A Conservative MP, Danny Kruger, has come forward to defend the use of the term "cultural Marxism" after Labour's Chris Bryant claimed it is generally regarded as an antisemitic conspiracy
theory undermining Christian conservatism.
Kruger, the MP for Devizes, took to Twitter to justify the usage of "cultural Marxism" as a critique of contemporary society. He stated, "It's an insidious doctrine that has effectively corrupted Western liberalism, and the left is unwilling to face facts, as per Chris's pathetic effort at distraction. We're not going to stop using the term just because deluded liberals call us names."
Kruger further argued that the left's aggressive policing of language surrounding their agenda exposes their vulnerability. He described cultural Marxism as an accurate description of ongoing events and explained its association with the classification of oppressor and oppressed based on factors such as sex, race, and gender. He emphasized that this ideology is reminiscent of the revolutionary ideas espoused by traditional Marxism.
The debate surrounding the term "cultural Marxism" was sparked by an interview with MP Miriam Cates, who used the term in her opening speech at the controversial National Conservatism conference. Cates views cultural Marxism as a catch-all for various strands of what she perceives as detrimental liberal ideologies.
In response to the article, Chris Bryant expressed concerns about the term's association with antisemitism and the alleged undermining of Christian conservatism. He suggested that MPs should receive proper education and training on antisemitism to avoid using such language.
While acknowledging that "cultural Marxism" can be used in antisemitic contexts, Danny Stone, chief executive of the Antisemitism Policy Trust, pointed out that not all uses of the term are inherently antisemitic. Stone highlighted the term's historical connection to Nazi conspiracy theories and cautioned against its usage due to its potential to confer antisemitic meaning or serve as a dog whistle.
Gary Mond, chairman of the National Jewish Assembly, expressed his support for Kruger, stating that the inclusion of the term "cultural Marxism" in Kruger and Cates' political arguments, despite disagreement, does not contain any antisemitism.
The controversy surrounding the term highlights the ongoing debate about its usage and potential implications in relation to antisemitism. Photo by David Woolfall, Wikimedia commons.