The 92-year-old Tory grandee’s comparison of Reform UK to 1930s fascists isn’t hyperbole - it’s a warning from someone who knows what happens when democracies ignore the danger until it’s too late.
This is a brilliant piece. His analysis is so right. Is it so difficult for the Tories to retain values and make a far improved response to Farage/ The Greens, Plaid, SNP and Lib Dems are more likely to, but while the aggression, distortion, lies etc continue, both Labour and Conservatives must challenge Farage. And not forget there are a lot of us who have followed Farage's so called 'career' and want him gone. We will never forgive him for humiliating us as an MEP and for BREXIT-but he gets worse each day.
Spot on. We must challenge the likes of farage, and we need some mechanism to bring lying, self-centred politicians to account. Unfortunately, I can’t see how we are going to pull out our slide to right wing authoritarianism while our media is dominated by the right wing.
Hestletine speaks from many years of experience and the Conservatives, Kemi Badenoch, need to listen to him and take heed of what he says before it's too late. Not everyone that comes into the UK is illegal, there are many good foreigners.
Thank you for an informed and informative article. I have never shared Michael Heseltine's politics (although owe him a debt of gratitude for both his initiation of Thatcher's fall, and his unswerving support for the European cause) but he should definitely be listened to. We should all realise that it is impossible as well as deeply undesirable to out-right the far right Reform. Badenoch seems to think that she can, and the Labour government are perilously close to taking the same route.
Well said. I must admit, I would never vote for his party, but Lord Heseltine is always worth listening to (the one and only tory worth a damn). Pity he is a tory, really. By the way, in addition to his part in thatcher’s downfall and his support for the European movement, he has done something positive environmentally by planting thousands of trees on his estate. Worth a visit on one of the few days each year that it is open to the public.
Thank you James for this important comment. I would have missed Lord Heseltine's remarks otherwise not watching the TV nowadays, avoiding most journalism and in declining health, so I takes this opportunity to stand with anyone opposing the farrago that is reform(sic) and thank you and everyone else for all you have done, are doing and will do to counter the fascist threat.
Excellent piece. Thank goodness the Labour Party have tentatively started a 'fight back'. This they should have been doing from last July. Starmer is the worst Labour PM in my long lifetime and Mahmood the worst Home Sec. I really hope that come next May circumstances will force a change of leadership and direction.
I've asked this question before, but why is your clear and brilliant argument never aired on British television? I get my news from the BBC (I live in DlSpain) and I never hear this side of the coin being mentioned, let alone argued.
Britain desperately needs to hear your voice loud and clear!
Hestletine is right.Hitler convinced gullible people that Jewish people were to blame for all the problems in pre war Germany. Look how that ended. Farage is very dangerous
Well expressed and insightful article. Sometimes the silent majority needs to step forward and be counted. I’m no conservative but always had considerable respect for Heseltine.
The Fascist leaders of the 1930's who gained power in Italy and Germany wore suits until they attained power, that was when the uniform wearing of the leadership (first Mussolini then Hitler) began. Once they had attained full authoritarian control over their respective countries did they begin to silence dissent, changing the law to allow them full power to round up "undesirables" (their opposition as well as Jews, blacks, gypsies etc) and lock them up without trial before killing every dissenting voice.
They came for the politicians and I said nothing because I wasn't a politician.
Then they came for the Jews but I said nothing because I wasn't a Jew.
Then they came for the blacks and still I said nothing because I wasn't black.
Then they came for the gypsies and I still said nothing because I wasn't a gypsy.
Today they came for the civil servants but there was no one left to speak out against them.
Everyone need to listen to Lord Michael Heseltine and take heed of what he says before it's too late. The dangers posed by Farage and Reform are only too real.
please listen to Heseltine. Farage , for example, says Afghanis will be sent back to their coutry whilst there are young children dying of starvation there due to the ghastly group running their country.Farage is , in my opinion, very very unintelligent.
Both James Patrick’s article and Lord Heseltine’s speech echo my own thoughts and fears. For anyone who doubts the veracity of the comparison between tactics of reform and the fascists in 1930s Germany, I recommend a visit to the Topography of Terror museum in Berlin. Truly terrifying.
Also a visit to the History of Germany museum, also in Berlin. They have a room which shows how the haulocaust happened.We were very surprised at this honesty
This is a brilliant piece. His analysis is so right. Is it so difficult for the Tories to retain values and make a far improved response to Farage/ The Greens, Plaid, SNP and Lib Dems are more likely to, but while the aggression, distortion, lies etc continue, both Labour and Conservatives must challenge Farage. And not forget there are a lot of us who have followed Farage's so called 'career' and want him gone. We will never forgive him for humiliating us as an MEP and for BREXIT-but he gets worse each day.
