John Major has issued a stark warning…
- Former Prime Minister Sir John Major has issued a stark warning that populism is no longer a fringe force in British or European politics, but a “mainstream and professionalised” movement posing a direct threat to democratic institutions.
Speaking amid growing political turbulence across the continent, Major cautioned that the rise of populist parties is not an anti-establishment backlash in the traditional sense, but a coordinated political shift that seeks to undermine the very checks and balances that protect open societies.
Major stressed that when populist movements gain power, their intolerance of scrutiny or dissent quickly becomes apparent. “If populism gains power, it will not tolerate opposition,” he warned, noting that this pattern is already visible in parts of Europe where populist governments have challenged judicial independence, weakened media freedoms, and centralised authority.
Observers point out that similar dynamics are emerging in the UK, where political rhetoric has increasingly targeted independent institutions, civil servants, and oversight bodies — a trend that Major argues should not be dismissed as routine political rough-and-tumble.
Across Europe, recent elections have strengthened hard-right and populist parties in France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, and elsewhere, contributing to a significant reshaping of the continent’s political landscape. Analysts say this momentum reflects economic frustration, cultural anxiety, and anti-immigration sentiment — but warn that these forces are now being channelled into movements with the organisational strength to win power.
Major’s intervention adds to a growing chorus of warnings from senior political figures who fear that democratic norms, once taken for granted, are increasingly vulnerable.
“This is not an anti-establishment rebellion,” he cautioned. “It is a direct threat to democracy itself.”