Don't give populist puppet master Bannon the chance to spread racism

Or so he said at a recent rally in Rome. He was referring to the so-called successes of right-wing extremism across the globe in challenging liberal democracy and Western civilisation – from Trump in the US, Brexit in the UK, and in Italy itself, whose controversial new interior minister Matteo Salvini Bannon lauds as a spaghetti western version of Trump. Faint praise indeed. But the American president’s former right-hand man will say whatever it takes for his reactionary and divisive views to take hold and he’s on the prowl for fresh prey.

Steve Bannon is, of course, as distant from the little guy as is humanly possible. All this talk of anti-elitism is just a trick, a sleight of hand. However, unfortunately, it’s not just some of the “little guys”, whoever they are, that are falling for it. The BBC and European Broadcasting Union (EBU) have defended their bizarre decision to promote him at their conference next month in Edinburgh. By signing up Bannon they signed off the host country’s First Minister who will no longer be there, stating that she would not and could not “be part of any process that risks legitimising or normalising far-right, racist views”.

The objection to the BBC description of Bannon as a “powerful and influential figure ... promoting an anti-elite movement” is absolutely valid. There is nothing anti-elite about this former investment banker, whose formidable and wealthy connections include the president of the United States and influential billionaire, and Brexit backer Robert Mercer plus shady support for Bannon from white supremacist groups in America. Cutting and pasting a description of Bannon from his own press release is perhaps not the best way for the News Xchange Conference to properly describe this poster boy for populism and far-right politics, currently stirring up racist and xenophobic dissent in Europe after being booted out of the White House.

In response to the FM’s decision, the BBC and EBU issued a statement to defend their invitation to Bannon, arguing that his views are relevant to today’s society at large and by inviting him to the conference, they are in no way endorsing his viewpoint. They emphasised the importance of good journalism in an age of “fake news”, analysing the big issues to understand the how, the why, the where, the when and the who.

This is a rather ironic stance given Bannon is arguably the king of “fake news” – spreading misinformation and “alternative facts” is one of his favourite methods to manipulate the electorate. But let’s be absolutely clear here, our very recent history in Europe has shown us to our horrendous cost that giving the far-right a platform is never a good idea, that giving it a chance to grow legs and support, to infiltrate our normal political and cultural discourse, is a very dangerous move.

Of course the BBC has form here. Their flagship programme Question Time has shamelessly legitimised Nigel Farage. The saloon bar propagandist has appeared more than 30 times this century, four times the number of his failed attempts at becoming an MP, and out of any possible proportion to his political currency.

There is nothing mainstream about Steve Bannon. He is an extreme character in every sense with privilege and influence leaking from every pore. He has called himself, Trump and Nigel Farage the “true disruptors”, the men at the front of the big populist push. He’s told rallies in France with Marine Le Pen to wear their racism like a “badge of honour”. He’s described infamous far-right thug Tommy Robinson as “the backbone of Britain”.

This guy Bannon hides in plain sight. He can say what he likes, where he likes, as he always has the cushion of advantage through wealth to fall back on. The “little guy” is just a means to an end for Bannon, to help him unite populists across Europe through his new non-profit organisation “The Movement”, which he hopes to grow in size and influence in order to challenge liberal democracy at next year’s European Parliament elections.

And why would he want to take down the EU? Well, for the same reason as his support for Brexit, and Farage’s insidious encouragement of the Brexiteers and Leave voters. Destroying and delegitimising the structures that protect people, that promote peace and unity, lets the wealthy and the influential swell their offshore bank accounts with the spoils of deregulation and privatisation while the “little people” suffer from fewer rights, severe cutbacks and reduced opportunities. Bannon’s politics are, in reality, for the few shadowy elites not the many “little people”.

Bannon has spent much of his career demonising the mainstream press who have walked straight into his hands with their self-serving, out-of-touch arrogance. However corroding trust in the press and the media is one of the tools of fascism, and so far Bannon’s former pupil, Trump, is making a very good job of it. The more misinformation and scapegoating of minority, religious and racial groups, the more his supporters double down on their extreme views. If the president can say what he likes, no matter how controversial or offensive, then why can’t they? More anti-role-model than anti-elite.

So, let’s not give this populist puppet master the chance to spread his narrow, divisive, and racist doctrine in Scotland. I’m confident Scots will give him short shrift when he arrives in Edinburgh next month, that is if the BBC and EBU don’t bow to pressure between now and then and cancel their ill-advised speaking stunt. Because every little bit of publicity Bannon gets could bring us ever closer to the breakdown of democracy, to the loss of hard-won human rights. There is a great deal at stake.