Conservative MP dismisses claims of antisemitism in use of ‘cultural Marxism’ term
New row after Labour's Chris Bryant says term 'is generally regarded as an antisemitic conspiracy theory about the supposed undermining of Christian conservatism'
Lee Harpin is the Jewish News's political editor
A Conservative MP has attempted to defend the use of the term “cultural Marxism” after Labour’s Chris Bryant said it “is generally regarded as an antisemitic conspiracy theory about the supposed undermining of Christian conservatism.”
Danny Kruger, the MP for Devizes, defended using “cultural Marxism” as a criticism of today’s society tweeting:”It’s an insidious doctrine that has effectively corrupted Western liberalism and the left is – as per Chris’s pathetic effort at distraction – unwilling to face facts.
“We’re not going to stop using the term just cos deluded liberals call us names.”
He added:”The fact the left so aggressively police the language around their agenda shows how vulnerable they feel it is. Cultural Marxism is an accurate description of what’s going on. Chris knows this, but here goes.
“The old Marxist binary of capital & labour is now applied to the cultural binary of oppressor & (sex/race/gender) oppressed.
“The obvious contradictions within the ‘oppressed’ classification is resolved via the mysteries of ‘intersectionality’. But it’s the same revolutionary idea.”
The fact the left so aggressively police the language around their agenda shows how vulnerable they feel it is. Cultural Marxism is an accurate description of what’s going on. Chris knows this, but here goes. https://t.co/JQCOZunPLo
— Danny Kruger (@danny__kruger) June 29, 2023
Kruger then claimed in a further online post that”conservative populists are trying to defend the institutions of our civilisation against a transgressive elite, and the Marxists are trying to destroy them.”
The debate was sparked by an interview in The Times with the MP Miriam Cates, who had previously sparked concern with her use of the term “cultural Marxism” in her opening speech at the recent controversial National Conservatism conference, at which Kruger also spoke at.
The new interview noted how in her speech at the conference, Cates had claimed;“Liberal individualism has proven to be completely powerless to resist the cultural Marxism that is systematically destroying our children’s souls.”
The Times interview now adds that Cates “regards ‘cultural Marxism’ — a controversial term that some claim has antisemitic roots — as a catch-all for various strands of bad liberal ideology: that Britain is inherently racist, humanity is killing the earth, our historical heroes are villains, policing borders is bigoted.”
In response to the article, Labour’s Bryant tweeted:”I see the Times interview with Miriam Cates says she refers repeatedly to ‘cultural Marxism’. I don’t know what she means by it, but it is generally regarded as an anti-Semitic conspiracy theory about the supposed undermining of Christian conservatism.”
Speaking to Jewish News in May, Andrew Percy, a former Tory minister and vice-chair of the all-party parliamentary group (APPG) on antisemitism, said:”I have repeatedly warned Conservative MPs of the use of what, at best, can be described as ‘sloppy’ language such as ‘cultural marxism’ which perhaps is not properly understood.
“There is no excuse for MPs to continue to use this language and it demonstrates why the Conservative Party, and all parties, must provide proper education and training to MPs and candidates on antisemitism.”
In May, Danny Stone, chief executive of the Antisemitism Policy Trust attempted to clarify whether using the term cultural Marxism was antisemitic.
He said:”In short, Cultural Marxism can be and has been used as an antisemitic phrase, to confer antisemitic meaning or as an antisemitic dog whistle. Because of that, it should be avoided.
“That said, it isn’t only used in antisemitic contexts, and of course, those using it are not automatically, or always, antisemites.”
Stone, widely accepted to be one of the most distinguished experts in recognising antisemitic discourse, noted the “darker side” of the term, with its usage by German Nazis.
He said:”Kulturbolschewismus (cultural bolshevism) and Jewish bolshevism were used by the Nazis to sow conspiracy theories about a perceived attack on German cultural heritage, and a plot to spread cultural and other revolution.
“That antisemitic conspiracy theory has since mutated and holds Jews (as well as others) not only as communist sympathisers but as conspiring through media and elsewhere to pursue a particular leftist agenda and undermine Christian values or the West generally.”
However Gary Mond, chairman of the National Jewish Assembly, gave his full support to Kruger. He said “what really matters in these comments is whether or not there is Jew-hating intent. As far as the inclusion of the term Cultural Marxism is concerned,, in the form and context in which Danny Kruger and Miriam Cates use it, there is no antisemitism whatsoever and the inclusion of the expression in their political arguments, whether or not one agrees with them, is entirely acceptable.”
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