Nigel Farage - do you agree with him?

Oh dear. I find the rise of the far right, not just in England, but across Europe, very worrying. This is always the case following a recession (think 1930s) when some people are convinced by the rhetoric of dubious politicians who curry favour by putting the blame for failed policies on minority groups such as immigrants, or those of different faiths.

Trouble is they are cunning and latch on to people's prejudices and fears by including a small element of truth. I always pass their policies through a bullshit reality filter, but sadly most people don't see these people for what they really are. Or if they do, then that is perhaps even sadder.

Is he standing for election in your area, ninny ?

I agree too, papaoscar! Think I prefer the Monster Raving Loonies to Farage and his cohort.

I agree papaoscar, I've met many men like him when I worked in pubs. I'm so tempted to vote for him too, just to show the other parties that I'm not happy.
However I'm also quite concerned about the consequences of lots of people doing just that!

I shall be voting for Nigel Farage in the forthcoming EU Elections, I agree with his views. In that past I have always voted Conservative but not anymore.

I agree with your summing up of his popularity and politics papaoscar except he makes me cringe.

Farage strikes me as the sort of very articulate chap you might come across in a crowded pub. With a pint in one hand and a cigar in the other, he has an opinion about everything together with a simple solution. He is popular because of people's disillusionment with everyday politics but the danger is that he promises far more than he can ever deliver. Whether we like it or not, simple ill-conceived solutions do not work. He does, however, highlight many people's genuine concerns and he makes me smile, so he can't be that bad.

He always comes across as a 'spiv' to me! Should be tictac-ing on a racetrack, not in politics.

Ghastly man

I think Farage is repeating the road that Blair took to PM; and will end up serving us in the same manner ! should he get the chance -
he is pandering, and trying to beguile us just as Blair did; I for one would not trust him.

I think sometimes how awful, how dreadful it must be to feel unsafe in your own country or to feel you have no future there, for whatever reason. We're very lucky in the UK, on the whole, though the system has flaws and many do slip through the 'net'. If it were me, seeking sanctuary in the UK, I'd be so thankful for the chance of building a new life and determined to contribute to the life of this country, as my father did. Without that chance, I wouldn't be here. I like the idea of a 'safe and welcoming refuge., jinglebellsfrocks.

I understood the reasoning behind the "Christians only thing" was that the Muslims will be made welcome in other areas/countries whereas the minority Christians would not. Could be wrong though. More often than not I am.

So, we are going to take "hundreds". From amongst "the most vulnerable".

I think that's good. Is it enough?

I hope the abandoned children find a safe and welcoming refuge here at the very least.

Hehehe rosesarered - nah, just remembering anti-war demonstrations when I was a student....

where does that take you back to Rowantree tangles of bamboo hiding the Vietcong?Hope you weren't actually there?

Iam64 - I remember those demonstrations against the Iraq war. I went on a huge one in London - not that it made any difference, but at least Toe Nibbler wasn't left in any doubt how strong the opposition feelings were.

And goodness - Vietnam war vets! Now that takes me back.....!

Rowantree, I agree, 'not in my name'. I also agree with you that they serve their governments, and we all know, our governments don't always serve us in the way we expect them to, or even gave them a mandate for.

We went on the march in Glasgow when the huge demonstrations against the invasion of Iraq took place. We were behind a group of Vietnam veterans. It was moving to see this group of men, some in wheelchaire. They fought in a dreadful war that became an embarrassment, and were often shunned when they returned home. They were a lively and interesting group of men, with better reason and understanding of most of us, who were equally opposed to the Iraq war.

They served their governments, certainly - not sure I'd agree it's the same thing as saying they served their country. 'Not in my name', I think the phrase goes. Iam64: yes, and one man's terrorist is another man's freedom-fighter.
Absent - totally agree.

No Jingle, I don't think our soldiers are terrorists. They are young men and women who signed up to serve their country. However, I wonder how I would view them if half my family had been wiped out by American drones.

So you think our soldiers were terrorists?

I suspect one persons war, is another persons terrorism Jingle. I seem to remember there were Al queda training camps along the border between Pakistan and Afghanistan at the time of the invasion by the USA and British forces. Also, that as a result of the 'war', the number of Muslims from all over the world going to train in these camps has increased.

There were in Afghanistan.

I'm not defending those wars. Just saying you cannot call them terrorism.

jingl There weren't any terrorists – certainly no Al Qaeda cells – in Iraq before the invasion, but there are now. Undoubtedly there were some very bad things – Saddam Hussein being the worst – but not terrorism nor weapons of mass destruction.

America had to invade Afghanistan before it invaded Iraq because, in spite of every effort of Donald Rumsfeld's and Dick Cheney's minions, they couldn't find a single Iraqi evenly remotely involved in the 9/11 attack – and there is documented evidence that they spent a lot of time and effort looking. Consequently, they went into Afghanistan where there were training camps but not, of course, Saudi Arabia where most of the 9/11 terrorists originated.

I have no answer at all as to how we can help the Syrian refugees. And today's news is so bad. Three years and no help been given to the Syrian people at all. Only talk from Obama.

This island Wasn't anything like as overcrowded in Eleanor Farjeon' s day.