That's me in Aberdeen now, seems like a pretty nice city. Don't know anybody yet but i've only just got here so time will tell on that one. Hmmm...

Well, the next month's going to be an interesting one. Having dwindled my reasons to stay here to a miniscule measure, i've recently been accepted to a really good course at the University of Aberdeen. Looks like, come this time next month, I'll be starting something new somewhere new.

I'm not quite sure how I feel about this. Got good friends here, and, especially over the last year and half, some very good memories. It'll be weird upping sticks to start somewhere completely new. True, it's not exactly the other side of the world, but it's far enough away from eveyone I know to matter. But then, that's kind of part it's apeal too. I guess only time will tell. I won't ask you to wish me luck as anyone who really matters has already done that. See you all sooner or later anyway.

For the first time in their parties history the extreme right wing British National Party has been taken seriously enough to gain, not one but two, parliamentary seats in the recent European election. In our dear Scotland, out of a voter turnout of only 28.6% (a drop of over 70,000 votes since the last election despite a considerably higher electorate population) they gained over 27,000 votes, a notable portion on the vast amount of support they would have required to gain the two seats.

It's solitary comfort that, large though that is, it was not enough to gain them a seat here. However, the same cannot be said for Englands "Yorkshire and Humber" region, where thay gained over 120.000 votes and won one of their seats, and also the "North West" region where they gained over 132,000 and won the other. Across the country the amount of support for this outwardly racist group has risen exponentially.

A read through of their website, featuring a number of manifesto's and other artcles from their leader Nick Griffin, among various others, show's distinct lack of actual thought going into their "policies". Full of sweeping generalisations concerning Europe, Britain and it's multitudes of people, backed by one sided, unreliable statistics and vacant sloganeering, it shows a disregard for anything that doesn't fit their shallow views of "how the world works". I don't need to pick examples, though there are many, you need not take my word for it. It would be simpler to look at it for yourselves. Simply search google for British National Party and you'll find it easily.

The ideas they espouse seem to exist simply for the purpouse of discrediting the other parties in the election, discrediting the laws they regard as "un-british" and discrediting the individuals who oppose them. They make claims with no outside evidence to back them, they make sweeping and unashamedly racist assumptions about Musilm people, and others, and try to cover their lack of evicence and thought by attacking various left wing campigners, conveniently generalising all of their serious opposition. They refer to these idividuals in militant terms, using phrases such as "footsoldiers" to describe their supporters, an indication, perhaps, of the extent of their paranoia, and even go so far as to claim a Labour backed left wing conspiracy attempting to recruit (quote) "young street Muslims, who are generally obsessed with martial art and weapons"!

Once again, you need not take my word for any of this, simply look at it yourselves with an analytical eye. Display a degree of insght and intelligence we are all capable of and realise the worthlessness of these ideas. More importantly, don't simply sit and disapprove then do nothing. It may be too late for the European elections but there will be many opportunities in the future. We may not like what most politicians stand for, a feeling I can sympathise with, but by the same token we cannot allow this sort of bloody minded thinking to stand in a place of power, to be a representative of OUR country. We are not a racist, selfish people, we are not stupid enough to be swayed by empty slogans and we are all strong willed enough to stand up for ourselves and stand against things we believe are wrong. It's time to show them this.

Please, it costs nothing to vote and, if you don't like the candidates, do something about it. Get involved in deciding who the candidates are yourself. Go to party meetings, vote for who you like there or, if it comes to it, stand yourself. There is nothing stopping you, whatever they might say. I don't expect this to make much difference, too many people find it to hard to care, but if i can mke even 1 person aware then this has not been a wasted effort.

Yours in hope, Martyn