Politicians behaving badly

[blamebrampton]

Nick 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Last night, I was reading my flist and found that shocolate  had reported the invitation had been revoked, after Griffin emailed supporters asking them for questions to ask the Queen.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! 

Comments

[auntpurl.livejournal.com]

Stolen from a Twitter I (and you might) enjoy:

Buckingham Palace defends banning BNP leader Griffin from Queen's garden party. Spokesman: "Her Majesty thinks he's a prime douchebag."

[meredyth-13.livejournal.com]

Oh, Brammers, you are undermining my resolve to avoid politics until after it's resolved whether I need to leave the country or not (late August, I believe).

But then, I don't blame you, because that's one worth having a quietly satisfied chortle about.

I hear the budgie smuggler has already announced his victory - I'm so glad he waited for the 'people' to vote and have their say. I'm so tempted to report him to customs - bloody smugglers.

ps. If I share my drugs and soft tissues, is there any chance more 'Fathers' might be in the offing? *looks hopeful and not at all like some annoying person who annoys you*

:D

[under-an-oak.livejournal.com]

Rather noob-ish of me but I remain as always, slightly in awe whenever you're talking politics as the subject matter itself tends to leave me dazed and confused. I still don't understand the whole concept of left and right wing, how the hell does being a liberal/l.democrat/etc matter (or not), and just what it means being a conservative.

Mind, I'm not even trying to learn my own country's politics but Japan's. See my bias rearing its head and chuckling evilly to itself :\

But yay for the Queen! *waves her Commonwealth flag*

[cassie-black12.livejournal.com]

He is a vile little man, isn't he. Also, as per his Question Time, performance, a shockingly poor orator - but then I suppose he's already preaching to the choir!

It's an awkward one though, for supposedly politically independant parties like the Queen, or the BBC. On the one hand the BNP is a revolting stain on the political landscape of this country, but on the other they are also a legitmate party. It's a fine line to walk if they are to avoid accusations of bias.

Nice to see the Palace getting it right for a change.

[shu-shu-sleeps.livejournal.com]

I saw that news report (and didn't actually recognise the man with the buck teeth), and had a quiet giggle first while watching it and then again while reading your post. Yay for the Queen - I'm so glad she doesn't have to put up with a nasty racist little man who quite frankly apppears to be nothing but a revolting little opportunist and media whore....

[shocolate.livejournal.com]

Oh, I can just picture that!!

[hollyxu.livejournal.com]

My mum always said that it's a good marriage when people can talk to each other without using words. Guess Gentleman+Lady are very happy together.

Question: What's preventing the BNP from being categorized a cult or hate group - are they seriously a legitimate political party? With that platform?? D:

[silvershinigami.livejournal.com]

lol! I love that last bit.

[annafugazzi.livejournal.com]

There was a thinning out of mouth from the Lady, accompanied by a small head shake.
Uh-oh...

He will not need to sleep on the sofa tonight!
LOL!

::high fives Gentleman::


And Yay! for the palace getting it right :D :D :D

[lokifan]

Haha. Go Lady!

As it happens, my mum was at that garden party (she works for a bishop). She was very pleased that that horrible little man was not there.

he made this into a large political statement about The Establishment Not Caring For the Little Man and Working Against Him.

*EYEROLLS* It is so HARD for him to be loud-and-proudly racist. It makes people be MEAN to him.