Tory grandee Michael Heseltine likened Nigel Farage’s Reform UK to fascist groups of the 1930s and lashed out at Kemi Badenoch’s ‘unforgivable’ climate change plans
Michael Heseltine has likened Reform to the fascists of the 1930s – and issued a veiled swipe at his party leadership’s attacks on asylum seekers.
The Tory grandee, who served in Margaret Thatcher’s cabinet, hit out at “dishonest” attacks on migrants and blasted Kemi Badenoch’s plans to roll back climate legislation.
The former Deputy PM warned that far-right groups are “on the march” across Europe and the US – and singled out Nigel Farage’s party. The 92-year-old told an audience at the Conservative Party Conference in Manchester that asylum lies “encourages the worst sort of prejudice in our communities”.
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He also said Mrs Badenoch’s plot to rip up the Climate Change Act is an act of “unforgivable irresponsibility”. Lord Heseltine told delegates: “The right wing equivalents to the fascists of the thirties are back on the march: Le Pen in France, AfD in Germany, Fdl in Italy, Vox in Spain and conspicuously Reform in this country.
“Much of President Trump’s language in America coincides with words here in Europe. The immigrant has replaced the Jew as the problem which needs a solution, although recent events here have cast a dark shadow.”
In a veiled swipe at senior Tories he continued: “The overwhelming majority of asylum seekers want to share in our standards, and to escape from persecution or civil war.
“To describe them as thieves or rapists is not just dishonest but encourages the worst sort of prejudice in our communities. If you want further proof just visit any part of our health services, social services, public or private sector offices or academia.”
And he was met with applause as he said: “Above all we must make clear that we will never have any part in the populist extremism of Nigel Farage. We have to deal with President Trump for the next three years. we don’t need his mouthpiece anywhere near Number 10.”
He had strong words for Mrs Badenoch, who has pledged to rip up the Climate Change Act. Lord Heseltine said: “The threat from global warming must not be ignored in the hope that it may not happen or because there is a backlash against the cost.”
He went on: “We should be proud of our role in the battle to halt climate change. It was Margaret Thatcher who gave one of the starkest and earliest warnings of the dangers. Today the evidence in storms, coastal erosion, flooding, fire and the spread of desert is all too clear.
“It would be an act of unforgivable irresponsibility to undo all that Conservatives have done to play a leading role in this world threatening crisis.”
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