On Inviting the BNP to Speak to Democracy Activists

[danieldwilliam]

I find myself on the horns of a dilemma.

I’m trying to set up a programme of speakers for the 2013 Edinburgh Democracy User Group In the Pub meetings. One of our decisions at the planning meeting for this was to invite all the major political parties to send a speaker to talk to us about their parties core values and how they make decisions internally.

My working definition of “major” is any British party that holds a seat at the European, Westminster or Holyrood Parliaments. I’ve excluding Welsh and Northern Irish parties on the grounds of logistics, although if anyone can find a Plaid Cymru member in Edinburgh I’d be delighted to buy them a pint of Brains.

So, I’ve invited Conservative, Labour, SNP, Lib Dem, Green, Respect and UKIP speakers.

It’s not that I’m not happy to have speakers from other parties. I’d be delighted but my first objective is to invite the major parties and I wanted a rule of thumb to apply when I said I was going to spend time trying to get a speaker from X party but not as much time trying to get a speaker from Y party.

The problem is, my definition of major includes the BNP. They currently hold two seats at the European Parliament.

I’m genuinely in two minds about inviting them to speak. On the grounds that they have a democratic mandate should we engage with them. Should we deny them a platform because they are anti-democratic (and are they anti-democratic?)  Are we wiser if we know our enemy or is a fool’s errand to give them a platform?

Suggestions from the floor welcome.

Comments

[widgetfox.livejournal.com]

I don't think it puts you under an obligation. But to me it is a compelling argument for being open to conversation rather than closed to it. See comments passim about best how to support and help conversations. Also see all known writing by Jonathan Haidt.

(On a similar note, having had the experience of becoming entangled with an EDL march, I would take steps to ensure an alcohol-free environment if I were going to do this.)

[danieldwilliam.livejournal.com]

Yeah there is a lot to be said for being open to the conversation.

Good call on the alcohol point.

That does, very genuinely, present me with a logisitical difficulty, in that I have no budget but can get free space at a pub in exchange for us buying drinks.

[widgetfox.livejournal.com]

I do completely get that - it occurred to me as I was writing - but I think it's worth giving it your best possible shot. Could you get a similar deal in a coffee bar, one night only? They might be glad of the business if it's early in the week.

[danieldwilliam.livejournal.com]

I’m sure it’s not an insurmountable problem and a coffee shop would be a good venue.

I’ll ask around and see if anyone knows of one.