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Brussels police ordered to attend a right wing conference attended by Braverman and Farage

(213 Posts)
Whitewavemark2 Tue 16-Apr-24 14:54:09

Orban is also in attendance.

The police are allowing no one else to enter the premises.

Listening to Farage there is a worrying paper-thin line between his rhetoric and 1930s propaganda.

No wonder the authorities are worried.

Namsnanny Tue 16-Apr-24 17:12:31

Lets not forget the Mayor of Tehran who has been sanctioned by EU, was entertained happily by said Brussels Mayor last year.

Conflicting actions maybe?

Cossy Tue 16-Apr-24 17:15:22

JudyBloom

This is a disgrace, Nigel Farage is NOT far right, they just want people to believe he is - as usual, if views don't fit the narrative you get banned - this is against Democracy and another attack on free speech. There is nothing to fear from Nigel, he believes in free speech and our country having it's own rules.

Who is “they”?

As for being (or not being) far right, I guess it depends on where one stands in the political spectrum. I’m Centre-Left, some of his views do appear a little far right to me.

I think he’s an odious little creep who is desperate to be part of a current govt (ANY govt), and aspires to be PM, BUT if we claim to be a democracy providing no laws are broken he, and any other organisation, should be afforded the right to hold a conference.

Oreo Tue 16-Apr-24 17:16:31

Well said cossy

Cossy Tue 16-Apr-24 17:16:42

MayBee70

Unfortunately Farage and Braverman are loving the publicity they’re getting for this. Sick of seeing them being interviewed on Sky News. Although I love the comment from one of the reporters ie ‘ is that because of what you stand for, Mr Farage’ ( and we all know what that is…) If only he’d bothered to turn up at Brussels when he was paid to do so as a EU MP when he shouldhave been representing our fishermen…

Absolutely!!!!

Germanshepherdsmum Tue 16-Apr-24 17:16:56

I would be considered right wing and I consider him far right.

DiamondLily Tue 16-Apr-24 17:37:44

Looks like it ended in chaos:

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13314255/Gathering-right-wing-politicians-Brussels-descends-chaos-police-local-mayor-attempt-shut-conference-Nigel-Farage-lashing-monstrous-efforts-silence-speakers-warns-against-new-form-communism.html

Skydancer Tue 16-Apr-24 17:53:33

I never know what wing I am. I favour the Green Party but agree with lots that Nigel Farage says. So how do I vote!

Mamardoit Tue 16-Apr-24 17:53:42

Namsnanny

Lets not forget the Mayor of Tehran who has been sanctioned by EU, was entertained happily by said Brussels Mayor last year.

Conflicting actions maybe?

This really is not a good look for Brussels.....The supposed centre of European democracy.

Namsnanny Tue 16-Apr-24 18:23:12

Mamardoit

Namsnanny

Lets not forget the Mayor of Tehran who has been sanctioned by EU, was entertained happily by said Brussels Mayor last year.

Conflicting actions maybe?

This really is not a good look for Brussels.....The supposed centre of European democracy.

No it isn't.
Apparently Emir Kir the Mayor of a district in Brussels called for it to be shut down, and Phillipe Close carried out the threat.

The Police entered the venue but found nothing illegal, so could only stop people from entering the building.

The Mayor of Tehran Alireza Zakani is considered an ultra radical, and has been sanctioned by EU for Human Rights violations.
Yet he was entertained quite happily by this Mayor.

