What's striking about the new right populism/fascism is the number of apparently middle class people who, it seems, are either involved or sympathising (if the right-wing social media/ TV channels etc, not to mention many of their activists, are anything to go by.)
15-20 years ago, right-thinking, leftish middle class types could laugh at the BNP's appeal among thicko lumpen Oldhamers/ Burnleyites/ overspill east enders in Essex etc etc. Now they're in denial as far as I can see, while the contemporary populism/ far right seems to be suceeding in dragging fascism and proto-fascism back to its middle class roots. The likes of the Southport rioters might not be middle class, although a breakdown of their makeup could prove interesting, but they're certainly not without their middle class sympathisers, just waiting for somebody like Farage to come to the rescue. This is a pattern that can be seen right across Europe, cutting right through the horrendous bureaucratic monstrosity called the EU, so beloved of many soft left and liberal types
One major reason the right wing middle classes can indulge their fascistic tendencies is, of course, through the anonymity of social media. It's a God-send for the far-right. I vaguely recall Griffin stressing the need to attract middle management types to the BNP about 20 years ago. Back then it involved sticking your neck out. Now you can just sympathise online until you judge the conditions right to make it safe to pipe up in public.
