Similarities with Weimar

As Martin Kettle says, there exist in the UK at the moment far too many “similarities” with Weimar Germany for comfort (A new exhibition in Berlin highlights how quickly a loss of respect for democracy can end in catastrophe, 16/05/19). It does not require rocket science qualifications either   to notice the falling “out of love with parliament”, the lack of cooperation between parties, and the far right`s repeated message of “national betrayal”, or to link them with a possible surge in support for a right-wing autocracy.

It is worth mentioning, however, that Hitler`s rise initially was through democratic votes in general elections, with the Nazis becoming the biggest party in the Reichstag after the 1932 June election. It was after the November election of that year when they actually lost ground, when it was decided to  offer Hitler the chancellorship, leading to the Enabling law and the destruction of opposition parties. Divisions on the left, with the inevitable lack of viable policies to challenge the promise of a strong Germany coming from Hitler, were an important factor in the rise of fascism, and must not be repeated here. The Labour leadership has a duty to provide a united opposition to the threat from the right; if Labour  loses the support of its “remain” voters, and their votes shared around smaller parties, a really significant and dangerous  “similarity” could be created, “with terrible consequences”!