Didn't realise you had those sympathies, Michael, and I'll try to respect them in future by never mentioning the subject (at least above the line).

Of course, UKIP isn't a Fascist party - although it is currently in an alliance with a Polish MEP who the French Front National refused to ally with on the grounds that he was too extreme.

The question, slightly rephrased, remains (although perhaps it's best addressed to the Guardian readers among us):

When we look at folkies do we think "ooh, ye olde England - I bet they're reactionary bigots"? And, if other people looking at folkies do think that, how do we react?

I think our reaction should be various shades of "no, folkies aren't reactionary bigots, & I don't believe you've got any evidence that suggests they are". Other people prefer something along the lines of "we're not reactionary bigots (not like some folkies we could mention)".