MayBee70 Tue 16-Apr-24 18:23:29

From Wikipedia ( in case people don’t know what National Conservatism stands for)
National conservatism is a nationalist variant of conservatism that concentrates on upholding national, cultural identity, communitarianism, and the public role of religion (see religion in politics). It shares aspects of traditionalist conservatism and social conservatism, while departing from economic liberalism and libertarianism, as well as taking a more agnostic approach to regulatory economics and protectionism.[1][2][3][4][5][6] National conservatives usually combine conservatism with nationalist stances, emphasizing cultural conservatism, family values and opposition to illegal immigration or opposition to immigration per se.[5][6][7] National conservative parties often have roots in environments with a rural, traditionalist or peripheral basis, contrasting with the more urban support base of liberal conservative parties.[8]
In Europe, they usually embrace some form of Euroscepticism.[9][10] In post-communist central and eastern Europe specifically, most conservative parties since 1989 have followed a national conservative ideology.[11] Most notable is the government of Viktor Orbán in Hungary, who has explicitly described his party's ideology as being national conservative in character, and whose government is involved in the funding and spread of national conservative institutions across Europe and the United States, such as the Danube Institute, Mathias Corvinus Collegium, European Conservative magazine, and National Conservatism Conference.[12][13][14][15] In the United States, Trumpism can be considered a variety of national conservatism,[16][17][18] which also gives its name to the National Conservatism Conference, organised by the Edmund Burke Foundation.[19]
National conservatism was recently re-launched by Israeli-American political philosopher and Biblical scholar Yoram Hazony, with his 2022 book Conservatism: A Rediscovery.[20][21][22] Hazony has written that "In the political arena, conservatism refers to a standpoint that regards the recovery, restoration, elaboration, and repair of national and religious traditions as the key to maintaining a nation and strengthening it through time."[1]
Ideology
Social policies
Ideologically, national conservatism is not a uniform philosophy but adherents have broadly expressed support for nationalism, patriotism, assimilationism and monoculturalism. At the same time there is expressed opposition to internationalism, racial politics, multiculturalism and globalism.[23][24][25] National conservatives adhere to a form of cultural nationalism that emphasizes the preservation of national identity as well as cultural identity. As a result, many favor assimilation into the dominant culture, restrictions on immigration and strict law and order policies.[6][9][5]
National conservative parties are "socially traditional"[9] and support traditional family values, gender roles and the public role of religion,[5][26] being sometimes critical of separation of church and state. According to the Austrian political scientist Sieglinde Rosenberger, "national conservatism praises the family as a home and a center of identity, solidarity, and tradition".[26] National conservatives are thus social conservatives.
Economic policies
National conservative parties in different countries do not necessarily share a common position on economic policy. Their views may range from support of corporatism and mixed economy to a more laissez-faire approach. In the first, more common case, national conservatives can be distinguished from liberal conservatives,[27] for whom free market economic policies, deregulation and tight spending are the main priorities. Some commentators have indeed identified a growing gap between national and economic liberal conservatism: "Most parties of the Right [today] are run by economically liberal conservatives who, in varying degrees, have marginalised social, cultural and national conservatives."[27]
Foreign policy
National conservatives usually support a foreign policy that upholds the interests of their nation. They lean towards militarism, unilateralism and isolationism. They reject the internationalism and multilateralism that has characterized the modern global age.[28][29] They often have a negative view of the United Nations, feeling that its globalist agenda erodes their unique national identity,[28][29] as well as the European Union and other international organizations.[16]
Regionalist varieties
Main article: Regionalism (politics)
Regional parties can be nationalist or national-conservative, without aligning with the country to which the region belongs. South Tyrol is a notable example, as "national-conservative" parties there represent its German-speaking majority and identify with neighbouring Austria, with which South Tyrol shares.

Namsnanny Tue 16-Apr-24 18:27:45

Even our sluggish Gov. has come out and condemned this action.
They never raise their heads above the parapet without a bomb up their respective posterior.

zakouma66 Tue 16-Apr-24 18:30:55

What does " our country having its own rules" mean?

zakouma66 Tue 16-Apr-24 18:32:21

Skydancer

I never know what wing I am. I favour the Green Party but agree with lots that Nigel Farage says. So how do I vote!

Like what?

Namsnanny Tue 16-Apr-24 18:33:43

Skydancer

I never know what wing I am. I favour the Green Party but agree with lots that Nigel Farage says. So how do I vote!

Labels are being banded around willynilly nads. Frankly I like individual members of all the parties, so that leaves me in a quandary too smile

MaizieD Tue 16-Apr-24 18:36:34

zakouma66

What does " our country having its own rules" mean?

I think it means leaving the WTO, NATO, the UN, the ECHR, of course, and any other international organisation that might have 'rules', arrived at by consensus but which the NatCons don't like.

