Mark Davis and Jane Heggie on the lessons of their fight against the British National party
✓ Campaign all year round. People who are inclined to support the far-right are often very cynical about mainstream politics. Being contacted by the party for the first time in ages just a few weeks before an election only goes to increase cynicism, and the far-right are happy to remind people that they feel let down by the major parties. The whole process has to be one of genuine engagement – there is no point in trying to do this if you are not going to listen to local people.
X Do not be afraid to discuss immigration. Most people leaning towards the far-right are not hardcore racists or neo-Nazis. Many of them are concerned about the changes they see in their community and their country, and find the simplistic answers offered by the far-right attractive. Refusing to talk about immigration and race just feeds into a sense that the major parties are not willing to discuss an issue that is of real concern. It can be hard, but you have got to address the things that are driving people to the far-right.
✓Focus on the local. For all the far-right’s concentration on national issues like immigration they are very good at using local details to build up their argument. Labour campaigns need to be rooted in the locality – local issues, local candidates and local messages. Community and place mean a great deal to people inclined to support the far-right and we need to show that they are important to us too.
X Avoid being negative. It is very easy to campaign against the far-right – there are websites and magazines full of useful information to attack them. But simply putting out leaflet after leaflet highlighting the failings of the far-right can be counterproductive. Voters want to know what we stand for, not just what we are against. There is nothing wrong with a bit of Nazi-bashing, but it is not the key to changing people’s minds.
✓ Talk to people with a patchy voting record. Just because someone has not voted before does not mean they will not be convinced to do it if the far-right gets to them. On the flipside, many areas that are susceptible to the far-right are what we once would have considered ‘safe Labour’. Working to increase turnout will generally have a positive benefit for us, but it does take time and effort.
X Do not fight in isolation. It can be easy to think you are on your own. Parties across the country have taken on, and beaten, the far-right and they are very willing to share best practice. Organisations like Hope Not Hate can help coordinate community-based campaigns and the trade unions are eager to help in the fight. There is no point reinventing the wheel and no point trying things that have not worked in the past.
✓ Use the far-right as a fundraiser and recruiting sergeant. Fighting against fascists and racists can be a real energiser for Labour members and you should take advantage of it. No matter who you are campaigning against you need money and feet on the ground. However, if you have just got the occasional English Democrat standing in the local parish council elections and getting 10 votes, do not try to convince the wider movement that your area will turn overnight into Dagenham or Stoke-on-Trent.
X Do not underestimate the enemy. The far-right are past masters at campaigning under the radar. Pubs, bus queues, and the school gate are key battlegrounds for the far-right and because we are not aware of them we tend to think nothing is happening.
✓Have faith. In the battle of ideas we have the advantage and we should not forget it. Taking on the far-right can be arduous and difficult but it is a fight we have won and must continue to win. And remember, this is not just about politics – it is about the future of our communities.
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Mark Davis beat a sitting BNP councillor to gain a seat on Stoke-on-Trent city council. Jane Heggie previously worked for Robert Flello MP and as a volunteer coordinated much of the Labour party’s campaigning against the BNP in Stoke
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It,s a pity that you didn’t mention where the whole strategy that you have described came form. The excellent Hope not Hate campaign and not the divisive UAF whose placards you display.