Lib Dems laugh off 'party of posh Pimm's drinkers' jibe after taking control of councils in leafy 'Boden Belt'
The Lib Dems have laughed off suggestions that they were wooing 'Pimm's drinkers' and dominating the 'Boden Belt' after taking control of councils in leafy, traditionally Tory areas.
The party celebrated wins across swathes of the Home Counties and southern England, and became the largest party in Devon, Gloucestershire, Hertfordshire and Wiltshire.
Leader Sir Ed Davey had earlier claimed the Lib Dems were now 'the party of Middle England'.
But on yesterday's Radio 4 Today programme, the party's education spokesman, Munira Wilson, was asked about whether the Lib Dems had replaced the Tories as 'the party of the posh'.
This was a reference to a recent Spectator article which suggested they represent 'constituencies where Britain's bourgeoisie are most comfortable', adding: 'Everywhere Pimm's is served, a Lib Dem is the local MP.
'They dominate the Boden Belt. Even the Tories despair that the Lib Dems are the real 'party of the posh'.'
In response, Twickenham MP Ms Wilson said: 'We are the party that believes in integrity and respect, and the value of community. That's what Middle England is.
'You will find Liberal Democrats, yes, in the south of England; yes, in the West Country.
'But we put up a very strong showing in the north of England . . . running Reform close in Hull and East Yorkshire.'
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Spectator
an hour ago
- Spectator
Trump cannot be a fascist
The global left and their many friends in the media are insisting with increasing hysteria that Donald Trump is imposing fascism on America. Their apocalyptical narrative is as simple as it is false: President Trump has begun the transformation of the USA into a fascist state. But the feverish intensity with which this tall story is told cannot conceal its mendacity. Trump has not, as fascists do, created blackshirt hit squads to terrorise and torture opponents, nor courts to jail them without just cause. And no rational observer believes his aim is to replace political parties with a one-party cult, or democracy with dictatorship. But above all, perhaps, the story is false because, regardless of what you were taught, and are told, fascism is a far-left, not far-right, phenomenon. Whatever else he may be, the Donald is not left-wing, unless you count his mission to protect the American working class from the negative aspects of globalisation. But for the left and their intellectual minders in command of the citadels of our culture, only their truth counts. Yet the 'proof' they offer of Trump's alleged fascism is risible. It includes his highly popular crackdown on illegal immigrants and his recent deployment of troops in Los Angeles after days of often riotous demos against that crackdown. It even includes his decision to hold a military parade in Washington DC on 14th June to mark the US army's 250th anniversary, and his 79th birthday. This, apparently, was a provocative display of – to use a new left-wing buzz-word – his 'militarisation' of America. To ram home the point, there were anti-Trump demos across America 'in defence of democracy' to coincide with the parade. As one protester explained to CBS: 'We need to show there are more Americans fighting this fascism than supporting it.' Progressive intellectuals, meanwhile, queue up to leap on board the Trump's-a-fascist bandwagon. They include the left-wing playwright, Sir David Hare, who in his Spectator diary earlier this month produced a list of the '16 principal characteristics of fascism', so vague as to be meaningless. And he used the word 'fascism' to lump together Italian fascism and its hybrid German offspring, Nazism, despite one glaring difference between the two: for many years, there was nothing anti-Semitic about Italian fascism until its inventor Benito Mussolini's fatal military alliance with Adolf Hitler in the late 1930s. Between 1922 when Mussolini came to power and 1938 when he introduced anti-Semitic laws, fascism did not persecute Italy's 50,000 Jews. Many Italian Jews were fascists, as was Mussolini's main mistress for most of that period, Margherita Sarfatti. Even afterwards, fascist anti-Semitism, however shameful, was only ever half-hearted. Relatively very few Jews (8,000) were deported from fascist Italy to the Nazi death camps. Indeed, in Italian-occupied south east France, fascist officers and officials saved thousands of Jews from the Nazis and Vichy France. So it is not true, as Sir David claims, that if the Nazi genocide can be denied by apologists then 'fascism could be rehabilitated'. For a simple reason: whereas Nazism was intrinsically anti-Semitic, and only the demented can deny its responsibility for the Holocaust, fascism was not necessarily. But this does not rehabilitate it as it was reprehensible. for all sorts of other reasons. As for Trump, he is not anti-Semitic at all, unlike so many of his left-wing opponents. As for Trump, he is not anti-Semitic at all, unlike so many of his left-wing opponents Sir David's 16 characteristics of fascism which include 'attacks' and 'assaults' on the media, cultural institutions, higher education and universities, could just as easily be applied to any dictatorship left or right. They also include 'obsession' with higher birth rates and 'elevation' of the heterosexual family, but these are just as characteristic of Catholicism and communism as they are of fascism. Number 11, 'extreme nationalism', might seem to the untrained eye to be a characteristic of fascism but as George Orwell, a left-wing patriot who despised communists, especially middle-class English ones, pointed out in his 1945 essay Notes on Nationalism, Soviet Russia was as nationalist as any fascist regime. As for number 15, 'persecution of particular racial groups': which dictatorship isn't guilty of that? Yet during the often violent recent LA protests, California's Democrat Governor Gavin Newsom called Trump 'a dictator' on X, and announced