British elections dismay establishment leftists: Voters turning conservative all over Europe

American Thinker ^ | 05/24/2014 | Thomas Lifson

[SeekAndFind]

All over Europe, voters are turning in a conservative direction, and against the autocratic European Union and its big government enablers. New York Times reporters Steven Erlanger and Stephen Castle write a dripping-with-disdain account of local election results in the UK, which will be followed tomorrow by results for the European Parliament. To them, conservatgives are “right wingers” or “far-right” and those who object to EU takeover of sovereignty are “anti-Europe.”

Voters in Britain sent a forceful message of discontent to established political parties on Friday, as returns from local elections showed an even stronger following than expected for the anti-European Union, anti-immigration United Kingdom Independence Party.

The results had an immediate impact across the political spectrum, hurting the Labour Party as well as the partners in the governing coalition, the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats. The outcome is likely to increase the pressure on Prime Minister David Cameron to take an even harder line on reducing the powers of the European Union.

The local vote is expected to presage another strong showing for the Independence Party in elections for the European Parliament when those votes are counted late on Sunday. Some opinion polls showed the party with slightly more support than the other parties in the European voting, which took place on Thursday, the same day as the local balloting.

A larger trend is taking hold across Europe:

[Beowulf9]

This is sweet!

[Daveinyork]

What passes for conservatives in Europe are usually not free-market individual freedom believers as is often the case in the US. They are usually ultra-nationalist, big government fascists.

[molson209]

feed the people Gruel 3 times a day and guess what

[dadfly]

the establishment is beginning to crack in the EUSSR. good job UKIP.

[samtheman]

Unfortunately there is a rock-solid critical mass of government-tit-sucklers in Europe, the UK... and sadly here too.

This rock-solid critical mass of “recipients” puts severe limits on any possible reforms.

[Corporate Democrat]

I guess it depends on your definition of conservative. If you consider Christian nationalist, anti-EU, anti-Islam and anti-immigration (for third worlders) people conservative, then I guess they are conservative. These positions definitely appeal to many FReepers.

But on everything else they are as socialistic and big government as the pro-EU types.

[Regulator]

If you think they’re dismayed now, wait till Farage gets his program going

[98ZJ USMC]

Unfortunately there is a rock-solid critical mass of government-tit-sucklers in Europe, the UK... and sadly here too.

This rock-solid critical mass of “recipients” puts severe limits on any possible reforms.

Ex-actly. This is why the left seems to be so bold now. Even though many, many of them see the problem, they don't want to lose their tit. The unfortunate consequence of reform will be pain. It cannot be avoided and those that cause it will face another backlash because people are people.

The trick, was avoiding this situation in the first place. Moot, now.

[Regulator]

“Christian nationalist, anti-EU, anti-Islam, anti-immigration”

It’s a start!

All the other stuff will fall in line with this

[Forward the Light Brigade]

Europe gives us Hope! Let us pray it will lead the europeans to a new glory—a new wave of freedom and not follow a fascist path.

[SharpRightTurn]

BTTT

[sinsofsolarempirefan]

UKIP don’t fit that profile.

[samtheman]

The trick, was avoiding this situation in the first place.

People spoke up in the 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s... but the vast majority were oblivious.

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks SeekAndFind.

Voters in Britain sent a forceful message of discontent to established political parties on Friday, as returns from local elections showed an even stronger following than expected for the anti-European Union, anti-immigration United Kingdom Independence Party. The results had an immediate impact across the political spectrum, hurting the Labour Party as well as the partners in the governing coalition, the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats.

[NoCmpromiz]

Well, you made some news over here at least...

[moose07]

“...made news over here..”

Hee,Hee,Hee, Tea Party on.... Boston Part 2. :)

[PapaBear3625]

What passes for conservatives in Europe are usually not free-market individual freedom believers as is often the case in the US. They are usually ultra-nationalist, big government fascists.

Whatever. As long as they expel the Muslims, Europe can survive.

[PapaBear3625]

The results had an immediate impact across the political spectrum, hurting the Labour Party as well as the partners in the governing coalition, the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats.

I'm really waiting to see the results of the EU elections tonight.

[rmlew]

Actually, there is a large spectrum on the right. On the national issue, there are : Liberals/Libertarians
Civic Nationalists/Liberal nationalists, who hold that anyone can be a loyal citizen if they are a loyal citizen.
Cultural Nationalists , who demand a common culture.
Ethno-nationalists, who look to a shared ethnic and cultural heritage.
Pan-nationalists who look beyond simply ethno-nationalism towards real or imagined shared histories. Two of the best known examples would be the Slavophiles in Russia and Nazis in Germany. I don't consider these to be nationalits at all, since they have no loyalty to the nation and don't consider it their patria.

On economics, there are free marketers, protectionists, paternalists, and even socialists.

The term "right" is therefor almost meaningless.

UKIP is a Civic Nationalist party, that is sometimes perceived as a cultural nationalist party. For a real cultural nationalist party in the UK, I would suggest you see Liberty GB. Both are free market. The British Nationalist Party is an ethno-nationalist party, which is protectionists and socialist.