The threat from the rise of far-right terrorism in Britain could be diminishing after Boris Johnson’s election victory because supporters of the ideology feel they are being listened to, according to a former head of MI5.
Lord Evans of Weardale said “alienated” voters normally vulnerable to exploitation by far-right groups such as the British National party (BNP), EDL and National Action might feel that their voices had been heard at the ballot box with the significant win for the Conservatives in December’s election.
The former MI5 director general, who led Britain’s domestic security service between 2006 and 2013, said: “Whatever you think of the outcome of the recent election in the UK, the fact that some of the legitimate concerns that were being used as a pretext by English nationalists have now been formally acknowledged at the ballot box might be a good outcome, even though it is sort of disconcerting for southern liberals.
“There was a significant alienated and disenfranchised group out there who didn’t think the system was taking any notice of them. And that’s where you need to be concerned about extremists exploiting legitimate concerns.
“Disaffected English nationalists were manifesting themselves at the extremes in things like the British National party and National Action, which fed the undertone that articulated itself as extreme right-wing terrorism.”
However, the crossbench peer warned that it remained to be seen whether potential far-right supporters would be wholly satisfied by Johnson’s administration. Guardian.
Blogger: the BNP has been a dead duck longer than I can remember; talk about 'bogeyman politics'.
Even so, when the term 'legitimate concerns' is used - and accepted in the Guardian - there has obviously been a sea change somewhere along the line.
The far left is, and always has been, a greater danger in the UK.
The far left is, and always has been, a greater danger in the UK.
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