Far right v far left

I'm just pointing out that the base premise on this particular point in British history can, and is, spun in a particularly powerful way by all sides to legitimise their position, to the far left and to the far right (and pretty much everything in between).

@PorridgeOatsSuck On the point of another poster, if cultural far right is racism/islamophobic what does the culture of the far left look like?

That's an interesting question. The idea of left wing culture goes back to the sixties and seventies with the sexual revolution, liberal attitudes to drugs, "dropping out" and not feeling tied to a conservative job-focused lifestyle etc.

As far as I can tell, there isn't a very clear idea about what "far left" means culturally, beyond all that, in the way that there is for "far right". I suppose some people use it where those attitudes of social change are perceived to have been taken to excess: trans rights activism for example, or queer theory in universities. But in reality there isn't really much overlap between naive or extreme attitudes to culture war issues like that and belief in left wing economics. You're more likely to find TWAW warriors among the liberal centre-left than among communists, in my experience.

Trying unsuccessfully to sell copies of the Morning Star, as far as I know.

I have never voted for either actually and please don't call me a specimen. It's extremely contemptuous, arrogant and dismissive.

But then as a left wing remainer convinced of your own moral and intellectual superiority you are, aren't you?

It was a war against fascists who were invading other European countries. They either joined up or were conscripted. There is no comparison with advocating “target practice” on people fleeing war zones in 2025.

Now now, don't be a snowflake. Any update on the AfD or rise of the far right in Europe? Austria, France, Germany, the Netherlands etc Are they far right parties according to the definition you haven't proferred?

You must remember those same family members may well have later manned the numerous bunkers on the south coast with the intention of shooting up any invading boats crossing the channel (German Codename: Operation Sealion).

I'm not surprised. My neighbour, who incidentally was a former die hard Labour voter and voted remain, met his new found hero Nigel Farage in a closed evening situation. Nig talked about using the navy to sink the refuge boats - now that is, of course, allegedly as only on one person's say so. However I believe it. I also have many family members who have voted Reform and even some members among them. They would be horrified by the idea of sinking refugee boats. This is the problem of where we are. Labelling my family members as abhorrent/far right because they have real concerns about immigration that they feel are not taken seriously by the big 2 parties is wrong. However, it is clear to me at least that Remain carries both the worst of the right along with ordinary right wing people. In this respect, exactly how Trump won.

On the point of another poster, if cultural far right is racism/islamophobic what does the culture of the far left look like?

My great-grandfather and several other men in my family of that generation plus several female family members (WRNS) were in those brave little boats fighting the Nazis, so yes, it’s awful to hear that Reform campaigners actively want refugees to be used as “target practice.”

I'm happy to have a conversation with someone about politics if they ask in good faith.

@Cloudberry24

Must be awful for you when read about the Dunkirk spirit and all the brave men and women that set off in their little ships.

It’s good to learn from other people and read differing opinions and examples. Don’t answer if it’s too much trouble. We all start somewhere. No-one should be made to feel stupid for trying to learn about politics.

Reform campaigner Andrew Parker on humans arriving in small boats:

“Army recruitment - get the young recruits there, with guns, on the f beach, target practice. F just shoot them."

He also describes Islam as a "disgusting cult".

This does remind me of the Nazi ideology.

It's this sort of smearing of other people with different opinions to themselves which is why I stopped having anything to do politics four or five years ago. Oh you have a different opinion to me so you're a woke/gammon blah blah blah.....Politics is ugly and it just brings the worst out in a lot of people.

Trans activists???

@Icanthinkformyselfthanks for someone who can think for yourself, you’re asking a huge number of questions with simple answers.

Far right is a label now misused to silence any one speaking out against the dinghy arrivals.

The Nazis were indisputably racist and fascist and they were certainly socially extreme.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-37274201.amp

According to the BBC, yes.