Should we be worried about right-wing populism?

Yes, we probably should be amongst all the other worrying trends!

Let me state here and now, I am NOT a racist. But I have been a member of UKIP for years, I have been on marches when there were only 12 people, when I talk about immigration it's just about controlling our borders. Just like other countries do. We need immigrants here, of course we do, but surely we can have a say who can come here? Do we want criminals who we cannot send back? Do we want low paid workers pushing down the wages of our own folk? Also do we want to be told by unelected bureaucrats in Brussels that we cannot have a certain size vacuum cleaner motor? And now they are going to tell us how long an advert should last between programmes. There was life before the EU. I love Europe but Europe is not the EU!

grannyJillyT. I agree with what you are saying and so do any others on here. But I'm afraid your views will be seen as racist by some posters on GN.

Whitewave. "Can you give us some examples, Lilly"
I think a very good example was Gorden Brown calling Gillian Duffy a ' bigoted woman'
when all she was doing was expressing her views on the amount of immigrants in her town.
Another is the BBC. It's only in the past couple of years that they have actually said the word immigration.

I don't think you can call what Gordon Brown said a good example of the left wing sweeping the UK. I suppose it depends on your point of view. It was his opinion and he is well-known for being a grumpy git.

Claiming the BBC is left wing is, quite frankly, risable.

petra I will agree that Brown had world wide influence, particularly in the suggestions he made for the recovery from the crash, which almost the entire world adopted, but I hardly think a passing crass remark to an elderly lady in the UK constitutes a reason for the western movement of extreme right wing populism.

Unbelievably we may well see Trump become president, given Clintons unpopularity.

The only possible hope is Sanders.

Can't see Sanders getting in WW in fact, I hope it will be Clinton, but think Trump is looking likely to win.?

pertra I don't think my reply was fair or adequate. I do think that people's day to day experiences count for a large part of the way they see the world. These worries are not being addressed properly by the politicians, which results as you rightly said in voters turning to the extreme right wing.

I think that we can certainly blame the politicians for this inadequacy, and some of the press for stoking up hysteria.

I would not agree however that it is because of the extreme left wing. There has been no extreme left wing in power in any country except perhaps Russia?

I haven't read much about Clinton but sort of speed listened to some remarks about her on the radio(is that possible)? -and they were saying her foreign policy has been pretty dreadful and she is extremely hawkish - oh joy.

Has anyone else seen the photo of the woman handing out leaflets for Brexit in Leeds? She has a rather large swastika for a tattoo on her breast.

Exactly dj they are feeding on people's fears.

And the Remains aren't?

Oh ana this has nothing to do with the EU vote, it goes much further than that. If only it was just the EU!!!!

I agree with you, ww. The history of the political right wing in Europe is far more complex than the EU or even unwanted immigrants. It's an ideology - or rather a group of ideologies - which involves nationalism, racism, authoritarianism (or its polar opposite, libertarianism), etc. The right wing is bitterly opposed to the more egalitarian and liberal (with a small 'l') social policies of the EU.

Right wing politics hasn't been caused by the EU or immigrants, but its leaders have latched on to popular discontent, which hasn't been honestly addressed by politicians of any mainstream party. We're only experiencing the tip of the iceberg in the UK.

It's frightening, because this is exactly what happened in the early 1930s. People fell for it then and they don't seem to have learnt very much.

Yes and I am fearful that if our politicians continue to be second rate, lacking integrity and historical perspective it will go the same way, because the refugee problem is not going away.

We have the Middle East and all its attendant problems and now potential famine in various countries in Africa because of climate change. Climate change is probably more of a threat and will affect millions more people than war.

I agree with you once again. Globally, the situation is very unstable. I won't write a novel to outline all the potential conflicts and difficulties, because I think most people are aware of them.

In the UK, we have a corrupt government, which is blatantly supporting the rich at the expense of the poor (and not so poor). Not only that, but it's inept. People are looking for alternatives and the right wing is feeding people's prejudices and sense of disillusion. Sadly, some people have disengaged from the whole process and they're about to become cannon fodder.

The majority of people are not anti immigration,but anti uncontrolled immigration.Open borders and free movement is causing an upsurge of far right groups.Many are racist,but the majority of those joining recent protests across Europe are ordinary people who are feeling weighed down by the sheer numbers they are having to contend with.
I find it annoying to read press headlines re mass right wing protests,when we can clearly see non-aggressive attendees.
Patriotism is not Fascism.
I would suspect that a good number of people who are supporters of free movement of migrants are unlikely to be affected personally by it,or may benefit from it as cheap labour ,and that many of those against it are the very ones whose areas/schools/jobs etc will be ruined by it.
While those such as Merkel encourage wholesale immigration,there will be dissatisfaction.
I object to ordinary people making a stand for their childrens future,being labelled fascists and far right.
The press of course need headlines.

I am affected by it. Both my sons partners are from the EU. Both came here to study and stayed. Both are teaching in this country, perhaps even teaching your children or your grandchildren, who knows.
I am a supporter of the free movement of migrants.

The only reason immigrants are cheap labour is if UK bosses exploit them and undercut the minimum wage. You should focus your anger on that, rather than the immigrants.

Why do you assume that those who want to stay in the EU are not making a stand for their children's future?

All teaching assistants in County Durham are having their wages cut. They are to be sacked, then given new contratcs on lower pay. That is nothing to do with the EU, nothing to do with foreign workers. Most of them are British born and bred.

Sorry, Granyy2016, but I disagree with most of your post. I'll come back later and take it apart. At the moment I'm too tired.

The majority of those with far right views are very happy to be anti-immogrant and anti-EU (saddos that they they are).

immogrant=immigrant 9typo)

dj. Your post Re the teaching assistants being sacked and re-employed on a lower wage. These employers know that there are plenty of eu workers who will work for the lower rate. So yes, it is the eu's fault that local people could loose their jobs. If we didn't have open borders this huge pool of cheap labour wouldn't be available.

Well put Varian.

No that is not what is happening petra. It is unscrupulous employers doing what unscrupulous employers do. They are looking at the bottom line and getting rid of employees being paid a fair days pay. This is happening all over the country. In 5 cases I have first hand knowledge of the employees -5 nursery managers -have been replaced with cheaper UK labour.
Don't blame anyone other than the unscrupulous employer. No one is forcing them to force wages/salaries down.

We need stricter employment laws that prevent companies from exploiting there employees.