It would be foolish to ignore the thirty four per cent of French voters who have voted for fascists in the first round of the their parliamentary elections.
It would be foolish too to ignore the folly of the arch neoliberal, President Emmanuel Macron, who gambled on calling this election, somehow thinking that the disaffected people of rural France, in particular, would vote to continue support for the political indifference for their best interests that his supposed centre-right party delivers.
It would be foolish too not to note that Keir Starmer claimed last night that he would defeat the rise of the far-right in the UK by deeds rather than words when, as far as anyone can tell, there are no deeds that might come remotely near doing so on his agenda.
The far-right won in France because the classic fascist policy of blaming an ‘other' group in society has worked amongst those least likely, as is always the case, to actually encounter members of that ‘other' community. Blatant Islamophobia is being used by the far-right in France to fuel hatred and division. It works best in rural areas, rather than the towns and cities where most Moslems in France live. But wherever it prevails, it is not based on truth.
It should be noted that around two thirds of French people rejected fascism. There may be some deal making to do as a result, because under the French electoral system there is another round of voting to go through in most seats, and unity candidates from the centre / left might be presented in some cases.
That said, the reality cannot be ignored. A centre-right party in France has laid the ground for a fascist by government by promoting the failed neoliberal myth that government run for the benefit of the wealthy, big business and the political establishment that is located in the capital and major cities can be of benefit to the majority when it is very clear that the whole purpose of such governments is to redirect wealth upwards in society. That neoliberal policy goal inevitably leads to inequality, alienation and despair. The rise of fascism is the consequence.
It is not clear what will happen in France as yet. It may avoid a fascist government. If it gets one it will have a far-right perspective very different to that of Giorgia Meloni's far-right government in Italy. The Italian government is actively engaging with the EU. The French far-right hates the EU. What that provides is evidence of how divided the far-right itself is: dissatisfaction with neoliberalism is a many faceted thing, but there is relatively little comfort in that unless, maybe, you are in Brussels. The second round of voting has to be watched with care in that case.
Whatever happens though, the message is clear. Voters have had enough of the failure of neoliberalism and are falling for the allure of those who are building false narratives about the alternatives to it.
True alternatives are needed.
Meanwhile, Labour is telling the UK that ‘stability is change', which is code for ‘we'll manage neoliberalism better than the Tories did'. There are those who think that this will guarantee them a super-majority and decades in power. The reality is that Labour might, unless something radical happens, last five years at most in office if that is their plan. Supporting a failing status quo, like Macron has done, is not a strategy. It's a recipe for failure. Labour really should take note. So far there is no sign that they have.
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Thank you for a most timely and percipient article!
Might part of the present and future problems be in an unstated, but actual,
consequence of advanced/aging neoliberalism. Such is the entities of governance, macro communication, corporations, senior executives etc. separating themselves from regular people into mini-oligarchies to form a controlling, selfish cartel which has a submerged
parasitic relationship with its national societies?
That is the problem
I’d say that the difference between the UK and France and Italy as it stands, is that we’ve traditionally had the headbangers to the furthest right of the Conservative Party able to say enough outrageous things that a lot of the voters of their ilk have stayed with the Tories. This began to break down with the arrival of UKIP/Brexit Party/Reform but they were initially a one-policy party and they’ve been scrabbling around for relevance since the referendum. Unlike in Europe, they have never been a seriously organised political Party (their policy launches, candidate selection and so much else remains shambolic), which is why they have tended to remain on the margins.
In comparison, Le Pen, has been at it for years, following the long efforts of her father. Italy has long had relatively popular fascist parties (in comparison to the UK) which have continued to operate even after the overthrow of Mussolini.
However, there’s nothing special about the UK which makes us immune to the rise of the far right, regardless of our history. There is no doubt that a lot more money is now flowing into Reform and this will only increase when their vote share rises during this election. I’d say we’ve not had the same sort of a far-right tradition as France and Italy, but there’s no doubt that the failings of government since Thatcher and since 2010 especially make our country a fertile ground for a drift in that direction.
Another thing to consider is the disinformation funded by shadowy money which is now being pumped onto the phones of many people through social media. The advent of ‘AI’ is only going to exacerbate things as the propagandists can simply buy server space, so to speak, with this plausible-sounding disinformation being procedurally generated. Much easier and cheaper for them than paying Nigerians or other overseas workers to pretend to be something they are not. And this doesn’t even consider the actions of bad actors such as Russia and China who know that destabilising our countries gives them an opening to increase their influence ever further.
Starmer is right to say that the best way to combat the drift to the far right is to improve the lots of the general folk who are suffering. Unfortunately, he and Reeves are too inept to realise that their current policies, such as they are, don’t have a hope in hell of doing enough.
As you say, fascism has not been well organised in the UK, but it has always been a factor in UK politics.
In 1964 I was not allowed to stand as a “revolutionary communist” in my school’s mock election. The headmaster explained that he had no objection except that if the local press found out they might ruin the reputation of the school. He did, however, allow someone to stand as a “neofascist”.
Amazing
Far right fascism has been the central informing politics of the governing class since Partition in Northern Ireland. A famous anecdote has Oswald Moseley refusing an invitation to join the Unionist party here because he considered them too far right for his political beliefs. The DUP, now as the largest Unionist party, is a far right party supported by the left behinds on sink housing estates and the paramilitary cowed rural poor. Both categories that the DUP extremists make sure never have access to real educational or economic opportunities lest they begin to wake up from their political Stockholm Syndrome. The impoverishment of the Other followed by promises of Deliverance that never materialise is a well worn political strategy by all ideological stripes of politician on the personal make & take.
I watched the first round French election results last night on French TV. Actually, although the far right is on 32%, the far left (except it’s not all that far) is on 28%. That is a result we here can only dream of.
Macron’s party is on 22%.
The difference with the current crop of French politicians is that they are fervent, articulate and mostly charismatic. (Excluding Macron)
In the UK…..
Perhaps it’s not such bad news as it initially appears? Time will tell.
If the centre and left cooperate
Thank you, Hannah.
I watched TF1 live.
This morning, I noticed the BBC referring to the New Popular Front as far and extreme left. Perhaps, the BBC should review their programme. Can anyone call Francois Hollande, the Rouen rich kid masquerading as someone from Tulle, far or extreme left. Mum’s family left the area south of Tulle for Mauritius in 1760. I know the Correze well.
Readers should note that the French left led by Melenchon’s has been demonised like Corbyn, not just by the French state and oligarch owned media, but by their peers in the anglophone world, too, often due to Melenchon’s LFI standing up for Palestinians.
It really is very bizarre that they are calling these people far left