I WONDER how many of the people watching in horror as the BNP won representation in our name, failed to vote? We now have a fascist voice in the European Parliament, thanks partly to the complicated PR system, but also to startling political apathy.

Because, despite the BNP winning two seats, the numbers voting for them actually fell. In other words, it was votes which would normally be expected to go to the mainstream parties, but which never materialised, which saw the fascists race over the line.

The Labour politicians hit hard by the expenses so-called “scandal” became the most common attempt to explain the disastrous results. Meanwhile, most of the commentators seemed keen to bring everything back to the question of Gordon Brown’s leadership.

Of course, those who say it was a day of shame for Britain, and for Labour, that the BNP won these seats, are right. But, in addition to going out and trying to win back those who switched from Labour and Lib-Dem to BNP, we also have to find out in detail why those who stayed away did so, and whether they can be engaged sufficiently, and persuaded once more of democracy’s values and purpose, to come out to vote at the general election next year.

Local campaigning, and in particular engaging with those disenfranchised voters, is going to be crucial to the major parties having any chance of avoiding another dreadful result whenever the general election comes.

Perhaps also the main parties now have to reconsider the policy of never engaging in direct debate with the BNP. The lesson of their brief flirtations with local power is that when they are subjected to real political debate, decision making, and providing solutions rather than slogans, they fade quickly.

I, like so many, feel ashamed that we now live in a country which defeated Hitler but had two fascists taking public money to present a ghastly face of Britain to Europe and the world. But perhaps it will give the necessary kick up the backside to those who failed to vote through apathy, ignorance, or the foolishness of a protest against MPs’ expenses. I, for one, hope so.

M Webb, Heswall

Huge sacrifice

SIXTY-FIVE years ago, British armed forces were among those who made a huge sacrifice to rid Europe of fascism and to preserve our democracy.

Thanks to their sacrifice, our generation has to do no more than occasionally stroll a few hundred yards to a polling station. Yet fewer than one in three eligible voters in the North-West were prepared to do that.

As a result, we now have a fascist claiming to represent us (at our expense) in the European Parliament. Despite the European election results, I now feel optimistic, thanks to the wave of spontaneous anti-fascist protests in towns and cities throughout the region.

Through the concerted action of all of our diverse communities, we can – and will – overturn last week’s electoral anomaly.

I am confident that, 65 years from now, historians will see that British fascism secured two MEPs and then progressed no further.

Mal Ferguson, Tuebrook