[Politics] Lee Anderson goes full Oswald Mosely

[Tom Bombadil]

These guys always remind me of this

 

[Nobby Cybergoat]

More crypto fascists at this stage, admiration for US Republicans etc

I get it's fun to call these types of people fascists, in a Rick from Young Ones sort of a way, but how do you respond then to actual fascism when it arrives. Your words have lost their meaning

 

[studio150]

If he gets his country back, there will be riots on the street

 

[AK74]

If it looks like a duck, swims like a duck, and quacks like a duck, then it probably is a duck.

Anderson ruffles a lot of feathers.

 

[Kinky Gerbil]

Least if he's moved to reform he won't have a seat in a few months

 

[Thunder Bolt]

I get it's fun to call these types of people fascists, in a Rick from Young Ones sort of a way, but how do you respond then to actual fascism when it arrives. Your words have lost their meaning

It isn't fun.
What is your definition of fascism?

Fascism is a far-right, authoritarian, ultranationalist political ideology and movement, characterized by a dictatorial leader, centralized autocracy, militarism, forcible suppression of opposition, belief in a natural social hierarchy, subordination of individual interests for the perceived good of the nation or race, and strong regimentation of society and the economy.

 

[Simster]

Least if he's moved to reform he won't have a seat in a few months

You say that but Ashfield voted Brexit 70/30, so there are enough ignorant plums there who are too stupid to see that he's a tedious, populist, opportunist who is more concerned about his loss of income than anything else.

 

[nicko31]

I get it's fun to call these types of people fascists, in a Rick from Young Ones sort of a way, but how do you respond then to actual fascism when it arrives. Your words have lost their meaning

I don't think he is, but he certainly has admiration for those who are. Could say a pound shop fascist or a 30p one in Lee's case...

There is a few odd balls on the Tory right I'd put in the same basket

 

[Guinness Boy]

I get it's fun to call these types of people fascists, in a Rick from Young Ones sort of a way, but how do you respond then to actual fascism when it arrives. Your words have lost their meaning

It's nothing to do with Rik. The danger is real.

Fascism is a subjective thing for sure but there are some definitions and warning signs that not only apply to Reform, they apply to the current Tory Party.

If you take Eco's essay "UR-Fascism" then Reform and the Tory right certainly comply with:

A cult of tradition
Rejection of modernism
Disagreement is treason (see post Brexit rhetoric)
Fear of difference
Casting enemies as similarly too strong and too weak (Braverman and Farage both do this)
Selective populism
Newspeak (The Sun, GBeebies)

That's 7/14. They have also subverted "appeal to a frustrated middle class" to "appeal to a frustrated working class". Again, see Brexit.

They don't all wear jackboots and salute. That's the inherent danger.

 

[dazzer6666]

If it looks like a duck, swims like a duck, and quacks like a duck, then it probably is a duck.

Rubbish. You first have to check that it identifies as a duck.

 

[mejonaNO12 aka riskit]

I understand he previously voted that a change of party should automatically trigger a by-election.

The BBC asked him if this move will trigger a by-election:
"No"

 

[Hamilton]

You should see some of the other characters that the people of Ashfield vote for at elections.

In second place at the last general election, I give you Jason Zadronzy. I don’t know what they are drinking up there.

Trial of council leader Jason Zadrozny moved out of Notts

The trial is scheduled to take around four weeks from February

www.nottinghampost.com

 

[Questions]

But what if this probable duck was born in the hen house, is it then safe to call it a chicken or is it probably still a duck?

If a dog is born in a stable it don’t make it a horse
Bernard Manning 1978

 

[nicko31]

It's nothing to do with Rik. The danger is real.

Fascism is a subjective thing for sure but there are some definitions and warning signs that not only apply to Reform, they apply to the current Tory Party.

If you take Eco's essay "UR-Fascism" then Reform and the Tory right certainly comply with:

A cult of tradition
Rejection of modernism
Disagreement is treason (see post Brexit rhetoric)
Fear of difference
Casting enemies as similarly too strong and too weak (Braverman and Farage both do this)
Selective populism
Newspeak (The Sun, GBeebies)

That's 7/14. They have also subverted "appeal to a frustrated middle class" to "appeal to a frustrated working class". Again, see Brexit.

They don't all wear jackboots and salute. That's the inherent danger.

Cue that famous poster from the US Holocast Museum. Many of the signs are there is today's populist nationalists in Europe and the US.

We're experiencing fascist methods to stimulate voter bases and erode liberal democratic institutions in similar ways to those used by fascist dictators of the 1920s and 30s.

 

[JBizzle]

He's a deeply challenged individual that tapped into a very specific, imagined threat in the minds of his constituents. When pushed on ANY subject he just turns into "loud, shouty man" because he's either a) not smart enough, or b) doesn't care enough to work out a proper answer.

That said, he's an opportunist. As others said, he's likely to get in because Ashfield voted Brexit in large part because the threat of immigration, which as you can see, is a MASSIVE issue on the streets of Nottinghamshire...

 

[Hamilton]

If he gets his country back, there will be riots on the street

Anybody know what this country that he wants back looks like? Or can anyone give me a date from history that best describes the country as it was then that he wants now?

 

[bazbha]

Showing my age but back in the late 70's & early 80's we had an actual large scale Far Right/Fascist/Nazi/Racist problem. The National Front etc. This hysterical over reaction to anything to the right of the Guardian viewpoint is ridiculous. Fair enough people don't like different points of view but smearing everyone you don't agree with with these kind of labels is counter-productive. There are still some real Far-right nutters about but Reform ain't them!

 

[Stato]

After starting out in labour, via a stint with the tories, Anderson is about to join the new British fascists. Heartwarming scenes.

Mosely went Tory, Labour, Fascist, so there is a small difference. And unlike Mosely, Anderson does not have the 'breeding' (or sense of entitlement to be precise) to presume to become leader.

The question is whether Sunk's reaction will be to follow his brain (and draw the tories back to the centre) or follow his other brain and attempt to 'out-****' the facists with new ludicrous right wing policies. My money is on the latter

Thanks for mentioning Mosely. This is now going to be playing on repeat in my brain for the rest of the day.

 

[Thunder Bolt]

He's a deeply challenged individual that tapped into a very specific, imagined threat in the minds of his constituents. When pushed on ANY subject he just turns into "loud, shouty man" because he's either a) not smart enough, or b) doesn't care enough to work out a proper answer.

That said, he's an opportunist. As others said, he's likely to get in because Ashfield voted Brexit in large part because the threat of immigration, which as you can see, is a MASSIVE issue on the streets of Nottinghamshire...

View attachment 178460

Ah, but there's more to culture wars than immigrants.

Blame the parents who can't cook every meal for 30p
Blame the homosexuals and any other sexual preferences
Blame the trans who don't know what they are
Blame the workshy who are disabled, ill, or unable to qualify for skilled jobs
Blame the pensioners who are taking masses of money out of the 'benefit pot' every week
etc etc etc

 

[Nobby Cybergoat]

It isn't fun.
What is your definition of fascism?

Fascism is a far-right, authoritarian, ultranationalist political ideology and movement, characterized by a dictatorial leader, centralized autocracy, militarism, forcible suppression of opposition, belief in a natural social hierarchy, subordination of individual interests for the perceived good of the nation or race, and strong regimentation of society and the economy.

Yes, that sounds like a pretty good description of my understanding of fascism.

As much as I despise the pungent opportunism of Anderson, Tice and Farage, I just don't believe they fit this description.