Opinion
Bojo proves we are simply switching control from Europe to Eton
So much of the European Union referendum was about “taking back control”. Today, now fallacies around money for the NHS, economic freedom and immigration have been cast aside it is one of the few arguments Brexiteers have left in their armoury when defending their rationale for voting out. But if we are indeed to take back control when we leave the EU, then who are we giving it to? Well, if today’s speech from Boris Johnson is anything to go...
The next time you’re told to respect the referendum result, show them this
Theresa May reiterated once again that she will “respect the result of the referendum” this week as she took questions from Jeremy Corbyn at PMQs. The Prime Minister reverted back to her default position amidst mounting pressure from politicians to hold a second referendum. According to the latest polls the UK would vote to stay in the European Union by a huge 12 percentage points if it was given another vote. It is the highest level since the Brexit referendum...
No one can really have confidence in this Government
Faith is a fickle thing in politics, but few of a sound mind could say they have confidence in this Government anymore. In the space of just a month the Conservatives have faced two confidence votes, been found in contempt of parliament for the first time ever and lost a meaningful vote on their flagship policy by the biggest margin in history. The government also managed to award a $17.5 million contract to provide ferry services to a company with...
It’s time for May to face up to the white elephant in the room
Theresa May was left staring into the abyss last night after more than two-thirds of MPs voted against her Withdrawal Agreement with the European Union. It was an unprecedented moment in British political history and one that leaves the Prime Minister in a precarious position. Even if she manages to survive today's no confidence vote - the second tabled in just over a month - she will be left trying to unite the same divided party in order to deliver...
Brexit’s radical agenda should horrify conservatives
What exactly is so conservative about Brexit? That’s ‘small c’ conservative. And it’s a question that’s rarely been asked over the last three years. Most people, on both sides of the debate, seem to take for granted that conservatives are and ought to be in favour of leaving the European Union. This has led to extraordinary attacks on ‘big c’ Conservatives like Anna Soubry, whose opposition to Brexit has been painted as a betrayal of Tory values. But is that...
It’s time to bust the biggest Brexit myth – that the UK holds all of the cards
Ever since the campaign to leave the European Union began the British public have been subjected to a barrage of fabrications, myths and downright falsehoods in a bid to drum-up anti-EU sentiment. Misinformation has become almost synonymous with the Leave Campaign, whose own director even admitted that they won by lying to the public. They lied about the NHS, they said striking a free-trade deal with the EU will be “the easiest thing in human history”, they fuelled anti-immigrant rhetoric...
I wouldn’t trust this government with running a bath, let alone the Brexit process
"I wouldn't trust you running a bath, let alone a fucking restaurant!" Gordon Ramsay once yelled at a restaurant manager on Kitchen Nightmares. With a matter of months left until Britain exits the European Union it is hard not to think of the Brexit process in the same light. If this was a restaurant it would be in dire straits. The previous owners have run away, the expensive ad campaigns have been widely discredited and staff and owners are constantly...
Exposed: Far right attempts to hijack Brexit debate threaten to turn violent
HOPE not hate has been exposing the coordinated attempt by far-right activists to hijack the Brexit debate to spread hate and division. MPs such as Anna Soubry and journalists such as Kay Burley from Sky News as well as Guardian columnist Owen Jones have been targeted for harassment, intimidation and abuse by a hardcore element of far-right ‘yellow vest’ protesters outside Parliament, frequently using terms such as ‘traitor’ (echoing language used by Jo Cox’s killer Thomas Mair). Based on messages shared...
The London fireworks were not political – they were a much-needed expression of empathy
Sadiq Khan has faced a backlash from Brexiteers who accused him of 'politicising' London's New Year's fireworks display after the London Eye was lit up to look like an EU flag. As over 100,000 revellers watched the capital’s New Year’s Eve firework celebrations the London Mayor said the theme was “London is open” as the phrase was uttered in different European languages. He said it should "send a message of support to more than one million EU citizens who call London...