Language is powerful and words can be weapons.

In times of political and social turmoil they can inspire people and change the course of history.

They can also have a negative impact and be used to rabble-rouse and create circumstances of tension and fear.

Nigel Farage, while he fancies himself as a latter day Churchill, falls into the latter category.

He has been sidelined since the EU referendum vote but is always lurking just off stage.

As a result of the ongoing Brexit chaos, people are understandably concerned about their future.

On either side of the debate people are agitated and worried, some fear for their jobs, some are impatient and angry and the UK political institutions are in a vulnerable position unprecedented in modern history.

MPs have failed to reach a position where a majority in the House of Commons cannot agree on a route to leave the EU.

Nor will they approve a second referendum, so there is a stalemate and it leads people to be frustrated with our elected representatives.

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I’ve watched many of the debates, spending more hours than I care to remember listening to Theresa May try to get her deal passed, Jeremy Corbyn try in vain to force an early election and Ian Blackford demand Scotland’s voice be heard.

I’ve even listened to backbenchers who I’ve never heard of from constituencies I didn’t know existed have their say as they are entitled and expected to do.

Many words have been spoken, many arguments had and many alliances forced and political enemies made.

But throughout it all they have, mostly, conducted themselves in a respectful manner, adopting the political rules of engagement, barring the odd daft stunt.

Nigel Farage has launched the Brexit Party EU elections campaign to fight what he says is a "battle between politicians and the people".

He has already stated he could be forced to “don khaki, pick up a rifle and head to the front line” which is pretty sickening.

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Sickening, because Nigel Farage has spent years trying to bring out the patriotic, wartime, spirit of the blitz mentality so he could manipulate it for his own ends.

Ignoring the fact that the victory the wartime spirit achieved was brought about by co-operation with others, the very same others in the institution he wants to demonise and walk away from.

An institution that has been successful in helping ensure Europe’s major powers have been allies, not enemies, ever since.

Sickening because if ever Nigel Farage was around during something as horrific as the second world war he would probably be Private Walker, the spiv in Dad’s Army trying to make a few quid out it.

Or, while encouraging others to do the dirty work he be so far away from any front line he may as well be on the moon.

As MPs receive abuse and threats none of them deserve, Farage, while his language may have been metaphorical is adopting the tone that others could take as the signal to commit violence, and he knows it.

He has previous for warning that failure to deliver on the Brexit vote could lead to violence.

It is the xenophobic language of many who brought about the rise of UKIP and the re-emergence of the extreme right that gives encouragement to racists and leads to abuse online and on the streets.

Since Europe has come to dominate British politics, we’ve seen MPs abused, attacked and even murdered by extremists.

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As the UK enters another period of uncertainty over Brexit, people like Nigel Farage have a responsibility to encourage restraint and calm among those who are getting over exited.

Nigel Farage should remember that if Brexit is not ultimately delivered it will be after there has been a second referendum and only if a majority of people vote to overturn the result in 2016.

If there is violence on the streets that would be to abandon democracy and would be wrong.

So, those in authority might want to keep a close eye on the words that come out of the mouths of Nigel Farage and others like him and consider whether it crosses a line from political rhetoric to incitement.