WE live in truly chilling times.
Liz Truss goes to the US, takes part in an interview with Steve Bannon, Trump’s former chief strategist, and stays ominously silent as he called far-right yob Tommy Robinson (below) a “hero”.
And the Tories barely seem to bat an eyelid. We are mainlining fascism – and that should scare everyone.
The modern far-right’s toxic discourse, deeply intertwined with Islamophobic thought, has seeped into the right wing of mainstream politics.
This signals a worrying moral crisis within the Conservative Party which could affect us all. This ideological shift necessitates a confrontation with the Tory party’s increasingly intimate relationship with extreme right-wing ideologies, reminiscent of the dark historical precedents set by antisemitism in early 20th-century Europe.
Post-9/11, the far right has exploited Islamophobia, casting Muslims as threats to Christian civilisation, echoing the sinister antisemitic narratives of the past.
Conspiracy theories like the Great Replacement Theory, which baselessly alleges a plot to replace white populations in the West with non-white, predominantly Muslim immigrants, further fuel this rhetoric.
Leaders like Hungary’s Viktor Orban and Italy’s Giorgia Meloni have embraced these narratives, framing refugees as invaders, a sentiment echoed by a significant portion of their populations.
READ MORE: Tories told to expel Liz Truss for 'gurning along' with Steve Bannon
This rhetoric of invasion and cultural takeover has been a staple message of both the far-right and populist right, gaining traction over the past two decades. In the UK, figures like Suella Braverman and Lee Anderson have engaged in similar discourse, hinting at a broader acceptance of these far-right views within the Conservative Party.
Anderson’s comments have come perilously close to sounding like the evil Great Replacement Theory. This racist, far-right, white nationalist conspiracy theory posits that there is a deliberate plot, often attributed to elites or minority groups, to replace the white population in Western countries with non-white peoples through immigration, higher birth rates among immigrants and cultural changes.
It suggests that this alleged replacement will lead to the extinction of so-called white cultures and identities.
This racist trope – giving a modern garb to very old hatreds – has been linked to various acts of violence and terrorism around the world.
This Tory reluctance to confront Islamophobia head-on as evidenced by the defence of Anderson and the downplaying of his comments by key Conservative figures suggests a frightening reluctance to address the underlying radicalisation within the party.
Addressing Islamophobia with the seriousness it deserves would necessitate a profound introspection within the British right, challenging its foundational ideologies and exposing the uncomfortable similarities between the mainstream right, the populist right and the far right. Instead of root and branch change within Tory circles, we have inertia and obfuscation.
There have been reports of engagements between Tory politicians and far-right figures such as former chancellors Kwasi Kwarteng and Nadhim Zahawi meeting with French far-right politician Eric Zemmour in London. Zemmour is known for his controversial views and has been charged with hate speech.
The discussions during these meetings reportedly touched upon topics like migration and societal integration with Kwarteng distancing himself from Zemmour’s more extreme views. The Conservative Party’s avoidance of this issue, epitomised by ministers’ dismissive responses to accusations of Islamophobia, reflects a broader unwillingness to confront the radical elements within its ranks, prioritising political convenience over a genuine commitment to tackling hate and division.
And that should terrify us all.
Owen Thompson is MP for Midlothian and SNP chief whip at Westminster
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