Free speech - stinks doesn't it...

Nothing like letting local people decide for themselves is there....

okay okay this is a stupid argument that's been going on for ever and it really has to be stopped.

* 'Freedom of speech' is in fact subordinated IN LAW by the right to not be subject to violence or intimidation, particularly in relation to race.

* If the BNP got in, not even the tories would be allowed to gather!

* It is not against freedom of speech to say we don't want fascists touting their cheap thuggish crap in our area.

* No platform not only de-lgitimises scum like this but also brings issues more into the public arena. Furthermore, no platform policies are democratically decided on.

* There's an important distinction between a person telling another person their views and a representative of a political party declaring them to a whole congregation of people.

* Surely freedom of speech is an active thing- it is created by people fighting to protect it from people who want to do away with rights all together.

* No platform isn't really about freedom of speech- the fash can organise their own meetings- let them yap on to each other about who's the best race, i don't care. No platform is abut an organised group of people democratically saying that they will not share a platform in meetings, speeches, etc and willnot give them right to reply in their press and so on.

* Anyway, the racist, sexist, authoritarian and homophobic views of a party like the BNP are spread very widely through so-called 'newspapers' such as the Sun, the Mail and the Express anyway. The've probably got more people reading their vile shit than any other political ideology. and the fact that the far right still have a very small percentage of the vote kind of implies, does it not, that people are generally opposed to all this crap.

I think people should think very hard when throwing around terms such as freedom of speech. It is an expression the fash use themselves in a very distorted way. people in the left should be ashamed of themselves if they just stand aside and let it all go in the interests of so-called 'free speech'.

And that wouldnt be the case if Respect got in? Even the Lib Dems wouldnt be allowed to gather... Its how u interpret the parties

to be honest mate i don't really care about Respect, because they're crap anyway. But they're not neo-fascist (as far as i'm aware), whereas the BNP is. Therefore, i take your point, but it is quite unlikely that what you're saying will be true.

Anyway, did anyone go last night?

havent got time to write my own...

AN ELECTION meeting in which a Labour veteran was to share a platform with a British National Party candidate descended into farce last night.

The meeting in Knowsley Village attracted controversy after it emerged that Labour's George Howarth, who is defending the parliamentary seat of Knowsley North and Sefton East, would be sharing a stage with BNP candidate Michael McDermott.

Around 40 demonstrators gathered outside the hall, waving placards with messages such as "No to the BNP: the party of race hate". They were watched over by a small number of police.

It was intended there would be speeches from all the prospective candidates at the meeting, followed by a question-and-answer session with voters.

In the event, not all the candidates turned up, and the meeting was abandoned after the hall emptied as the BNP candidate stood up to speak.

from the echo