LAST week we saw an attempted coup in the United States, incited by Donald Trump himself.

Shocking media images showed armed rioters storming the Capitol in a direct attack on democracy.

Boris Johnson said he rued the scenes, but failed to condemn Trump as their orchestrator. Priti Patel also refused. Should we be surprised?

The Trump project offered models to other authoritarian and nationalist politicians, such as using social media to stoke hate, which our own government followed.

Nigel Farage and Steve Bannon embodied US/UK government links. Johnson denied that Bannon had advised him, but The Observer published a video proving it.

The Tories were first to welcome Trump’s victory, first to visit him, and he was invited on a UK state visit.

In 2018 Johnson said “I am increasingly admiring of Donald Trump”. Jacob Rees-Mogg said “Trump will be our greatest ally after Brexit”. Tory activists (in Northampton) were told to learn from his playbook by “weaponising fake news”.

The extreme right wing remains active, not only in the US but also here, and we should beware.

Richard Jones

Llangarron

Let us know what you think. Send your comments to letters@herefordtimes.com