So, how is it that the recent European elections returned two BNP candidates to “represent” the people of Yorkshire and the North-West? The most obvious explanation is quite simply that no-one wanted to vote for the mainstream parties, and it’s hard to blame them – the efforts of the most dedicated BNP activists pale in comparison to the antics of corrupt MPs like Douglas Hogg or Hazel Blears when it comes to discrediting the BNP’s rivals. As anarchists, we certainly don’t see the widespread “apathy” (contempt would be a better way of putting it) towards the big three parties as a bad thing – a turnout of around 34% means that about 66% of the electorate have seen through the hollow promises of politicians and could potentially be won over to genuinely effective methods of grassroots organising.1 But first we need a real alternative to put forward – otherwise, as we’ve seen, it’s all too easy for disillusioned voters to be persuaded by the “anti-establishment” image of the BNP.