/// Fascism: ///
/// The American author Laurence Britt defined 10 characteristics of fascist regimes (you can see a copy of his article here). I'll list the 10 characteristics and compare with Britain First policies and strategies. ///
/// 1. Powerful and Continuing Nationalism - Britain First make constant use of patriotic mottoes, slogans, symbols and other paraphernalia. Flags are seen everywhere, as are flag symbols on clothing and in public displays. ///
Can that be enough to call them fascist scum?
/// 2. Disdain for the importance of human rights - One of Britain First's most common complaints is against the European Human Rights Act. ///
And haven't most of us complained also?
/// 3. Identification of Enemies/Scapegoats as a Unifying Cause - Britain First rally people into a unifying patriotic frenzy over the need to eliminate a perceived common threat or foe: racial, ethnic or religious minorities; liberals; communists; socialists, terrorists, etc. ///
Surely it is in the interests of most to eliminate a threat?
/// 4. The supremacy of the military/avid militarism - Britain First constantly intersperse their posts with posts designed to glorify the military (often in order to sell their own merchandise or convince people to sign up to their organisation). ///
Does not a true patriot glorify it's military?
/// 5. Rampant sexism - Britain First's founder Jim Dowson is strongly opposed to women's reproductive rights. This subject is never mentioned on the Britain First page because it would interfere with their populist appeal. ///
This is just the views of one particular member, the reason that Britain First do not mention it, is because they do not agree with such views, no matter who said it?
/// 6. Controlled Mass Media - Thankfully Britain First haven't got to the stage where they can exert any control over the media, however their policy of ruthlessly censoring dissenting opinion on their Facebook page indicates their contempt for freedom of speech and their desire to control the spread of information. ///
They are not alone in this, the whole of the media are guilty of such practices when the need arises.
/// 7. Obsession with national security - Britain First are always harping on about threats to national security in order to whip up fear amongst their followers. ///
Perhaps not just their followers, but to the establishment, after all some need waking up to what is going of.
/// 8. Religion and ruling elite tied together - Fortunately Britain First are not part of the ruling elite, but it is absolutely clear that they see religion as an integral part of their political mission. Here's a quote from their statement of principles: "Britain First is committed to maintaining and strengthening Christianity as the foundation of our society and culture". ///
Can that be all bad?
/// 9. Corporate Power is Protected - Britain First like to present themselves as an alternative to globalisation, however their dalliance with the neoliberal Tea Party fringe in the US show that they have more in common with hardline neoliberals than they like to let on. Another indicator that they are no opponents of globalisation is the way they use their Facebook page and website to propagandise for Cadbury's, which was once a British company, but is now owned by the American multinational giant Kraft. ///
Who doesn't like a nice bar of Cadbury's chocolate, no matter who owns it?
/// 10. Power of labour suppressed or eliminated - Britain First make a big deal out of opposing socialism and trade unions as enemy ideologies and they also use their Facebook page to attack the minimum
wage. ///
And what true blooded Tory don't think the same? Regarding the minimum wage it has advantages but also disadvantages.
No nothing there in my opinion so as to define them as Fascist scum.