ominously in a state television address: 'Other states are next. Democracy is next. Democracy is under assault before our eyes.' Yet most Americans appear to support both Trump's sealing of the southern border which has virtually stopped illegal immigrant arrivals and his tough deportation programme. More than half (54 per cent) of Americans approve the deportations, according to a CBS/YouGov poll this month. And nearly all (97 per cent), in a poll by Pew Research Centre in March, support the deportation of illegal immigrants who have also committed violent crimes, and 44 per cent even support the deportation of illegal immigrants who arrived during the four years of the Joe Biden Presidency – believed to total a staggering 10 million people. That a clear majority vote for a political leader, as they did for Trump, and then approve what he is doing, does not entirely absolve him – or them – of being a fascist. But a determination to defend the borders of one's country surely must. To do so is not an act of fascism, as the left wants us to believe, but instead both the common sensical and the patriotic thing to do. Patriotism is the antithesis of fascism, unlike nationalism. Whereas a patriot wants to defend his country, culture and way of life, a nationalist wants to impose them. But unfortunately for the left, not even nationalism is the exclusive property of the right. It is ridiculous, as the global left keeps on doing, thanks to its ignorance and dishonesty, to try and brainwash us into thinking that the founder of MAGA, Donald Trump, is a reincarnation – in a red baseball cap, instead of a black fez – of the inventor of fascism, Benito Mussolini. Fascism was one side of the left-wing revolutionary coin; communism the other. The cult of woke which – unelected – has taken command of the vital organs of our society and culture is much more reminiscent of fascism than democratically elected Trump who epitomises the spirit of free enterprise. A quick look at Italian fascism and what it actually was, shows just how ridiculous it is to call Trump a fascist. Mussolini, the rising star of revolutionary socialism in Italy and editor of its party newspaper Avanti!, founded the fascist movement in 1919 as a left-wing revolutionary alternative to socialism. The first world war had forced him to accept that people are more loyal to country than class. He thus replaced the sacred Marxist creed of international socialism with national socialism which he called fascism. While the fascists did not abolish private property, they did set up the Corporate State – the so-called Third Way – by which the State jointly managed each major sector of the economy. The fascist class war was not between rich and poor but parasites and producers. The fascist state dominates the life of the individual both at work and outside Mussolini desired a totalitarian dictatorship with everything inside the state – nothing outside – not even the minds of the masses. To make this work, fascism had to become a religious cult complete with a nationwide congregation of the faithful, and led by the Duce, who would be, if not its Messiah, at least its Pope. Faith was Mussolini's watchword, and his bible was La Psychologie des Foules by Gustave Le Bon rather than Marx's Communist Manifesto. The 20th century would be the era of the crowd, wrote Le Bon, the sub-conscious crowd, irrational and tyrannical but impotent, unless led by a charismatic dictator in whom it had faith. The 1932 Dottrina del Fascismo, the nearest thing to a fascist manifesto, says: 'The fascist conception of life is a religious one' that aims to create 'a spiritual society'. Fascism 'accepts the individual only in so far as his interests coincide with those of the state.' The state is 'all embracing; outside of it no human or spiritual values can exist… Thus understood, fascism, is totalitarian.' In each town, the fascists built the party headquarters in the main piazza, complete with a belltower to summon the faithful, often opposite a real church – and always uneasily. Despite making temporal peace with the Vatican in 1929, fascism remained a rival of the Catholic Church in the battle for control of the minds, if not the souls, of Italians. But the Duce was not Jesus, nor even Pope. All this made fascism completely different from the Anglo-American, conservative 'bourgeois' right of which Trump is a part. As did its credo that the state is the solution, not the problem, whereas for conservatives the opposite is the case. The fascist state dominates the life of the individual both at work and outside. In the end, Mussolini helped cause catastrophic damage to Italy and Europe. But throughout the 1920s, and much of the 1930s, fascism was hugely admired across the political divide, even by legendary left-wing icons such as Mahatma Gandhi and Franklin Delano Roosevelt. But the communist left and their fellow travellers in the West became desperate to distance themselves from their fascist sibling, especially after the devastation of the second world war, above all caused by the Nazi version of fascism. Their relentless propaganda successfully branded fascism as the paid creature and agent of capitalism – and thus 'far right'. In reality, it never was. To the bitter end, Mussolini remained a socialist at heart. He even called the puppet regime the Germans allowed him to run in the north of Italy from 1943-45 the Repubblica Sociale Italiana. In April 1945, when communist partisans executed him and his mistress Clara Petacci after their capture at Lake Como, those with him included his old friend Nicola Bombacci, a founder of the Italian communist party and once a member of the Soviet Comintern, who had become his closest adviser. Bombacci's last words before a firing squad shot him dead by the lake were: 'Viva Mussolini! Viva il socialismo!' I'd love to ask Trump's accusers: 'Given the facts, how can you sit there and tell us the Donald is the Duce, let alone the Führer? Surely you on left are a far closer fit, aren't you?'
