I don’t know what will happen Whitewave. I don’t really understand American politics either, despite getting frequent explanations from my son. I’m just hoping Trump will not get back into power.
Good Morning Thursday 7th May 2026
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News & politics
Why do national populists attack their countries old and respected institutions?
(93 Posts)eazybee
Nigel Farage is not 'attacking elitist banks', he is defending himself against untrue and unjust accusations, and in so doing has exposed malpractice of which many were unaware.
I think that this answers the OP’s question!
MerylStreep
So the op isn’t really about national populist but once again another attack on Nigel Farage
. Gina Miller has had her bank a/c closed for political reasons.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-66328098
And there are people who are clapping their hands because a Brexit leader had a bank account shut. Now we have one who tried in court to get brexit stopped. 😂
My opinion about Farage has never changed - the only good thing is that he has never had a sniff at Westminster, and I doubt that he ever will.
However, this is about a much wider issue - national populism, which is spreading throughout Europe. I am by instinct alarmed at the spread, and am interested in what is driving it.
With regards Netanyahu, he is intent on passing many laws that would not pass the reasonable test, particularly laws relating to Orthodox Jews etc and he is risking civil war imo.
So the op isn’t really about national populist but once again another attack on Nigel Farage
. Gina Miller has had her bank a/c closed for political reasons.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-66328098
And there are people who are clapping their hands because a Brexit leader had a bank account shut. Now we have one who tried in court to get brexit stopped. 😂
maddyone
I hope you’re wrong about the USA and Trump.
Go on then what do you reckon will happen?
maddyone
But thank you for your explanation, although brief, Whitewave.
Yes I am a bit rushed as going out in a minute to hear daughter sing, so it isn’t very good, but other folk are welcome to add to it.
GrannyGravy13
Nigel Farage may well have made a speech in 2016 regarding attacking elitist institutions but cannot see the relevance with the current situation at Coutts and Nat West.
Dame Alison Rose, broke many banking protocols and customer confidentiality when she discussed NF’s banking situation with a BBC employee. Consequently she and two other board members have resigned.
NF has exposed debanking , Martin Lewis is in record as saying that many thousands of U.K. citizens have been debanked and not been informed of the reasons.
I am totally behind NF on this, which is surprising as I have never been a fan of the man up till now.
Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu are both on sticky wickets as far as I am concerned, if found guilty they should not be allowed to stand for office. But as I am not a citizen of either countries it’s down to those that are eligible to vote to make the decision.
The problem as far as Netanyahu and Trump is concerned will be for the entire world.
Netanyahu sits in a very volatile area of the world and unless someone like the USA can put pressure on him (quite frankly doubtful) he has a militarised country to hand with nuclear weapons.
What happens regarding trump goes without saying.
As far as Farage is concerned, I think that rather without real cause, the Tories still see him as a threat - why? I have no idea, and they will clearly cave in and act before thinking things through, just as Cameron did.
But what I very much hope is that if Labour wins the next election, Farage will disappear as he will have no real platform on which to gain notoriety.
I agree with GrannyGravy re the Farage situation. This situation has dropped into his lap from people who should have known better. They were too arrogant for their own good and have paid the price.
I hope you’re wrong about the USA and Trump.
But thank you for your explanation, although brief, Whitewave.
I wish I understood Israeli politics, it’s all beyond me.
Nigel Farage may well have made a speech in 2016 regarding attacking elitist institutions but cannot see the relevance with the current situation at Coutts and Nat West.
Dame Alison Rose, broke many banking protocols and customer confidentiality when she discussed NF’s banking situation with a BBC employee. Consequently she and two other board members have resigned.
NF has exposed debanking , Martin Lewis is in record as saying that many thousands of U.K. citizens have been debanked and not been informed of the reasons.
I am totally behind NF on this, which is surprising as I have never been a fan of the man up till now.
Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu are both on sticky wickets as far as I am concerned, if found guilty they should not be allowed to stand for office. But as I am not a citizen of either countries it’s down to those that are eligible to vote to make the decision.
It’s about power and influence, for example Johnson was undecided wether to back Brexit, then committed to leaving EU because it was his best bet for power regardless of any truth.
Trump, the same he homed in on migration and the “great big wall” which was very popular with right wingers.
I don’t see Sunak or Starmer as being populist
eazybee
Nigel Farage is not 'attacking elitist banks', he is defending himself against untrue and unjust accusations, and in so doing has exposed malpractice of which many were unaware.
I’m quoting Farage - that is not my opinion.
Nigel Farage is not 'attacking elitist banks', he is defending himself against untrue and unjust accusations, and in so doing has exposed malpractice of which many were unaware.
What I would say in Johnson’s defence is that I think he is more of a libertarian with populist tendencies. I do not see him as an authoritarian populist.
I’ve been looking at a couple of these individuals and trying to work out why they are so intent on wresting control away from various institutes.
Netanyahu is a case in point.
Netanyahu has been indicted for fraud, bribery and breach of trust in a number of scandals involving wealthy individuals, and waits to stand criminal trial. Netanyahu refused to resign, and is doing what all populists do by using his entitled position and claiming to be the victim.
Just this week Netanyahu has overseen a law that will take the power away from the judges who previously have stood in judgement over whether the Israeli’s governments actions are deemed reasonable. Remember, that Israel does not have a written constitution, nor a second chamber to oversee its parliament and put a stop to harmful actions. The judges are the only ones able to do this.
So Israel drifts towards an evermore authoritarian state, so beloved by the populist.
Next the national populist with potentially the most power - Trump.
Unlike Netanyahu, Trump is unable to attack the judges directly nor other institutions because of the written constitution, but there is no doubt that he fully intends to get out of all and multiple indictments. To do so he has to win the election, which he says he will win even from prison.
This is not so mad as it seems, as he stands as good a chance as ever to win the presidency, and then all he has to do is pardon himself and bingo! He is then free to court the 6th January insurrectionists and risk a civil war in the USA.
This will put the world on a very rocky road indeed particularly Trumps intention to withdraw from Ukraine.
And lastly to our own home grown populists. Dear Johnson has thankfully fallen by the wayside - not without a fight claiming victimhood etc as populist do.
However, the populist that many had hoped had gone away is once again trying to claim the limelight by attacking the U.K. banks. Interestingly Farage made a speech in 2016 when rallying for Trump that included a promise that he would attack “elitist” institutions like banks such institutions. His plan seems to be coming to fruition.
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