Starmer and Badenoch are handling the far-right march all wrong
Summary
The Financial Times opinion piece criticises the UK political leadership — both Labour leader Keir Starmer and Conservative minister Kemi Badenoch — for a weak and mistaken response to a high-profile far-right march. The columnist argues the pair have treated the event primarily as a law-and-order problem or a PR issue, rather than confronting the political and social drivers that allow extremist movements to grow. The piece calls for clearer political condemnation, smarter policing, and policies that address the roots of radicalisation without normalising extremist views.
It warns that equivocation from mainstream politicians risks either legitimising far-right activism or driving it underground, where it can become harder to counter. The article recommends a combined strategy of firm, proportionate policing, unambiguous political messaging, targeted community support, and legal measures to prevent the spread of organised extremist activity.
Key Points
- Mainstream leaders are responding too cautiously — treating the march as a policing headache rather than a political threat.
- Failure to call the far-right out in unequivocal terms risks normalising extremist rhetoric and emboldening organisers.
- Overemphasis on image-management and short-term optics undermines long-term counter-extremism efforts.
- Effective response needs three elements: clear condemnation, proportionate policing, and community-focused prevention.
- There is a broader European context: gains by far-right forces and the challenge of balancing free speech with public safety and civic cohesion.
Context and relevance
The article matters because public order events involving the far right are not isolated incidents: they reflect shifting political currents and can presage electoral and social change. In the UK and across Europe, far-right groups have been more visible and better organised in recent years, testing how democracies respond before, during and after public demonstrations.
For readers interested in UK politics, policing, or civil society, the piece connects immediate event-management failures to longer-term strategic choices by political leaders. How Starmer and Badenoch handle such moments affects public trust, community relations, and the political terrain ahead of future elections.
Why should I read this?
Because the column cuts through the spin — both parties are making the same mistake: playing defence instead of stopping the problem before it grows. If you care about how mainstream politics contains (or fails to contain) extremism, this is a short read that explains what actually needs doing — and why the current approach is risky.
Source
Source: https://www.ft.com/content/fbbde39a-9eeb-4329-a97c-3bd1a44cb5df