The Herald Scotland
2 hours ago
- The Herald Scotland
Police drop Kneecap 'kill your local MP' probe ahead of Glasgow gig
It has now been confirmed by the Metropolitan Police that the band will face no charges over these chants, but despite suggestions that the terrorism charge against Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh over allegedly waving a Hezbollah flag was also dropped, the force have confirmed that is a separate matter. Thousands gathered outside a court in London earlier this month when the 27-year-old appeared to face that charge. He was released on unconditional bail until his next hearing on August 20, which will continue to go ahead. But the trio will face no action over the 'kill your local MP' chants after an investigation concluded that too much time had lapsed before the videos were brought to police attention and a number of offences had been considered. A statement from the Met Police said: "A thorough investigation has now been completed by detectives from the Counter Terrorism Command, which included interviewing an individual under caution and seeking early investigative advice from the Crown Prosecution Service. "A range of offences were considered as part of the investigation. "However, given the time elapsed between the events in the video and the video being brought to police attention, any potential summary only offences were beyond the statutory time limit for prosecution. "Relevant indictable offences were considered by the investigation team and, based on all of the current evidence available, a decision has been made that no further action will be taken at this time." Kneecap are due to play in Glasgow on Tuesday, July 8 at the O2 Academy after they were dropped from the lineup at TRNSMT following the release of these videos. First Minister John Swinney was among those who called for them to be dropped. The band appeared at Glastonbury on Saturday, with their performance not shown on BBC. The band aimed jibes at the BBC during their set, while also taking a dig at Rod Stewart after the singer had called for people to vote Reform.
The National
2 hours ago
- The National
Met police drop second terror charge against Kneecap
Footage of the group at a November 2023 gig emerged online in April, where it appeared to show one member of the Irish rap trio saying: 'The only good Tory is a dead Tory. Kill your local MP.' The charge dropped by the Met Police is separate from the ongoing case against Liam Og O hAnnaidh where he has been accused of allegedly displaying a flag in support of the proscribed terrorist organisation Hezbollah. In April, the Met Police said they were investigating the incident along with footage reportedly from a gig a year later in London's Kentish Town Forum. READ MORE: Glastonbury Festival organisers respond after Bob Vylan's Israeli military chants The force has now confirmed that its investigation into the video footage from the November 2023 performance has been completed and no charges will be made against the band due to the statutory time limit for prosecution expiring. In a statement, a Metropolitan Police spokesperson added that detectives interviewed an individual under caution but based on current evidence available, a decision has been made that no further action will be taken. The statement read: 'A thorough investigation has now been completed by detectives from the Counter Terrorism Command, which included interviewing an individual under caution and seeking early investigative advice from the Crown Prosecution Service. 'A range of offences were considered as part of the investigation. However, given the time elapsed between the events in the video and the video being brought to police attention, any potential summary only offences were beyond the statutory time limit for prosecution. (Image:) 'Relevant indictable offences were considered by the investigation team and, based on all of the current evidence available, a decision has been made that no further action will be taken at this time.' MP David Amess was killed at a constituency surgery in 2021, and Labour MP Jo Cox was fatally shot and stabbed in June 2016. Kneecap has since apologised for the comments as they said in a statement: 'To the Amess and Cox families, we send our heartfelt apologies, we never intended to cause you hurt.' Kneecap, made up of O hAnnaidh, Naoise O Caireallain and JJ O Dochartaigh, have said they are facing a 'co-ordinated smear campaign' after speaking out about "the ongoing genocide against the Palestinian people". In a statement, Kneecap said: 'Let us be unequivocal: we do not, and have never, supported Hamas or Hezbollah. We condemn all attacks on civilians, always. It is never okay. We know this more than anyone, given our nation's history. 'We also reject any suggestion that we would seek to incite violence against any MP or individual. Ever. An extract of footage, deliberately taken out of all context, is now being exploited and weaponised, as if it were a call to action.' O hAnnaidh, 27, is facing a separate charge where he has been accused of allegedly displaying a flag in support of the proscribed terrorist organisation Hezbollah, while saying 'up Hamas, up Hezbollah' at a gig in November last year. Last week, the rapper, who performs under the stage name Mo Chara, was cheered by hundreds of supporters as he arrived with bandmates Naoise O Caireallain and JJ O Dochartaigh at Westminster Magistrates' Court in Free Mo Chara T-shirts. He was released on unconditional bail until his next hearing at the same court on August 20.
