Row erupts as TV's new political idol accused of being racist

[Briar]

Accused of being racist? He thinks wanting to deport 20 million Britons on the grounds of race isn't racist?

A innovative attempt to revitalise the public's interest in politics, by subjecting would-be MPs to a Pop Idol-style reality TV show, descended into ugly scenes last night after the winner was accused of holding views to the right of the British National Party.

...

Hylton-Potts, who won the competition on the strength of what he calls his 'cabbie's manifesto' - the mandatory castration of paedophiles, the legalisation of all drugs, the repeal of the human rights act, a massive prison-building scheme and an immigrant deportation programme that would reduce Britain's population by 20 million - vehemently denies the allegation.

...

http://observer.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,6903,1391588,00.html

(edited to add link)

[roguevalley]

1. oddly enough, this sort of makes me feel less awful in an icky

kind of way. At least I can know other places have asshole politicians too.

[Briar]

2. asshole voters too n/t

[Mr Creosote]

3. Not many though

only tens of thousands voted for any one in this. Big Brother gets millions.

[Briar]

4. According to the "idol"

he's received about 150,000 messages of support and is now considering starting a new party.

That might be good - it would further fracture the right by bleeding off support from the Tories, the BNP and UKIP together.

But it's depressing to be reminded how fascist so many beneficiaries of the welfare state can be. Time Old Labour got off its duff and started remembering its core principles.

[Mr Creosote]

5. 150,000?

Don't be too depressed, my bet is that a right-wing nut-case is very likely to be a liar as well.