Boris Johnson is ‘proto-fascist’, says John McDonnell
Former shadow chancellor sparks anger with comments to Italian newspaper

Labour MP John McDonnell has landed in hot water on the eve of his party’s conference by referring to Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s style of governance as “proto-facism”.
In an interview with Italian newspaper La Repubblica, the former shadow chancellor drew parallels between Johnson and US President Donald Trump and claimed that parts of the world are “in quite a dangerous moment when it comes to the development of the forms of the Right”.
“The depiction of right-wing populism can be described in some instances as ‘proto-fascism’, with regard to Trump and also with regard to our own country, the rise of Johnson, Johnson’s politics,” McDonnell told the paper.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
“It’s proto-fascism, no respect for democratic values, no respect for democratic institutions, no respect for the law, no respect for some of those rights and entitlements that particularly Labour and trade unions in our own country secured after struggles over the years.”
McDonnell may have been alluding to Johnson’s controversial Internal Market Bill, which rows back on elements of the Brexit withdrawal agreement as part of a strategy that Northern Ireland Minister Brandon Lewis has admitted breaks international law in a “specific but limited way”.
In the wide-ranging interview, the ex-shadow chancellor also dismissed claims made in a new book that he and Jeremy Corbyn had fallen out during the latter’s tenure as Labour leader as “rubbish”.
Some political commentators are delivering the same verdict about McDonnell’s claims about Johnson. Writing in The Telegraph, former Labour MP Tom Harris describes the attack on the PM as “dishonest and lazy”.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
“Raising the bogeyman of fascism serves no positive purpose,” Harris adds. “At the very last, John McDonnell has betrayed his own reputation and contribution to his legacy to the Labour Party by blaming an imaginary enemy.”
-
Can Trump bully Netanyahu into Gaza peace?
Today's Big Question The Israeli leader was ‘strong-armed’ into new peace deal
-
Court allows Trump’s Texas troops to head to Chicago
Speed Read Trump is ‘using our service members as pawns in his illegal effort to militarize our nation’s cities,’ said Gov. J.B. Pritzker
-
The GOP: Merging flag and cross
Feature Donald Trump has launched a task force to pursue “anti-Christian policies”
-
Five key questions about the Gaza peace deal
The Explainer Many ‘unresolved hurdles’ remain before Donald Trump’s 20-point plan can get the go-ahead
-
Judge bars Trump’s National Guard moves in Oregon
Speed Read In an emergency hearing, a federal judge blocked President Donald Trump from sending National Guard troops into Portland
-
Russia: already at war with Europe?
Talking Point As Kremlin begins ‘cranking up attacks’ on Ukraine’s European allies, questions about future action remain unanswered
-
Trump declares ‘armed conflict’ with drug cartels
speed read This provides a legal justification for recent lethal military strikes on three alleged drug trafficking boats
-
Supreme Court rules for Fed’s Cook in Trump feud
Speed Read Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook can remain in her role following Trump’s attempts to oust her