Very interesting article about T May. Forgive me if it's been posted before.
I think that the author is proposing that the Murdoch media have been superseded by the Daily Mail in setting the agenda for 'British' and that Theresa May is a product and perpetrator of its agenda.
www.opendemocracy.net/uk/anthony-barnett/daily-mail-takes-power-0
The Daily Mail takes power
Anthony Barnett 5 October 2016
After 25 years in politics Theresa May has no obvious connections to any think tank. She shows no interest in ideas. Asked by Conservative Home in a Quick Quiz session to choose between Burke’s “Reflections on the Revolution in France” or Louise Bagshawe’s “Desire”, she replied, “I wouldn’t read either of them, sorry.” The prime minister who faces arguably the Kingdom’s deepest constitutional predicament since George III was driven from the Cabinet by the loss of the American colonies dismissed out of hand the idea that she might ever turn to the pages of Burke, even though as a student she had chaired a society named after him.
As the country faces an unprecedented concatenation of economic, strategic, diplomatic and constitutional uncertainty, the woman at the helm seems devoid of intellectual resources. The one decision she has definitely taken is to give the go ahead to Hinkley Point C nuclear power station, a boondoggle incapable of justification by any criteria of integrity. The Pharaohs built their own pyramids, Theodoric built his own mausoleum. But these were designed as monuments to generate the admiration of posterity. Surely only an idiot would make their first decision the go-ahead for a colossal radioactive tombstone to her regime.
But Theresa May should not be dismissed as an idiot. There is a striking and potentially formidable coherence to the general direction she has set for her new government, evidenced by the self-confidence of her ministers who remarkably quickly are singing from the same song-sheet. She does seem to have a clear ideology refreshingly different from her predecessors. Where has it come from?
The answer is The Daily Mail. On Sunday in her first speech to her party as its leader, she set out her view of Brexit and announced that she intends to trigger Article 50 to start the UK’s withdrawal from the EU before March. This was a moment of upmost gravity, to recognise and measure the immense divisions that have been opened up within the country, and consider the implications for the entire continent that Britain once helped liberate from fascism. Instead, her tone, brevity and apparent practicality were drawn as if directly from a Daily Mail editorial.
Intelligent comments section, too.
she can go off to the US to pose for Vogue
Lol I was taken aback by that I must say! One would think she'd have far more important thing to do. I assume she employs a stylist as she surely doesnt have time to be spending her evenings shopping!
It seems to have been forgotten by some that Cameron did win concessions from the EU which would have made the UK a less attractive destination for immigrants.
Good luck with uniting the country, Theresa! It seems that some people will never compromise.
By the way, the speech was nonsense. The declaration about Irish borders was the only definite statement of intent and that is nothing to do with the EU, as it goes back to an agreement from the 1920s. The rest of it was still about 'having our cake and eating it' attitude, which is not realistic.
But she hasn't gone for 'hard Brexit'. She's said she wants to negotiate deals with the EU. She wants to cherry pick the best deals.
Good luck with that one
I feel extremely worried for the expats both here and Brits living in Europe. My daughter is one. Many have been living here for many years, had their families here, been working and contributing to the economy, but kept their original passports because they didn’t need to change whilst we were in the EU. Will they be required to return home? Will expats be required to leave families and homes in Europe to come back to Britain? Clarifying the position for the thousands of people involved is now a matter of great urgency and should be Mrs May’s first task. Perhaps she could give it some thoughts on her flight to the US. Wonder what Mrs Farage's legal position is.
So many sour grapes! enough to make several bottles of sour vino.
If that's not hard brexit I don't know what is. Ditto have our cake and eat it.
Her speech writers obviously worked hard at making the speech sound positive and she obviously practiced a lot.
For goodness sake, she's already done the US Vogue shoot - at Chequers..
And food banks have, sadly, been with us since the Blair years.
You obviously didn't listen to the speech Ginny as May said that she had wanted to resolve it but a couple of countries would not agree at the moment, and that we are ready here at any time to resolve the issue of guaranteeing the EU residents here in exchange for the EU guaranteeing British people living in EU countries.So there you have it....some EU countries dragging their feet on that one.
I'm sure all politicians practise their speeches beforehand. Why wouldn't they?
Yes, I heard that, but you must concede their situation is still far from clear. To me she seemed strangely disengaged throughout the speech. Perhaps she found it hard to reconcile the fact that she was originally opposed to what she is now required to put into practice.
Of course they rehearse their speeches. They'd be fools not to; especially when millions of people are going to dissect it. If I have any sympathy at all for her, I do wonder how she sleeps at night.
Their situation is still not clear, but hopefully will be soon, because let's face it, how bad does that make those few countries look that oppose it?
How does any PM sleep much at night.....what a job.
I feel extremely worried for the expats both here and Brits living in Europe. My daughter is one. Many have been living here for many years, had their families here, been working and contributing to the economy, but kept their original passports because they didn’t need to change whilst we were in the EU. Will they be required to return home?
Did you mean daughter or DIL? Either way even if the EU makes difficulties by threatening to throw out Brits living in the EU, if your DIL/DD has been living here five years sh can apply for British citizenship.
However given that there are FAR more EU immigrants here than Britons living in the EU what chance is there of this? Poland and the rest of the A8/A10 certainly wouldnt support it. The PIGS wouldnt! Which EU countries do you think would want the exchange of expats that would ensue?
EU immigrants living in UK, 2.27 million
UK migrants living in EU, 1.5 million.
Not really FAR more. Three quarters of a million compared to 65 million population.
But don't worry; they'll soon decide to go back where they came from if the alternative is taking British citizenship.
On the other hand at the present rate, it will take over 100 years for everyone in that category to gain citizenship, by which time we will have hopefully seen sense and rejoined the largest trading group in the world.
EU immigrants living in UK, 2.27 million
UK migrants living in EU, 1.5 million.
Not really FAR more. Three quarters of a million compared to 65 million population
Youre making the assumption those figures are accurate. They are certainly not, and the British figures (i.e. EU immigrants working here) are certainly the more serious underestimate.
But don't worry; they'll soon decide to go back where they came from if the alternative is taking British citizenship
What's your reasoning behind this claim? If any!
Fact checking state that 3.2 mil live here and 2.3 mil are working. So how are, roughly 1 mil, supporting themselves.
Children?
What are your accurate figures then, Mair? You haven't given any.
Have you seen the recent actual cases of EU migrants married to Brits and with children who have been trying to get citizenship? People who have been in UK 20/30 years and worked and paid NI contributions etc were not issued with long duration or permanent residency permits as they did not need them when we joined the EU. Now they have an 85 page document to fill in asking for Every trip/holiday they have made abroad since living in the UK - where it was to and for how long. Since 2005 it seems they should have had private health insurance - those here before then were never told it was a requirement - but neither were those who came after. Now they are being told without this and proof they have had it for years they are not eligible for citizenship and should make arrangements to leave the UK. The health insurance is an EU requirement for countries which do not have an adequate system - those with reciprocal agreements do not need it.
Makes the UK seem like a very fair and welcoming country to live in.
Mums at home?
Retired?
Stinking rich?
On benefits? Working in the black market? Come on, not all immigrants are pillars of the community and play by the rules.
Like a lot of the indigenous population.
Probably not so may criminals though as there are from Britain in Spain.
Students?
This discussion thread has reached a 1000 message limit, and so cannot accept new messages.
Start a new discussion
Get our top conversations, latest advice, fantastic competitions, and more, straight to your inbox. Sign up to our daily newsletter here.
