• Privacy policy
  • T&C’s
  • About Us
    • FAQ
    • Meet the Team
  • Contact us
TLE ONLINE SHOP!
  • TLE
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Sport
  • Opinion
  • Elevenses
  • Entertainment
    • All Entertainment
    • Film
    • Lifestyle
      • Horoscopes
    • Lottery Results
      • Lotto
      • Thunderball
      • Set For Life
      • EuroMillions
  • Food
    • All Food
    • Recipes
  • Property
  • Travel
  • Tech/Auto
No Result
View All Result
The London Economic
SUPPORT THE LONDON ECONOMIC
NEWSLETTER
  • TLE
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Sport
  • Opinion
  • Elevenses
  • Entertainment
    • All Entertainment
    • Film
    • Lifestyle
      • Horoscopes
    • Lottery Results
      • Lotto
      • Thunderball
      • Set For Life
      • EuroMillions
  • Food
    • All Food
    • Recipes
  • Property
  • Travel
  • Tech/Auto
No Result
View All Result
The London Economic
No Result
View All Result
Home Politics

Leave campaign made Brexit a “new religion” to win votes – University report finds

It helped create an "emotional disconnect" from expert advice which took advantage of the "willingness of true believers".

Jack Peat by Jack Peat
2021-02-26 08:49
in Politics
FacebookTwitterLinkedinEmailWhatsapp

A report by the Universities of Birmingham and Warwick has found the Leave campaign made Brexit a new religion to win votes by focussing on secularised theological concepts such as sovereignty and the concept of a nation.

The document revealed that slogans such as “take back control” used the NHS as the country’s Holy Grail that could be rescued from European forces that threatened Britain’s unique historical place in the world.

Co-author Dr Peter Kerr, senior lecturer in politics at the University of Birmingham, believes placing it at the heart of the Brexit narrative showed “shrewd political calculation”.

“Framing the NHS as the Holy Grail to be rescued from the threat of the EU superstate and an influx of foreign migrants – symbolised by the ‘Brexit Bus’ – neatly cut into a variety of beliefs and emotions about Britain’s place in the world and its membership of the EU.”

Emotive

The researchers noted there was clear differences in reasoning between Leave and Remain supporters, with the former more likely to appeal on emotion, rather than political or economic reasons.

Dr Steven Kettell, associate professor in politics and international studies at the University of Warwick, explained: “Such quasi-religious narratives worked to heighten the intense emotional fervour around Brexit and led many of its adherents to distance themselves from various facts about its potential future implications.

“This approach effectively insulated claims about Brexit from any sort of rational critique.

RelatedPosts

Jamie Oliver threatens Johnson with ‘Eton Mess’ protest over anti-obesity U-turn

Gove was ‘advised’ to do funny accents during TV interviews

What was Theresa May’s Irish Backstop deal?

This video tells you everything you need to know about the NI Protocol in under 2 minutes

“This emotional disconnect from expert advice, along with the willingness of true believers to accept various assertions, created the ideal conditions for the now famous NHS ‘lie’ on the side of the Brexit Bus to play a pivotal role in securing victory for the Leave campaign.”

“Paying the price” for the decision

The report claims this led to support for a hard Brexit soaring, including a no-deal which would likely have devastated the UK’s economy.

Responding to the research, Liberal Democrats MP Alistair Carmichael claimed the UK was already “paying the price” for the decision.

He said: “It should come as no surprise that a nationalist movement like Vote Leave encouraged people to put blind faith in false promises ahead of reality.

“We have to learn the lessons of Brexit and not repeat them.

“There are plenty more nationalist prophets out there who want people to follow them on faith without asking questions.

“We can only move forward as a country, however, if we challenge those who offer easy answers to complicated problems.”

Related: Johnson to launch ‘buy British fish’ campaign to help offset Post-Brexit disruption

Tags: Brexit

Since you are here

Since you are here, we wanted to ask for your help.

Journalism in Britain is under threat. The government is becoming increasingly authoritarian and our media is run by a handful of billionaires, most of whom reside overseas and all of them have strong political allegiances and financial motivations.

Our mission is to hold the powerful to account. It is vital that free media is allowed to exist to expose hypocrisy, corruption, wrongdoing and abuse of power. But we can't do it without you.

If you can afford to contribute a small donation to the site it will help us to continue our work in the best interests of the public. We only ask you to donate what you can afford, with an option to cancel your subscription at any point.

To donate or subscribe to The London Economic, click here.

The TLE shop is also now open, with all profits going to supporting our work.

The shop can be found here.

You can also SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER .

Subscribe to our Newsletter

View our  Privacy Policy and Terms & Conditions

Trending on TLE

  • All
  • trending
Abdollah

‘Rescue us’: Afghan teacher begs UK to help him escape Taliban

CHOMSKY: “If Corbyn had been elected, Britain would be pursuing a much more sane course”

What If We Got Rid Of Prisons?

More from TLE

Anti-monarchy campaigners slam Govt plans to send out commemorative book to schools – costing eye-watering sum

Dawn Ellmore Employment analyses BlackBerry’s battle with Twitter over patent infringement

VIDEO – Mhairi Black demolishes the Tories…again

Football confederation hits back after Messi’s Copa America ‘corruption’ claims

More than half of the people who will decide the country’s next Prime Minister are over 55

CYBER ESSENTIALS & IASME’s Contribution in Data Protection

Prince Philip not to be prosecuted for Sandringham crash, say CPS

Johnson slammed as ‘1.3 million children under five are living in poverty’

Revealed: Theresa May has to rely on coaching Tory MP’s to shout Corbyn down at PMQs and stand looking supportive

QUIZ: All time best and worst football shirts ranked, from THAT Arsenal Strip to World Cup winners… How well do you know them?

About Us

TheLondonEconomic.com – Open, accessible and accountable news, sport, culture and lifestyle.

Read more

© 2019 thelondoneconomic.com - TLE, International House, 24 Holborn Viaduct, London EC1A 2BN. All Rights Reserved.




No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Sport
  • Entertainment
  • Lifestyle
  • Food
  • Travel
  • More…
    • Elevenses
    • Opinion
    • Property
    • Tech & Auto
  • About Us
    • Meet the Team
    • Privacy policy
  • Contact us

© 2019 thelondoneconomic.com - TLE, International House, 24 Holborn Viaduct, London EC1A 2BN. All Rights Reserved.