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This is one of my favourite pictures in the natural environment of British National Party councillors. On the streets, in this case leafleting, and yes that is a BNP poster in the window.
Why have I rehashed this picture from last years elections? Freedom of speech is of course the issue. Christians value it because in so many parts of the world it is withheld from us. To quote the Barnabus Fund website which the last link leads to, “We lose sight in this country very often of just how vulnerable some of the Christian communities around the world are”. On the streets on Britain we practice it rather frequently and sometimes possibly take it for granted.
British National Party candidates are accustomed to being given the cold shoulder and not just at election times. I regularly see other elected members in the newspaper but I cannot get in no matter what I do. Despite being an obvious point where the local press can get a viewpoint from a different perspective my phone never rings. Even when I have called them and they admit that we bring a different perspective we do not get a mention. Being the Parliamentary Candidate for the Nuneaton constituency I can say that this General Election is no different.
Or at least it wasn’t.
I have been approached by BBC Coventry and Warwickshire to do two pre recorded statements which will be played along with statements from other parties. This is not a place in the studio which both I and Alwyn Deacon tried hard to achieve but it is better than the silence that we usually receive. I have heard about debates between the local Labour and Conservative candidates on television and radio as well as appearances at local colleges to present themselves to, and take questions from, the student body. Despite my approaches and offers to make myself available I have not been taken up on any of them.
Today I received a call from ‘Nuneaton Christians Together’ asking if I would like to take part in a live debate at a large local venue. They are going to publicise the debate to maximise interest.
All confirmed General Election candidates are to be invited.
Cynical as I am I asked if the invitation would stand if other candidates came out with the old ‘no platform’ policy. I was assured that they have a choice whether they attend or not but my invitation stands either way. Time will tell!
I am under no illusion that the recent debate with Nick Griffin on Christian television that I covered on a previous post has paved the way forward in this area. Cheers Nick, good work!
The times they are a changing!
