Deputy PM David Lammy accused Nigel Farage of flirting with the Hitler Youth. Sir Keir Starmer accused the Reform leader of racism. From September 1st, it was reported by Reform’s Zia Yusuf, that Farage had had his state-funded personal protection scaled back by 75%.
The term ‘stochastic terrorism‘ (or assassination, or murder) has come into common usage since Thomas Crooks shot President Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania in July 2024. In this context, ‘stochastic’ refers to the creation of a public mood or environment where something that might happen becomes more likely to occur. It was always likely that Trump would be the target of a would-be assassin, but by repeatedly identifying him as a putative fascist dictator, so the theory goes, such an assassination was made more likely. Couple that, with a B-team security detail, and the chances of a successful attack are increased all the more.
Is this what we’re seeing in the case of Nigel Farage? Whether the answer is yes or no, it’s undoubtedly true that the current Government appears to be encouraging political polarisation rather than diminishing it. Someone with a pre-existing disposition to try his hand at political assassination isn’t going to be much discouraged by recent events.
Governments have always tried to influence the public; just think of Lord Kitchener’s ‘wants you’ poster from 1914. In the 1960s, 70s and 80s there were a variety of live action and cartoon characters used to promote various good causes in government information films. However, in recent years that overt promotion seemed to largely have disappeared....<<<Read More>>>...
