The rise of Extremism in Economically tough times

chewmylegoff

If UKIP are the most extreme party the British people are prepared to vote for then things aren't too bad. The BNP polled nearly 1 million votes in the last European elections. This time their vote fell to about 20% of what it was in 2009. That ain't a sign of "extremism" taking hold in my view. UKIP won't get anything like the support they have enjoyed in this election in the next general election either.

Graham_Devon

I think the racist thing against UKIP simply has to be put to bed now.

UKIP have done extremely well in both Local and EU elections. No amount of insults against an increasing part of the electorate is going to change this.

We haven't just invented a load of "racists". Their vote came from other parties.

People are sick of the EU. The lib dems stating we have to be "educated" is only going to lose them more votes. They do not appear to know how patroonising they come across. This is half the problem with the main 3 parties at the moment.

Secondly it came across last night that for the 3 main partie, the most important thing was just that. The parties. All the talk of pacts to get through the next election just smacked of desperation...iin effect removing candidates in order that we can't vote for tories or UKIP to make sure they even up the vote. It stinks.

The more they play these games, the more people will vote for the "anti establishment" party.

chewmylegoff

HAMISH_MCTAVISH wrote: »

But what do you want them to come across as Viva?

They do know better, and they are right, and the evidence overwhelmingly supports this.

How exactly are intelligent and rational people supposed to act when presented with barely disguised racism, bigotry and xenophobia and illogical, emotive and factually incorrect views?

Pandering and weather-vaning by mainstream politicians to the ignorant and ill-educated is exactly what has allowed UKIP and their ilk across Europe to get the votes they did.

They should be ruthlessly exposed for the bigots, xenophobes and racists so many of them are, not celebrated for being 'eccentric' and 'different'.

It is just so inconvenient when other people don't vote in the way you want them to isn't it? Time to buy an island and declare yourself king?

Graham_Devon

Labour have now come out and said the voting for UKIP was NOT a vote about Europe.

Sometimes, words simply fail...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-27573321

nashly

HAMISH_MCTAVISH wrote: »

Speaking of which....

The BNP share of the vote fell from circa 6% last time to circa 1% this time.

No prizes for guessing where they went.

Like I say, the most insidious thing about UKIP is that they provide a smokescreen of legitimacy to cover up the repugnant viewpoints of so many of their voters and supporters.

And you are just the kind of person that increases their vote, congratulations.

nashly

Graham_Devon wrote: »

Labour have now come out and said the voting for UKIP was NOT a vote about Europe.

Sometimes, words simply fail...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-27573321

I think it was only about stopping and reversing the fascist EU and UKIP were the only party in the UK willing to listen to the majority our population

vivatifosi

nashly wrote: »

I think it was only about stopping and reversing the fascist EU and UKIP were the only party in the UK willing to listen to the majority our population

I get that the EU can be incompetent at times and is definitely unwieldy, but how is it fascist? And how will that fascism be reduced by a group of right wing and sometimes extremist parties joining it?

Isn't militarism a big part of fascism? Where's the super-state army?

Generali

The question I have is, Why have people voted for UKIP?

What exactly do they expect to get from it? This is a serious question, not trolling or whatever.

Is the aim an end to immigration or an exit from the EU or a vague idea that Britain should be a country of warm beer and church bells? Is it merely a big FU to the 2 main parties now that the Lib Dems have been shown to be a part of all that.

I fear that this might be a bad sign for what's to follow in the Scottish referendum. If the mood is to kick over the statues then that's the Union done for.

Interesting times.

TheFactory

First thread ever where I dissagree with hamish and agree with Graham

michaels

If the 'mainstream parties' are so convinced that 'ever closer union' is not only in the interests of the British people but also what the British people would choose for ourselves why don't they all support the idea of a referendum. I can not see why 'champions of democracy' like the lib dems are not championing a referendum.

If we were outside the EU we could still negotiate freedom of movement with European countries if we felt it was in the national interest but the vital difference would be that it was a choice that the British people could make for ourselves and adjust to suit our political opinions. I agree with Hamish a lot on economics but still think it is better that such economic decisions are made by a govt over which we can exercise democratic control rather than a superstate accountable to no one.