Politicians behaving badly
Jul. 23rd, 2010 07:29 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
blamebramptonNick Griffin is the head of the BNP, a loathsome British political party that basically legitimises racism. He is also a Member of the European Parliament (MEP), which only goes to show that people should be far more conscientious when it comes to voting because I think I could have swung at least as many votes as he did without resorting to bastardry.
Nevertheless, thanks to his position, he attracted an automatic invitation to a tea party at Buckingham Palace, with the Queen in attendance. Last year he was invited to accompany another guest to the 2009 party, but after a great many people asked that he stay away, he made this into a large political statement about The Establishment Not Caring For the Little Man and Working Against Him.
This year he took his invitation and turned to the media, declaring that it both legitimised him as a politician and struck a blow for all those BNP members who had stood up against all the hate (no, seriously, he said that with a straight face).
Last night, I was reading my flist and found that![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
shocolate had reported the invitation had been revoked, after Griffin emailed supporters asking them for questions to ask the Queen. The Palace decreed that he had politicised the event, which is against protocol, and withdrew his invitation (nicely done, Ma'am!)
That had already put me in a good mood, as I think he is a nasty little man. But then tonight, it became even better as I watched the SBS coverage of the incident, which included vox popping people who were attending the party. One of the couples who spoke on camera included a vaguely familiar-looking man with large teeth: 'Despicable as his politics might be ...' he began.
His companion, presumably his wife, an also vaguely familiar-looking Lady in Green, drew in her breath and frowned discreetly.
He went on: '... he had been democratically elected as an MEP and I think, therefore, has a right to come.'
There was a thinning out of mouth from the Lady, accompanied by a small head shake.
The gentleman was not finished: 'But if he then exploited that position, then yes, I think the Palace is correct.'
The Lady's face told the story: her frown disappeared, a restrained but sincere smile appeared, and the tension left her shoulders.
He will not need to sleep on the sofa tonight!
Nevertheless, thanks to his position, he attracted an automatic invitation to a tea party at Buckingham Palace, with the Queen in attendance. Last year he was invited to accompany another guest to the 2009 party, but after a great many people asked that he stay away, he made this into a large political statement about The Establishment Not Caring For the Little Man and Working Against Him.
This year he took his invitation and turned to the media, declaring that it both legitimised him as a politician and struck a blow for all those BNP members who had stood up against all the hate (no, seriously, he said that with a straight face).
Last night, I was reading my flist and found that
shocolate had reported the invitation had been revoked, after Griffin emailed supporters asking them for questions to ask the Queen. The Palace decreed that he had politicised the event, which is against protocol, and withdrew his invitation (nicely done, Ma'am!)That had already put me in a good mood, as I think he is a nasty little man. But then tonight, it became even better as I watched the SBS coverage of the incident, which included vox popping people who were attending the party. One of the couples who spoke on camera included a vaguely familiar-looking man with large teeth: 'Despicable as his politics might be ...' he began.
His companion, presumably his wife, an also vaguely familiar-looking Lady in Green, drew in her breath and frowned discreetly.
He went on: '... he had been democratically elected as an MEP and I think, therefore, has a right to come.'
There was a thinning out of mouth from the Lady, accompanied by a small head shake.
The gentleman was not finished: 'But if he then exploited that position, then yes, I think the Palace is correct.'
The Lady's face told the story: her frown disappeared, a restrained but sincere smile appeared, and the tension left her shoulders.
He will not need to sleep on the sofa tonight!
