University College School's mock election ‘goes too far’
Students in fallout from ballot say gesture was intended to make a joke of far-right party
Published: 4 March 2010
by CHARLOTTE CHAMBERS
ONE of the country’s best-regarded private schools has found itself under fire for allowing a British National Party (BNP) candidate to stand in mock general elections this week.
The 17-year-old candidate came second in the pretend elections at University College School in Frognal, Hampstead, on Tuesday but insisted he had only done it to “mock” the party.
“I thought I’d do it as a challenge to see how I could prove their ridiculousness,” he said.
“A vote for me was a vote against the real BNP – it was a vote for mockery.”
However, the A-level student admitted not everyone understood his candidacy was tongue-in-cheek and that “some did think it was serious and that was a problem”.
UCS student Josh Brown, also 17, said the candidacy of the BNP was an important reflection of democracy.
“Living in a democracy we have to at least acknowledge the views of parties, even if we don’t like them,” he said.
But there were warnings last night (Wednesday) that the stunt set the wrong tone.
One recent student criticised the BNP’s inclusion and said it had no place in a school founded on the principles of a radical 18th-century thinker.
He said: “It’s amazing that a school that was founded on the Liberal ideals of Jeremy Bentham allows a racist and fascist party to stand.
“It encourages people to view the BNP as a joke when actually they’re a serious threat to the cohesiveness of our society.”
And school governor Ed Fordham, who is running for election as a Lib Dem MP, said he didn’t think the move “helped” debate.
He added: “I don’t think it helps. The BNP is a registered political party and there’s no way out of that but in a school election, is it helpful? Probably not – but would you stop it? That’s a difficult call to make.”
The school’s headteacher was not available for comment yesterday.