Flavs

Everyone should have their eyes on France right now and ask themselves a question: is the far right really the main threat we should be worried about? I don’t say this in defence of the coke-fuelled racist morons who masquerade as patriots whilst throwing Nazi salutes at their Antifa rivals. But politicians, particularly on the left, talk incessantly about the dangers of the far right, while seeming remarkably reluctant to confront the extremism in their own political ranks. Yet look at what’s happening on the streets of France. Look at what happens when the far left is let off the leash. It’s clear much of the radical left is fundamentally hostile to Western civilisation and the institutions that sustain it. Capitalism, free markets, private enterprise, private property - all are regarded as obstacles to be dismantled. And look at the alliances they make. The political left will march alongside groups whose values ought to be anathema to them, provided they share a common enemy. Consider the solidarity between some Greens and Islamists. Politically, they have precious little in common beyond their hostility to aspects of Western society. And in France, we see the physical manifestation of grievance politics, identity politics and the relentless division of society into oppressors and oppressed. The politics of resentment, envy and anger. So look at France and ask yourself: do we really want that kind of political anger and disorder flourishing in Britain? Because the politics of division and grievance are already deeply embedded in our own society. It’s long overdue that we had a serious debate about the values, freedoms and standards of civilised behaviour we want to preserve. We should be equally prepared to confront extremism whether it comes from the left or the right, rather than treating one as inherently more dangerous than the other. And we certainly shouldn’t wait until our own streets are burning before recognising the danger.