JOBS ON THE LINE AS BNP OUTED

19-11-2008

Should the BNP members “outed” by the online publication of the party’s membership list fear for their jobs? Not according to Stirrer editor Adrian Goldberg.

Teachers, police officers, soldiers… they’re all there among the 10,000 or so subscribers to the far-right party’s odious ideology.

The predictable cry will go up that those who have extreme views about race can not, at the same time, hold down jobs as public servants.

It will be argued that as much anything, it’s an issue of trust – non-white members of the public will fear that a party activist can’t be relied on to treat them fairly.

I disagree. If BNP members had favoured members of one racial group above another or if they had incited hatred, they should already have been sacked.

But if they haven’t, then mere membership of a legitimate political party – even one as loathsome as this – should not prevent them from carrying on.

Many people will hold private views and have affiliations that others find offensive; but living in a free society means nothing if we can’t tolerate those whose views we find disagreeable.

I do not say this lightly.

To my disgust, the list of party members includes one individual who I have recently helped professionally.

I’m shocked and disturbed to discover his political affiliation – and he’ll get no further assistance from me.

Withdrawing my co-operation is one thing – denying him the right to a living on account of his beliefs is quite another.

I mean, we’re not Nazis. Are we?

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