Is UK bucking Europe’s trend of moving to the right?

Labour's landslide victory gave hope to progressives worldwide but may be as much practical as ideological

Labour's landslide victory was hailed as a beacon of hope for progressives worldwide after a surge in support for far-right parties in Europe, and with Donald Trump currently slight favourite to become the US president in January.

But Britain's bulwark against the populist, extremist tide sweeping through European capitals may be as much practical as ideological. Nigel Farage's rightwing Reform party got a 14% share of votes nationwide, not far behind the 16% claimed by Germany's far-right Alternative fur Deutschland (AfD) in recent elections for the EU parliament.