The European Elections, 2014. These are dark times indeed, as a coalition of far right anti-Muslim parties make record gains across Europe. Groups in Europe, fuelled by a hysteria about immigration, Islam and economic disaffection will now define the route that politics will take over the coming years through the European Parliament. In the UK, we saw UKIPs community spokesperson, Suzanne Evans claim on the BBC that Hollande needed to schedule an emergency meeting on the gains by the French far right and that, Cameron needed the same here - presumably after her own party, the UKs own political far right, made similar record gains. Time and again throughout history, Europe sees the rise of intolerance and the expulsion of religious minorities. We often wondered how and why such a thing could occur and now we have seen before our very eyes how these things develop. McCarthyism and the demonisation of the other. Disillusionment from domestic and foreign policy. A pan-European immigration hysteria. Disinformation. Media complicity. But immigration, economic turmoil and a failed politics does not lead to prejudice and hate - that comes from a spiritual sickness of the heart. And so the answer musts rest in a spiritual renewal, social justice and and a return to social morality. The new far right, softly spoken wearing smart shoes and in a voice we know, are no lesser ideological stablemates of their uglier cousins the English Defence League and the British National Party - they have siphoned off their activists and their votes. In the UK, this is how the result stacked up: - Sunderland, North Eastern region - Labour 231k, UKIP 177k, Tories 107k, LibDem 36k, Green 31k, BNP 10k - Chelmsford, Eastern Region - UKIP 542k, Tory 446k, Lab 271k, Green 133k, LibDem 108k, BNP 12k - Kettering, East Mids region - UKIP 368k, Tory 291, Lab 279k, Green 67k, Lib Dem 60k, BNP 18k - Leeds, Yorkshire and Humber region - UKIP 403k, Lab 380k, Tory 248k, Green 102k, LibDem 81k, BNP 20k - Poole, South Western region - UKIP 484k, Tory 433k, Lab 206k, Green 166k, Lib Dem 160k, BNP 10k - Manchester, North West region - Lab 594k, UKIP 481k, Tory 351k, Green 123k, Lib Dem 105k, BNP 32k - Birmingham, West Mids region - UKIP 428k, Lab 363k, Tory 330k, Green 71k, Lib Dem 75k, BNP 20k - Southampton, South East region - UKIP 751k, Tory 723k, Lab 342k, Green 211k, Lib Dem 187k - Wales region - Lab 206k, UKIP 201k, Tory 127k, PC 111k, Green 33k, Lib Dem 28k - Scotland region - SNP 389k, Lab 348k, Tory 231k, UKIP 140k, Scottish Green 108k, Lib Dem 95k, BNP 10k Just as in the 1930s, a disaffected electorate, comfortably racist and hateful of a religious minority, in an unholy alliance with the media, saw the re-birth of the far right across Europe. In the UK, it resulted in them winning a national election. History bears witness that people will eventually unite to resist the dark clouds which loom of a populist prejudice. But it always comes at a cost. And history is never kind to those gullible, scared and ignorant relying on I didnt know, I was angry.
Posted on: Mon, 26 May 2014 19:57:13 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015