Tim Lott (If leftwingers like me are condemned as rightwing, then what’s left? 11 March) will have struck a chord with many on the left and echoes issues raised by Nick Cohen in his book ‘What’ s Left?’. Self-censorship is happening more and more for fear of offending against the prevailing orthodoxy, which is rigidly intolerant of any deviation from the “correct” leftwing position. I believe in social justice and a tolerant, compassionate and caring society. I am appalled by the huge, and growing, gap between rich and poor. I campaign to save the NHS from privatisation and believe that a civilised society needs good public services. I also believe in free speech, drawing the line only at incitement to violence.
But I have become increasingly alarmed that many on the liberal-left are in the increasingly absurd position of being apologists for some very illiberal groups and ideas. Anyone who questions this contradiction risks being branded racist, although it is not race that is the issue, but ideology. They see the bad things about western democracy but never acknowledge the good, and they are in denial about the responsibility for terrible atrocities, blaming anyone but the perpetrators. With the rise of Islamic State, the world is facing a danger not seen since the 1930s and the rise of fascism. As Tim Lott says, you don’t have to be a flag-waving Little Englander to know that, with all its faults, this country is one of the most tolerant and free in the world. We must not, of course, be complacent and there is much to criticise, but we should also not be ashamed to take some pride in the achievements of western democracy.
Nigel Farage is a convenient pantomime villain, providing an easy, safe target for the self-righteous who direct all their bile towards him while ignoring far more dangerous elements. How brave! I hasten to say I am no admirer of Ukip, but it is a legal party in a democracy and has a right to express its opinions, however much many of us may disagree with them. And, to my knowledge, they have never threatened to kill anyone who offends them. I know of people who are so disillusioned with the neoliberal left that they are turning towards the right. But I believe we should reclaim the left and work together to fight injustice and evil wherever we find it.
Jill Rooney
Ashtead, Surrey
