British Universities Film & Video Council

moving image and sound, knowledge and access

Battle for Barking, The

Synopsis
THE BATTLE FOR BARKING records a historic moment in British political history through the microcosm of one constituency. As it charts the rise and fall of the BNP, it also gives an extraordinary insight into the workings of the "BNP family", and into the working class disillusionment with Labour that fuelled their campaign.

Filmed over the course of a year, the film follows two very different political opponents as they battle towards the 2010 General Election. Long standing Labour MP Margaret Hodge is a stalwart of the New Labour establishment and, as the daughter of a German Jewish refugee, a strong advocate of community cohesion. Running against her is Nick Griffin, the BNP leader and self styled "voice of the ordinary people", a controversial figure who nonetheless wields considerable support among the area’s constituents.
Following the candidates and their respective teams right up until election night, and with extraordinary access to both sides, the film is a fascinating portrait behind the scenes of both campaigns. It reveals their struggles to win over the community, itself driven to breaking point by the combined pressures of increasing migration into the borough, chronic housing shortages, a lack of public resources and a sense amongst many in the white working class community that their identity is under threat.
Language
English
Country
Great Britain
Year of release
2010
Year of production
2010
Notes
Broadcast on More4 on 30/11/2010
Subjects
Social Studies; Politics & government
Keywords
elections; Labour Party (Great Britain); political campaigns; social issues; British National Party

Online availability

URI
http://www.channel4.com/programmes/the-battle-for-barking/4od
Price
free
Delivery
Streamed

Credits

Director
Laura Fairrie

Distribution Formats

Type
DVD
Price
poa
Availability
Hire
Duration/Size
120 minutes
Year
2011

Distributor

Name

4OD

Web
http://www.channel4.com/programmes/4od External site opens in new window
Name

Good Screenings

Email
help@goodscreenings.org
Web
http://www.goodscreenings.org/ External site opens in new window
Notes
Good Screenings, a joint venture between the Channel 4 BRITDOC Foundation and director Franny Armstrong, has a growing collection of social justice documentaries available for licensing for public screenings, with the fee automatically calculated from a sliding scale. The films can then be used at fundraising events.

Record Stats

This record has been viewed 588 times.