A nice definition. Another is a political system that seeks to attribute simple causes to complex issues. Generally, they are on the nasty side. "Inflation is Jewish". "Immigrants cause crime". Policies are adapted accordingly.

"Levelling-up" is a worthy populist policy where it can be seen as a rallying cry with a lot of difficult, expensive work being done behind it. "Get Brexit done" tapped into the more traditional populist model seeking to arouse the deep xenophobia that underpinned it.

The reason for its success is that the majority of people are too dumb, or too lazy to consider the options. Give them a measured argument and they will zone out after the first 3 words. Give them just 3 words, especially ones that engage the standard populist tropes of jingoism and xenophobia, and you will get them on side.

"Take back control" is classic populism. Why say any more? The proles wont understand you anyway.

You are a Leftist and your prejudice pervades everything. I have no problem with political prejudice as long as it retains the capacity to accept the factual. I'm not sure if that can be said of you or some of your like minds on here.

The factual is that Boris is in trouble and that any leaking of prodding is coming from those much closer to home than any 'leftist' or news items you're in a tizzy about. The drip, drip, drip will continue.

I dont even wear a mask! and havnt done in over year! i just do my tests and get on with life!

This spectacularly misses the point. Whilst every politician needs to be aware of public reaction and put a positive spin on things that doesn't mean all policies are populist.

Populism is far from a "ridiculous phrase". That's just an excuse. Populism is a political reality. We have seen it in both the USA and in the UK. Whilst responsible, moral, politicians lead, populists follow. They adopt policies that win them elections and keep them in power, even when they know they harm the people they serve. It is not necessarily a right wing phenomenon, although in recent experience it has come from the right. Leftish populism is perfectly possible.

A populist government would restore the death penalty just because they knew it would be popular, whilst in their hearts knowing it was morally indefensible.

Populism is morally bankrupt and a very dangerous road for any democratic country to take. The sooner it is abandoned the better. Maybe Johnson's removal will pave a new road ahead.

For the avoidance of doubt any comments in response to a previous post are directed to its ideas and not at any, or all, posters personally.

Not at all.

The majority always wins. Referendums are not though part of our democracy. Parliament is sovereign and only it can act.

There were legitimate reasons to protest the way the Brexit process unfolded, to demand that the revelations of the security forces be taken seriously. Election laws were broken.

No referendum on such a crucial issue is binding on a UK Parliament. Parliament had the power to act, but failed to do so, even though their collective judgement was in favour of staying in,

So the 52:48 majority is not the issue. It's a red herring. It's the use of a referendum by a populist government and the failure of Parliament, especially by the opposition leader Corbyn, to stand up and be counted which is.

Brexit was a failure of British democracy. Not a triumph.

For the avoidance of doubt any comments in response to a previous post are directed to its ideas and not at any, or all, posters personally.