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

[danieldwilliam.livejournal.com]

Yes.

For many reasons. Including...

I've never heard what they have to say. Difficult to judge if they are beyond the pale until I've heard them.

I'm not sure I have any special privilege to decide for other people what is or isn't acceptable speech.

There must be something about them that appeals to people. What are they offering that people don't feel they are getting elsewhere.

If I don't understand their values how can I persuade them that they can promote their values without their brusque policies.

I note that pretty much literally bombing them into the Stone Age didn't appear to put them all off. So what will make them no longer a threat.

But DUGIP may not be the right forum.

[widgetfox.livejournal.com]

Yes to all of this. Because (i) DUGIP is owned by all its members and (ii) your ability to control the container for the conversation may be compromised and (iii) it might intrinsically be the wrong container.