http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8305906.stm

You can't help being cynical about it, can you?

How many of these areas are Labour marginals?

or am I being cynical.

Looking at the map and list of places, those would also appear to be BNP targets.

This was on Newsnight last night. They were interviewing a few of the locals in one area, who were saying that the country didn’t feel like it was theirs any more, etc..

The report went on to say that the average reading age of white collar workers in that area was around 8, which meant that some of them could not read the informational leaflets being handed out about the project. There is more going on than simple alienation - it seems that basic education has failed too. No wonder people are feeling “left out”.

The problem is that this should have been policy from day one. Not just before an election. It will just be seen as a sop to wavering voters who might vote BNP. It is shameful that the government has not targeted these areas before now. They should not have given the BNP any space to grow and build up any support.