Dear Jeremiah,
Should you stop to think about it, you'll realise that 'overt' forms of racism or anti-immigrant sentiment can indeed be vote winners within a certain group, and just as likely to lose votes within another. People like our Farage have realised there is little political future for them within larger, more established political groupings and so they attach themselves to the more fringe ones where they become tall poppies. It's just another verison of being the local hero. With the emphasis on local.
For the larger groups/parties, they may think one thing but have to appear to be thinking a medium-level strategy if only to be embraced by a wide range of voter - especially of the floating kind without real convictions or belief in one way or another. Hence, the problems that face all mid-road parties. Blair had some great ideas but wound up being derailed by his own side; witness, too, my own heroine Mrs T, and now David Cameron. That's politics: the business of self-preferment. And that's where the end appears: from the self-seeking actions of your own people. Which of course, is where the delightful Boris comes in: our very own Trump in a Union Jack.
"So, here you are again, looking for the last word, having flounced off just a few days ago."
That's sweet! Thank you for the vote of confidence on my youthful, athletic possibilities!
Lazarus must be your rôle model.
;-)
Rob C
