A weekend of hope

In France the far right National Rally is projected to come third in the second round of the parliamentary elections. A nation has rejected hatred and bigotry. The extraordinary gamble of President Macron (aka "Jupiter") appears to have paid off 🇫🇷

Britain's new government has formally cancelled the cruel and b*****t policy of deporting asylum seekers to Rwanda. Not a single migrant was deported agsinst their will, but around £300 million may have been wasted on the scheme. The new Prisons minister is James Timpson, CEO of a shoe repair chain that is renowned for employing ex-offenders. Policy will shift from punishment to rehabilitation 🇬🇧

For the first time in years I am genuinely optimistic for the future.

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Burnley123 · 41-45, M

It looks like the left alliance will win the most seats but not a majority.

SunshineGirl · 36-40, F

@Burnley123 The main thing is that there will be a majority anti-fascist bloc in parliament. The effort and cooperation to turn around last weekend's result is extraordinary.

Elessar · 31-35, M

@Burnley123 Still much better than the outcome the polls had projected

MartinII · 70-79, M

@SunshineGirl Steady on. There's nothing fascist about the Rassemblement National, and the left-wing coalition is led by a hard left anti-semite. And while the co-operation you describe certainly seems to have been remarkable, it has also arguably been disgraceful - and possibly, in the long run, counter-productive.

Elessar · 31-35, M

@MartinII Saying there's nothing fascist about RN is like saying there's nothing fascist about the Movimento Sociale Italiano, considering that's the very party they took inspirations and symbology out of.

Besides, last thing we need is yet another Putin lackey.

MartinII · 70-79, M

@Elessar I don't know much about the MSI, but I challenge you to name a single plank of the RN's programme which could remotely be considered fascist. Fascism has a very specific meaning, denoting a totalitarian and undemocratic form of government. Using it indiscriminately to describe any right-wing person or organisation you happen to disagree with is both offensive and dangerous.