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Should we be manning the barricades as a new generation of Blackshirts takes over the country? According to reports in yesterday's newspapers, "almost half the country would back a far Right party" that dissociated itself from violence and fascist imagery.
The reports - based on the results of a poll of 5,054 people conducted by the anti-fascist organisation Searchlight - stirred up a good deal of shock-horror as, I suppose, they were intended to. Searchlight is a campaigning organisation. Saying "Eek! Look out! Fascists! They're everywhere!" is - not to impugn the good work they do - slightly the point of its existence.
When you look at the question that this 48 per cent figure ("almost half the country", natch, rather than, say, "less than half") answered yes to, the story unravels. These interviewees were asked whether they would "definitely support" or "consider supporting" a non-violent political party that "wants to defend the English, create an English parliament, control immigration and challenge Islamic extremism".
Are these the four key indicators of fascism? "Defend the English" is an almost meaningless phrase - and could just as easily cover the people who bore on about celebrating St George's Day or campaign for authentic Cornish pasties as neo-Nazi boot-boys. The creation of an English Parliament is no more than the logical conclusion of New Labour's wet-blanket plans for a succession of regional talking shops. To "control immigration" was the stated aim of all three main political parties at the last election (well, duh: I challenge you to find the party that stands for abolishing passports and throwing the borders wide open).
And how many people do you see sticking up for Islamic extremism? The aspiration to "challenge" it is hardly a mark of the far Right, unless we're to imagine jackbooted hordes marching in lockstep down Whitehall threatening "firm words and a searching dialogue".
My guess is that 52% were put off supporting this blandly centrist imaginary political party only by the thought of finding unctuous English Assembly Members in cheap suits on their doorsteps at election time.
It is only by wilfully interpreting these things as code-phrases for "send them home", "outlaw Islam" and "kill all the Welsh" do you arrive at the idea that 48% of people would vote for fascists given the chance. And, of course, it's bollocks: they wouldn't and they don't.
A poll on actual parties of the Right gets conducted, for real, and with a much larger sample size, every time we have an election. The BNP is a far Right party that doesn't use fascist imagery and does its best to dissociate itself from violence - and its share of the vote remains more or less what it has always been: that is, pathetic.
Galliano's new line in insults
Having been mistaken for a tramp by the lady occupant of a neighbouring barstool in a chic Paris brasserie, the designer John Galliano is said to have rounded drunkenly on her: "You're ugly and your f***ing bag is ugly, too!" Now video emerges of him making anti-Semitic remarks and declaring that he "loves Hitler". With that sort of gift for repartee, why ever wasn't he allowed to do his own PR before now?
Now the census has grabbed my attention
There's some interesting politics behind the wacky-wacky stories about the upcoming census. The Pagan Federation is keen its members declare their religion in the census "to gain greater recognition" - a quixotic strategy when the whole religion question has already been gamed by mind-your-own-business campaigners masquerading as Jedi Knights.
The Humanists, however, are worried that if too many agnostics declare themselves "Christian" it could result in over-provision of faith schools. A bit paranoid, maybe, but potentially a legitimate concern. It's best resolved not by taking the religion question off the census but by taking faith schools off the public payroll.
Twelve bright new stars of British fiction
On Saturday, for World Book Night, a BBC2 Culture Show special seeks to pick out 12 of the best new voices in fiction. I sat on the panel that chose them, so I hope you'll forgive my giving the programme a mention: we read boxes and boxes of books so that you don't have to - and if I say so myself, it's a cracking list.
We've been denounced in some quarters for not including enough ethnic minority writers. I can only say that you work with what you've got. The best books among the submissions, by our lights, all happened to be by Anglos. The writers were David Abbott, Deborah Kay Davies, Eleanor Thom, Adam Haslett, Evie Wyld, Rebecca Hunt, Jim Powell, Samantha Harvey, Stephen Kelman, Ned Beauman, Jenn Ashworth, and Anna Richards. Do watch on Saturday to find out why.
Reader views (6)
Go back to sleep. The Oligarchy loves you and has everything under control. Don't try to think for yourself; just read our useful idiots' op-ed pieces in the press and everything will be alright
- Runcible Spoon, Colchester, 04/03/2011 15:44
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Hardly anyone votes for any party outside the oligarchy of three - who are near identical anyway. This is because no other party right or left in practice can get any power to do anything - let alone give them money.
No one outside the magic circle can even get publicity which is anything but near totally derogatory. For example, if Labour mentions immigration control that's responsible debate. If anyone else mentions the subject they are 'Nazis', 'extremists' and 'bigots'. The latter was famously used by Brown against a lady for the mildest comment.
The system then conveniently interprets support for the power parties as meaning that their views are the ones near universally held by the population. A neat trick and a wonderful self-fulfilling justification for anything those in power do.
Britain is an oligarchy not a democracy - but you are permitted to dream at the polling station.
- Mike Newland, London, England, 01/03/2011 11:08
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You say that an English Parliament is "no more than the logical conclusion of New Labour's wet-blanket plans for a succession of regional talking shops". In fact it is quite the opposite. The logical conclusion is the regional assemblies for different parts of England, as envisaged by the EU. Scotland and Wales (and N Ireland) are Euro Regions in themselves which gives the impression that an English Parliament is a logical next step. But the idea of a parliament in England is the opposite of what is intended as it is too large and potentially difficult to control by the centre. The idea has been to break England up into smaller regions for administrative purposes (regions which already have some legal footing and which are well established).
- Damian Hockney, London, UK, 01/03/2011 03:17
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The trouble is, anyone to the right of far left are deemed far right BY the far left - kind of a self fulfilling reason for socialism - everyone else 'just doesn't understand'.
For the record - as one who is often called 'far right' (I'm not, by any stretch of the imagination, but that doesn't stop those trying to find an excuse not to have to even consider an opinion from me as being even worth polite acceptance as an alternate viewpoint), I strongly object to being ranked alongside ANY who express themselves in such a moronic manner as that self-important, yoyo for brains 'fashion designer' does.
- Rogan, Irving, 28/02/2011 23:44
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The far right is still miles apart from REALITY. Galliano obviously thinks he's Mel Gibson. What a wally!!
- jb, sussex, 28/02/2011 15:17
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Newspaper columnists are even further away from English voters than the 'far right'.
The 'far left' have been desperately trying to make the BRITISH National Party be perceived as a purely English party for as long as it's been in existence. The BNP has no more to offer the English than has the LibLabCON!
Where was Sam Leith born, Ireland or Scotland?
- Stephen Gash, Carlisle England, 28/02/2011 15:16
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