By Mary Atkinson

Across Europe, far right rhetoric and policies are creeping from the fringes into the mainstream. Faced with very real issues, and voters reeling from decades of unrelenting economic shocks, politicians from Berlin to Budapest are falling back on an old failsafe: blame migrants, pit communities against each other and spread fear. 

It’s a tried and tested recipe – and with the far right increasingly organised, coordinated and well-funded, politicians from mainstream parties are joining the march to the right. 

This lurch to the right – being played out in such similar ways across the continent – can feel impossible to combat. We’re up against the likes of Elon Musk, who has taken to dabbling in far right philanthropy, and a host of other unsavoury characters with deep pockets. 

Here in the UK, Reform UK have set their sights on the upcoming local elections, as well as the by-election in Runcorn and Helsby. The elections taking place across the country are being seen as a key bellwether for Reform’s national political hopes – the results will be an indicator of the size of the challenge we face in routing the far right, at the ballot box and in our communities.

The threat we’re facing is a transnational one, but resistance starts at home, right on the doorstep. Across Europe, local politicians have a huge role to play in acting as a bulwark against this division and hatred. By having those tough conversations on the doorstep, speaking up at every opportunity and finding the messages that speak to the things that bring people together, local councillors and representatives are fighting back. And while this work must happen on a hyper-local scale, there is so much we can learn from one another about how to do it. As the far right gets more organised and coordinated, those resisting them must follow suit. 

In the run-up to the local elections, councillors are taking a stand against the far right and pledging to speak out against the anti-migrant rhetoric they rely on. Local councillors understand the real issues their communities are facing – from high energy bills to GP waiting lists – and know that we all have more in common with each other, wherever we’re from, than that which divides us.

Over 100 local councillors from all parties and across the UK have already signed a pledge to speak out against the far right, in the run-up to the elections on 1st May and at any time. The pledge is being coordinated by the Migrant Champions Network, a cross-party network of councillors across the UK organising for migrant justice and against the far right. The pledge is open for signature by all councillors and candidates, and is available to sign until 1st May.

And on 8th May, the Migrant Champions Network is bringing together local politicians from various contexts to discuss the challenges they face, and share knowledge and solidarity for the fight against the far right. Speakers will deliver essential lessons for councillors committed to advocating for migrant justice and fighting back against the toxicity of the far right. Councillors are welcome to discuss the challenges they face on the doorstep and in the rest of their work, to get the perspectives of people working in different contexts, but facing similar issues. 

Check out the full line-up and register now to save your place! Please do share details of this event far and wide, particularly with colleagues working in different European contexts.

The threats we face can feel insurmountable – and never more so than when we are working in isolation. Now is the time to come together, organise and fight back – sign the pledge, join our event and get involved!

Mary Atkinson is Coordinator of the Migrant Champions Network.