I’m out of bread and milk, so today’s links are powered by strong black coffee and HobNobs.

The Left: the real fascists?
Tristan Mills [Liberty Alone] has created a stir with a short post (inspired by this Tim Worstall [Trading Floor] article) asserting that fascists are left wing. Tristan explains: “Of course, if we take the political compass of left-right economics and authoritarian-libertarian socially, fascism and communism would coincide, they just differ on what differentiates people and what determines their actions - communists take class, fascists take race, blood or nationality…” Hmmm. It’s the old left must mean socialist assumption.

In fairness to Mills, he does ponder the limitations of political language, which “allow people sharing similar opinions being on different wings of the political spectrum…”

John Dixon [a radical writes] picks up the gauntlet (which, let’s be frank, is simply about the blurring between economic and social definitions of right and left): “My view of left and right is not so much based on [Tristan Mills'] well defined methods but on which people those methods are aimed at helping, whether it is aimed at creating equality and fraternity in society or class and hierarchy. Under those definitions which I find portray the left and right far more accurately fascism is a thoroughly right wing ideology.” Charlotte Gore [Charlotte Gore's Diary] is next up, and takes a very Classical Liberal approach, arguing that Fascism is “a variant of classical conservatism.” Why can’t we just all get along, eh?

Polls
A Guardian poll [link] indicates that Huhne has a 20% lead over the Cleggster, but there are some concerns over the validity of the sample used [Politicalbetting.com]. Indeed, Stephen Tall [Lib Dem Voice] isn’t convinced: “These kinds of polls fill newspaper column inches; but have absolutely no predictive powers, except by fluke. Even the forthcoming YouGov poll [...] should be taken with a pinch of salt, as its one full survey in 2006 proved to be wide of the mark.”

And, according to YouGov poll [link], the Tories enjoy a 9-point lead over Labour - a poll linked to the Data fiasco. Mike Smithson [Politicalbetting.com], as ever, has commentary.

Elsewhere
Question That - Jahongir Sidikov: List of Supporters

Spy Blog - Did the NAO hand over the 25 million HMRC Child Benefit records to KPMG, unencrypted?

Indigo Jo Blogs - Woman killed for rejecting proposal on chat show

Westminster Wisdom - Electability (highly recommended)

Simon Titley/Lib Dem Voice - Opinion: Will you take the ‘Bunker Pledge’?

Right, off to the shops. Catch you Monday. Bye.