Spot on. We must challenge the likes of farage, and we need some mechanism to bring lying, self-centred politicians to account. Unfortunately, I can’t see how we are going to pull out our slide to right wing authoritarianism while our media is dominated by the right wing.
Hestletine speaks from many years of experience and the Conservatives, Kemi Badenoch, need to listen to him and take heed of what he says before it's too late. Not everyone that comes into the UK is illegal, there are many good foreigners.
Listen to him Kemi.
I totally agree
Thank you
She won't. She'a different kind of politician.
I hope she does
She'll wait and see which way the wind is blowing at the appropriate time. She's nothing if not a blatant opportunist.
This is the voice of wisdom. People need to take heed.
Old fashioned responsible one nation Conservative, unlike the far right self seeking mob they are today
Thank you for an informed and informative article. I have never shared Michael Heseltine's politics (although owe him a debt of gratitude for both his initiation of Thatcher's fall, and his unswerving support for the European cause) but he should definitely be listened to. We should all realise that it is impossible as well as deeply undesirable to out-right the far right Reform. Badenoch seems to think that she can, and the Labour government are perilously close to taking the same route.
Well said. I must admit, I would never vote for his party, but Lord Heseltine is always worth listening to (the one and only tory worth a damn). Pity he is a tory, really. By the way, in addition to his part in thatcher’s downfall and his support for the European movement, he has done something positive environmentally by planting thousands of trees on his estate. Worth a visit on one of the few days each year that it is open to the public.
Thank you James for this important comment. I would have missed Lord Heseltine's remarks otherwise not watching the TV nowadays, avoiding most journalism and in declining health, so I takes this opportunity to stand with anyone opposing the farrago that is reform(sic) and thank you and everyone else for all you have done, are doing and will do to counter the fascist threat.
Excellent piece. Thank goodness the Labour Party have tentatively started a 'fight back'. This they should have been doing from last July. Starmer is the worst Labour PM in my long lifetime and Mahmood the worst Home Sec. I really hope that come next May circumstances will force a change of leadership and direction.
I've asked this question before, but why is your clear and brilliant argument never aired on British television? I get my news from the BBC (I live in DlSpain) and I never hear this side of the coin being mentioned, let alone argued.
Britain desperately needs to hear your voice loud and clear!
Michael Heseltine is also pro-European and talks a lot of sense. We ignore this wisdom at our peril.
Hestletine is right.Hitler convinced gullible people that Jewish people were to blame for all the problems in pre war Germany. Look how that ended. Farage is very dangerous
Well expressed and insightful article. Sometimes the silent majority needs to step forward and be counted. I’m no conservative but always had considerable respect for Heseltine.
The Fascist leaders of the 1930's who gained power in Italy and Germany wore suits until they attained power, that was when the uniform wearing of the leadership (first Mussolini then Hitler) began. Once they had attained full authoritarian control over their respective countries did they begin to silence dissent, changing the law to allow them full power to round up "undesirables" (their opposition as well as Jews, blacks, gypsies etc) and lock them up without trial before killing every dissenting voice.
They came for the politicians and I said nothing because I wasn't a politician.
Then they came for the Jews but I said nothing because I wasn't a Jew.
Then they came for the blacks and still I said nothing because I wasn't black.
Then they came for the gypsies and I still said nothing because I wasn't a gypsy.
Today they came for the civil servants but there was no one left to speak out against them.
Always worth listening to MH, one of the few true public servant/ politicians of any party left!
Everyone need to listen to Lord Michael Heseltine and take heed of what he says before it's too late. The dangers posed by Farage and Reform are only too real.
Heseltine always someone to listen to
please listen to Heseltine. Farage , for example, says Afghanis will be sent back to their coutry whilst there are young children dying of starvation there due to the ghastly group running their country.Farage is , in my opinion, very very unintelligent.
Both James Patrick’s article and Lord Heseltine’s speech echo my own thoughts and fears. For anyone who doubts the veracity of the comparison between tactics of reform and the fascists in 1930s Germany, I recommend a visit to the Topography of Terror museum in Berlin. Truly terrifying.
Also a visit to the History of Germany museum, also in Berlin. They have a room which shows how the haulocaust happened.We were very surprised at this honesty
Thank you, we’ll visit next time we are in Berlin. I too was surprised by the honesty about that terrible time.