Why The Establishment Fears Populism

Britain’s political class thought populism could be contained through censorship, speaker bans and moral blackmail. Instead, the revolt is spreading.

In this episode, host John O’Brien is joined by Frank Furedi and Richard Schenk to examine the growing divide between Europe’s governing elites and ordinary citizens. From the huge “Unite the Kingdom” rally in London to Brussels’ ideological campaigns, the discussion explores why millions of Europeans increasingly feel politically homeless.

First, the panel discusses Britain’s populist revolt and the collapse of establishment authority. Why are governments so terrified of anti-establishment movements? Has censorship, “disinformation” policing and the cordon sanitaire simply made populism stronger? And is Britain drifting back under Brussels’ influence despite Brexit?

The conversation then turns to Europe’s growing divide over Israel. As countries like Spain and Ireland push for a harsher anti-Israel line, Central European states increasingly see the conflict through the lens of borders, terrorism and civilisational security.

Finally, the discussion tackles the European Commission’s increasingly aggressive promotion of LGBTQ and gender ideology. Why do so many Europeans feel these values are being imposed from above rather than democratically debated? Has “tolerance” become a mechanism for ideological conformity? And why are parents across Europe increasingly feeling sidelined in debates about education, identity and culture?