What in a political party name? April 16, 2024
Posted by WorldbyStorm in Uncategorized.trackback
I see the Reform Party UK has complained about the BBC using the term ‘far-right’ in relation to it. Notable is the fact that Wiki uses the term ‘right-wing populist’. And almost needless to say there’s an Irish connection, for:
In March 2024, the party formed an electoral pact with the Traditional Unionist Voice (TUV), in which the two parties would stand mutually agreed candidates within Northern Ireland.[74]
The Reform leader suggested:
Tice said: “There are very significant implications of calling a political party, and by implication, its leader and senior leadership team far right. It is that which is defamatory and libellous. That is why they have apologised immediately.” He also said he expected the BBC to change its editorial guidelines.
Tice said the label of being “far right” would have “huge implications”, if other media outlets used it and suggested that he and others could lose their bank accounts or the ability to get a mortgage. He said his lawyers had also been in touch with other organisations.
Here’s a colour piece from the Guardian on Reform from February. I’ve been trying to see if it has representative structures – anyone know?
The Cedar Lounge Revolution 
ooops: https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/politics/jim-allister-presents-united-front-with-jamie-bryson-as-tuv-plays-down-election-comments/a468574213.html
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I’ve never seen any similar sensitivity with the label ‘far left’ – often applied to people who are basically social democrats.
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Shame the BBC caved. Apart from anything else the term “far Right” usefully conveys the information that they’re further to the Right than the Tories, which you’d think the public have a right to know…!
It reminds me of people in the Labour Party who have a fit of the vapours if it’s suggested they’re on the Right – “aren’t we all on the Left?”. (Wes Streeting, of all people, did the “how very dare you call me a right-winger” thing to me on Twitter once, even listing various left-wing causes he’d supported.) Again, the designation mainly conveys that they’re to the Right of other party members, which – again – seems like useful information.
Curious how toxic ‘Right’ seems to be, particularly considering who’s been running the UK since 2010.
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