Mamardoit Tue 16-Apr-24 18:38:51

MayBee70

From Wikipedia ( in case people don’t know what National Conservatism stands for)
National conservatism is a nationalist variant of conservatism that concentrates on upholding national, cultural identity, communitarianism, and the public role of religion (see religion in politics). It shares aspects of traditionalist conservatism and social conservatism, while departing from economic liberalism and libertarianism, as well as taking a more agnostic approach to regulatory economics and protectionism.[1][2][3][4][5][6] National conservatives usually combine conservatism with nationalist stances, emphasizing cultural conservatism, family values and opposition to illegal immigration or opposition to immigration per se.[5][6][7] National conservative parties often have roots in environments with a rural, traditionalist or peripheral basis, contrasting with the more urban support base of liberal conservative parties.[8]
In Europe, they usually embrace some form of Euroscepticism.[9][10] In post-communist central and eastern Europe specifically, most conservative parties since 1989 have followed a national conservative ideology.[11] Most notable is the government of Viktor Orbán in Hungary, who has explicitly described his party's ideology as being national conservative in character, and whose government is involved in the funding and spread of national conservative institutions across Europe and the United States, such as the Danube Institute, Mathias Corvinus Collegium, European Conservative magazine, and National Conservatism Conference.[12][13][14][15] In the United States, Trumpism can be considered a variety of national conservatism,[16][17][18] which also gives its name to the National Conservatism Conference, organised by the Edmund Burke Foundation.[19]
National conservatism was recently re-launched by Israeli-American political philosopher and Biblical scholar Yoram Hazony, with his 2022 book Conservatism: A Rediscovery.[20][21][22] Hazony has written that "In the political arena, conservatism refers to a standpoint that regards the recovery, restoration, elaboration, and repair of national and religious traditions as the key to maintaining a nation and strengthening it through time."[1]
Ideology
Social policies
Ideologically, national conservatism is not a uniform philosophy but adherents have broadly expressed support for nationalism, patriotism, assimilationism and monoculturalism. At the same time there is expressed opposition to internationalism, racial politics, multiculturalism and globalism.[23][24][25] National conservatives adhere to a form of cultural nationalism that emphasizes the preservation of national identity as well as cultural identity. As a result, many favor assimilation into the dominant culture, restrictions on immigration and strict law and order policies.[6][9][5]
National conservative parties are "socially traditional"[9] and support traditional family values, gender roles and the public role of religion,[5][26] being sometimes critical of separation of church and state. According to the Austrian political scientist Sieglinde Rosenberger, "national conservatism praises the family as a home and a center of identity, solidarity, and tradition".[26] National conservatives are thus social conservatives.
Economic policies
National conservative parties in different countries do not necessarily share a common position on economic policy. Their views may range from support of corporatism and mixed economy to a more laissez-faire approach. In the first, more common case, national conservatives can be distinguished from liberal conservatives,[27] for whom free market economic policies, deregulation and tight spending are the main priorities. Some commentators have indeed identified a growing gap between national and economic liberal conservatism: "Most parties of the Right [today] are run by economically liberal conservatives who, in varying degrees, have marginalised social, cultural and national conservatives."[27]
Foreign policy
National conservatives usually support a foreign policy that upholds the interests of their nation. They lean towards militarism, unilateralism and isolationism. They reject the internationalism and multilateralism that has characterized the modern global age.[28][29] They often have a negative view of the United Nations, feeling that its globalist agenda erodes their unique national identity,[28][29] as well as the European Union and other international organizations.[16]
Regionalist varieties
Main article: Regionalism (politics)
Regional parties can be nationalist or national-conservative, without aligning with the country to which the region belongs. South Tyrol is a notable example, as "national-conservative" parties there represent its German-speaking majority and identify with neighbouring Austria, with which South Tyrol shares.

And the goings on today have given them more publicity than they could have dreamed of.

It was a perfectly peaceful meeting. It should have been a non event. The footage will be shown around the globe.

zakouma66 Tue 16-Apr-24 18:42:54

I suppose our own rules must be akin to getting back our sovereignty.

Namsnanny Tue 16-Apr-24 18:44:22

I really don't get this.

It isn't about which party is better, or who is more odious than who.

It is about having the right to free speech Full.Stop

This Mayor has acted like a dictator.

MaizieD Tue 16-Apr-24 18:45:01

zakouma66

I suppose our own rules must be akin to getting back our sovereignty.

Both equally vacuous soundbites.

Namsnanny Tue 16-Apr-24 18:47:11

Sorry Gsm whom. wink

Urmstongran Tue 16-Apr-24 18:51:24

Well I think the Mayor in Brussels has gone in mob handed.

Namsnanny Tue 16-Apr-24 18:53:29

As I said before Urmstongran, he has acted as if he is a dictator. Not on.

Urmstongran Tue 16-Apr-24 19:04:46

Mrs Braverman told Sky News: “The thought police instructed by the mayor of Brussels saw fit to try and undermine and denigrate what is free speech and free debate.

“I remember the words of Mrs Thatcher, and I’m going to misquote her, but the more ridiculous and far-fetched and extremist their attempts are to silence us, the more cheered on I am because it just shows that they’ve lost their political argument.

“What really concerns me about what has happened here in Brussels is that, only last year, the mayor of Brussels was happy to host the mayor of Tehran.

“And yet he seems to be pretty offended by democratically elected politicians, people from all over the European continent, who are giving voice to millions of people talking about things like securing our borders.”

Namsnanny Tue 16-Apr-24 19:05:20

Now Belgiums PM has weighed in and condemned the action of Phillipe Close as well.

I firmly believe this is the thin end of the wedge over free speech.

Urmstongran Tue 16-Apr-24 19:07:48

Yet - Anyone been down Parliament Square at weekends recently? That’s the reality!