April 16, 2015: How can the European left deal with the threat posed by xenophobia?

Glyn Ford was a Labour Member of the European Parliament (1984-2009) who Chaired the EP’s Committee of Inquiry into the Growth of Racism and Fascism in Europe, was the Rapporteur for the 2nd Committee of Inquiry into Racism and Xenophobia and served as the EP’s representative on the Council of Ministers Consultative Committee into Racism and Xenophobia. He was National Treasurer of the Anti-Nazi League and is a member of the Steering Committee of Unite Against Fascism and their European Officer.

“How can the European left deal with the threat posed by the xenophobia?”

There is a rising tide of Racism and Xenophobia sweeping across the EU, whose electoral face range across from the Fascist Right (Golden Dawn) and Fascist ‘Lite’ (Le Pen’s Front National) onto the Right Populists of Britain’s UKIP. Its public face is mainly, but not exclusively, urban as the horrors of terrorist attacks are utilised to promote islamophobia, spiralling on to anti- semitism and the promotion of racial and religious hatred. Who are these people, who supports them and how can they be combatted?