One thing that absolutely gets on my nerves is the cliche that says Brexiters are "fascists".
It's so absurd , but let's get on with it :
1. Fascists like secret police forces and paramilitary forces derived from party members.
The 70 year old blue rinsed brigade led by Barbara and Mavis as (knitting needle waving) storm troopers? The disgusted of Tunbridge Wells, whose most serendipitous act is writing a stiff letter to the telegraph after a gin and tonic or a brandy and a cigar?
2. Fascists like a nationalised industrial corporatist form of economy and thus bureaucrat heaven.
Brexiters are in favour of a market economy.
3. Fascists will use the majority religion of a country as a prop
Church of England?!
4. Fascists are anti democratic.
Brexit is about the principle of restoring parliamentary democracy.
5. Fascists like a strongman as the leader
Farage or Boris aren't Franco and Mussolini . Laurel and Hardy maybe.
6. Fascists are antisemitic
Again I've not seen that being reported. Left wing Labour by contrast ?
7 . Fascists are in favour of state planning and autarky
Brexiters are liberal free market, global free trade
8.Fascists hate minorities and immigrants
By contrast Brexiters have said they are against uncontrolled, unlimited immigration i.e. freedom of movement , which incidentally restricts employment prospects for non European countries. No-one is calling for expulsion or concentration camps for British citizens who are with ethnic minorities, EU citizens arent going to be expelled, but Brexit politicians are calling for an immigration system based on economic need and cohesion.
9. war and violence are fascists hallmarks
Which pro EU politician invaded Iraq?
10. Fascists are nationalist xenophobic like Brexiters
By this logic Scotland has a fascist government , even though it has left wing social and economic ideas (see point 2, above). In actual fact there is a canyon between patriotism , nationalism and xenophobia , isolationism. You can love one's country without vilifying anyone else's. You can enjoy real ale, but enjoy Guinness. You can love Europe without having to insist it or the UK belong in a tower of Babel super state.
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