What explains the rise of rightwing populism in the U.K. and America?

 

Nigel Farage - Leader Reform UK

Nigel Farage might be a charlatan and black-market spiv, but he's a very good salesman. People's increasing disenchantment with Labour and Tory is likely to work to the advantage of Reform UK which is led by Nigel Farage. He once described Vladimir Putin as the one world leader that he most admired because Putin is an ultra-Russian nationalist and a hardline former KGB officer. The Russians have also donated money to far-right political parties like Front National in France now called National Rally.

Politically, Farage used to describe himself as a "Thatcherite Tory", which is what he really is. When he led UKIP, he was advised to stop describing himself as a Thatcherite because the name of Maggie Thatcher was toxic in the north of England where UKIP were hoping to pick up votes from disenchanted Labour voters.

The British were sold a pup with Brexit. Since leaving the E.U. they can hardly say that they've regained control of their borders or have got a grip on immigration. The UK does need migrant workers to fill skills gaps or to do the jobs that many people are not prepared to do. In America, around 8 million workers are illegal and are undocumented workers who work in areas like construction, food processing and agriculture. Trump has threatened to deport all of them but he's been told that this would be logistically difficult and could have serious consequences for the U.S. economy.

UKIP never had a policy of opposing migrant workers even if many people thought that it did. It believed in controlled migration. Net migration to Britain has been on the increase for a number of years but those who come here in small boats, only make up a small number. Most illegal migrants come here legally on visas and overstay when their visas expire. This gets overlooked because all the focus is on refugees crossing the English Channel in boats. Many of these claim political asylum and are successful because they fit the definition of an asylum seeker.

I've always thought that right-wing populism both in the UK and America, is to a great extent a backlash against political correctness but it also appeals to those who feel left behind, ignored, or abandoned politically, and have a pull up your drawbridge mentality. There is a very real danger that in the coming years, we're are going to see right-wing nationalist governments throughout Europe.