This page was created for the participants in one of our Climate Conversations. Responses are edited for clarity and anonymity. They represent the personal feelings and opinion of participants around that topic. They are not intended to be used as a source of factual information, they are not fact-checked and there may be errors and inaccuracies.
This conversation took place shortly after a large far-right protest in took place in London.
How do you feel about the rise of the far-right?
“Yes, it’s hard”
“It’s hard to put into words”
“It’s hard to hear Trump framing the far-right as wanting to cut crime and violence, and blaming the radical left. He’s not being called out on it”
“I’m pondering what the BBC said about the march. They didn’t call the march far-right, although the organisers are. Maybe some people went along with it. As Trump says, he loves the uneducated”
The leadership are certainly climate change deniers. Some Reform voters are concerned about climate change. Maybe they are ‘don’t knows’ or don’t cares’.
“I’m worried it’ll get even nastier as people have to move around the world to escape climate change”
“In terms of being personally affected, me and my family suffered racism in the 80s because of our colour, and I worry we’ll go back to that. I might be alright in Manchester, but it’s whiter where my mum lives”
“One good thing, maybe, is there may be a new party to the right of Reform that splits the vote?”
“It’s hard to have anything to say. It’s just shit”
“It’s too hard. It’s been bubbling for a long time. In the UK the far-right is getting organised”
I feel frightened but I’m not as vulnerable as others”
“The leaders are evil. Their policies are making everyone’s life worse”
“It just seems we’re only going backwards. David Cameron “cut the Green crap”, and it’s only got so much worse. I feel like crying”
“A lot going on. I was shocked, and it was sobering to see how many people were at the march. I felt like going on the counter-march, so I did. It felt empowering. And going to work and seeing all my colleagues from all over the world, who are hard working and want to make something better”
“Before now, I’ve been trying to counteract with humour. But I was on the train and some people were talking about the march, and I didn’t know how to respond. They seemed like normal people”
“Charlie Kirk’s shooting has thrown up a lot and I feel sad about that too”
“If you get violent then the bullies win. Being calm and thinking about love and solidarity.
“Around Matlock there are lots of flags. Brits tell themselves they are the best”
“But how does it help thinking you’re superior? There’s no information in the news. Just triggering stuff all about migrants. There are five countries where it’s so bad the citizens are automatically given asylum. It’s infuriating when we aren’t told what it’s like for people living in these those countries”
What do you think or feel at the end of today’s conversation?
“I don’t feel so on my own”
“It’s really good to share”
“Talking about how bad it is helps”
“I like having a conversation that doesn’t have to come to a solution”