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I would like to reflect on something other than the failure of British (and maybe broader politics) to reflect the views of moderate people this morning, but that is hard to do.
I have already commented on George Galloway’s win in Rochdale. I won’t repeat the comments I made there. But there is more to say.
This is most especially true because of the implicit message in this vote. Muslim people were saying that they do not want to be oppressed.
There should get nothing surprising about this message. Who would want to be oppressed? If there has been a persistent theme in politics over the last 200 or so years it has been the desire to end oppression. It was reflected in the campaign for universal suffrage. Since then it has been reflected in the rightful demand for equality and respect for differences.
Now we are backsliding on both fronts. The Tories are openly gerrymandering, restricting the rights of younger and poorer people to vote in particular using totally trumped up arguments. Labour can’t even field candidates and will not stand up for democratic reforms. No wonder we are in a mess.
And then there is backsliding on equality. Women are not being protected, as recent reports on policing make clear. There is no desire in the police to be rid of misogyny.
The whole LGBTQ+ community feels under threat, and with good reason.
Debate on anti-Semitism now has an apparent entry requirement that those partaking be Zionist and support a fascist government in Israel.
The government is fuelling racist sentiment via its immigration policy.
Anti-Islamic feeling is rife amongst Tories.
And meanwhile, Labour and Tories alike appear all too happy to crack down on demonstrations and the right to free speech when the measures available (excepting, perhaps, in the immediate vicinity of MP’s homes where their families, friends and neighbours do need protection) are more than adequate to deal with any risks, and are already draconian in far too many cases.
All this is about the fostering of extremism, not least by our mainstream political parties, who seem to be far too willing to adopt intolerant positions.
Most moderate people welcome people, whoever they are.
They understand differences and the need to respect them.
They abhor discrimination because there has been the most incredible change in mindsets in my lifetime.
They hate fascism and those who promote it, because they know the harm it causes.
They also loathe corruption.
And they will not stand aside and tolerate genocide.
They want action on climate change, nit denial.
They want politicians who stand up for ethical positions, and very rarely are they ever extreme ones. Aristotle understood that long ago. Innately we all do. But it seems that too many of our politicians do not as they move increasingly rapidly towards extreme positions that alienate the moderate majority of the UK, whose tolerance is being abused.
What do we do about this?
First, and foremost, we talk about it.
And we tell all our politicians that take these positions that they are wrong.
That, is where we start.
And then we need the new vision to replace that of all the extremists. And talking about it is the only way to do that.
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