I wonder if Gordon Brown is wise to use the kneejerk descriptor “neofascist” for the rise of ugly rightist politics in Europe (Spain’s election is a key battle in the Europe-wide struggle against neofascism, 14 July). In terms of attacks on women, on the poor and on unions, or the home secretary referring to “vulnerable white English girls … being pursued and raped and drugged … by gangs of British Pakistani men”, English politics is as ugly as Vox is in Spain.
So far, when holding government office, the hard right on the continent differs little from what we have seen in Britain in recent years – and, if anything, is not as obsessed with leaving the EU in the manner of Ukip, the BNP, many Tories and much of our press.
“Neofascist” is an off-the-shelf descriptor which does not explain why so many left-behind workers, and voters not obsessed with identity politics, choose to vote for new protest parties. Centre-left parties also have to ask themselves why, since 2010, they have been so good at writing opinion pieces and so bad at wining elections.
Dr Denis MacShane
Former Europe minister
• Gordon Brown’s article has a clear message for Labour in the UK. The socialist (PSOE) premier, Pedro Sánchez, has made solid progress on the post-Covid economy: inflation was under 2% last month, while employment is at all-time high. But too often, headlines have been dominated by seemingly endless debates around trans rights, judicial reform and the pardon of Catalan nationalist leaders.
All these are important issues, but unfortunately Sánchez has struggled to keep his coalition partners focused on voters’ priorities, and polls suggest his government may pay a high price at the election next weekend. Labour must not make the same mistake and ensure that the next UK election is fought on those issues which are of greatest concern to the many, not the few.
Dr David Mathieson
Former special adviser to Robin Cook
• I agree with the majority of Gordon Brown’s view on Spanish politics and his attack of the far-right party Vox – although Vox has now moved into more anti-liberal politics, the old-school fascism of anti-capitalism, and votes against anything proposed by the mainstream conservative party, PP, by default. That way, Vox can often align itself in national and regional parliaments and councils with the mainstream socialist party, PSOE, and far-left Catalan or Basque independence parties.
However, Mr Brown knows that Spain’s socialist prime minister, Pedro Sánchez, is not liked by the majority of Spanish voters and he will, most likely, lose by a landslide in the national elections of 23 July. In his four years in office, he has not fulfilled promises and he has lost the confidence of about 2 million socialist supporters, according to polls, who will vote for conservative parties this time just to get rid of him.
The list of Sánchez’s shameless about-turns in issues that were the foundation of his campaign (“changes of opinion”, he calls them) is too long for this letter, but I am sure you will be able to find examples through a brief search on the internet.
A Spanish 19th-century politician used to say: “La política no es oficio de caballeros” (politics is no place for gentlemen). Mr Brown, we all have our allegiances, but at what price?
Martin Barandalla
London
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