Thread by @nickreeves9876

1/ Yes, the Paterson fiasco confirms the threat Boris Johnson poses to British democracy, but the article does not go deep enough. Johnson is merely the symptom of social and economic changes that have fundamentally transformed our politics.
theguardian.com/commentisfree/…

2/ I wrote this article explaining how deindustrialisation and other economic changes have shattered the working & middle classes as coherent political forces, thus enabling the Tory elite and their super-rich patrons to rule over a fragmented electorate.
sussexbylines.co.uk/un-divide-to-c…

3/ The dramatic economic and social changes wrought by deindustrialisation make it far easier for corrupt, negligent and anti-democratic populist politicians to rise to power within the Tory party and the nation. Johnson is just a symptom of a much deeper rooted malaise.

4/ In the medium to long term new sociopolitical movements may arise which will form bulwarks against corrupt populism, but for the time being we need a socially and politically fragmented opposition to work together in a Democratic Alliance to defend democracy. #FBPA

5/ Climate change does not determine each day's weather, but it makes certain kinds of weather more likely. Fundamental economic change like deindustrialisation bears a similar relation to everyday politics. Deindustrialisation makes Johnsons and Trumps more likely.