenous voters. So immigrants show a consistent tendency to vote for the Left. However, at a certain point the white working class realises that there is no point in voting for the Left. If there is no alternative, they will lose interest in the political process. However once an alternative political party promises to defend white working class voter's interests they may return to the ballot again and support their champions. Democracy works pretty neat in that respect.

The municipal elections in The Netherlands have shown that immigrant voters overwhelmingly support the Left. More than 95 percent. But it also shows that the Dutch working class AND middle class will cut and run to the right once it champions their interests.

The British Labour Party is paying attention to what is happening in The Netherlands and are trying to open the debate in order to be able to address the issue, in order to be able to make a soft touch down. This is what the interview with Margaret Hodge is all about. However, looking at the reactions in the British press it is obvious that the press does not yet realise the predicament British society is in right now.

In 2000 Paul Scheffer published an article: "the multicultural drama" in a leading newspaper, thus opening the debate in The Netherlands. This was the first salvo in a battle to give those who doubt the multicultural utopia legitimacy. This interview by Margaret Hodge is an attempt by the British politicos to do the same for the UK.