When Politics and Religion should meet.

Even thought it seems abhorrent to continually discuss the British National Party at election time, the Church of England has firmly placed them on the news agenda. The BNP has an uncanny ability to become the focus of the political caste in the run up to an election; remember Barking MP (take it either way) Margaret Hodge stating that "80% of white families in her east London constituency were tempted by the British National Party", in the campaign for the 2006 local election.

It seems an incredibly unsophisticated campaigning method on behalf of the major parties, showing all the subtlety and all the nuanced understanding of the delicate workings of the media as the BNP displays themselves. This campaigning method, the "shock 'em out" tactic, appears to be a very lazy way to mobilize grass roots support on to the campaign trail. On the other hand, the media appear to love the merest suggestion that an elected official has mention the BNP, thus probably justifying to themselves this crude attempt at publicity.

However, I think it was necessary for the Church of England to voice their concerns over the BNP's questionable quasi-religious attempts to claim the Christian vote. If the CoE had not, it could have faced a more serious charge that it became a complicit bystander.

Furthermore, Nick Clegg is right; there should be a clear distinction between religion and politics. But after the BNP began using Christian iconography and distorting verses from the Bible it is correct that the highest religious figures in the UK are allowed to rebuff the BNP's arguments.

It is a shame though, that the majority of the focus on the BNP occurs around election time. It appears that after elections, most people view the BNP as an embarrassment to the British political system, but during elections they are tool to use by lazy politicians to motive grass roots support and gain favourable publicity.

Like terrorism, the BNP should not have the oxygen of publicity...