DOCSLIB.ORG

A Fanatical Sect Has Hijacked British Politics - the New York Times

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
A Fanatical Sect Has Hijacked British Politics - the New York Times 6/27/2019 Opinion | A Fanatical Sect Has Hijacked British Politics - The New York Times A Fanatical Sect Has Hijacked British Politics Boris Johnson is poised to become prime minister thanks to a small, unrepresentative population of Brexiteer voters bent on destruction. By William Davies Mr. Davies is a sociologist who writes about politics. June 25, 2019 LONDON — It seems there is only one voter who matters to British politics right now: a Brexit-obsessed, 50-something white man living in rural southern England. Why? Because a quirk of Britain’s unwritten constitution is that prime ministers are often appointed by their parties without facing general election. John Major, Gordon Brown and Theresa May all entered office as a result of their predecessor resigning, and then being selected by their party to take charge. Only Mr. Major was ever able to achieve any clear electoral success of his own. https://www.nytimes.com/2019/06/25/opinion/boris-johnson-election.html 1/7 6/27/2019 Opinion | A Fanatical Sect Has Hijacked British Politics - The New York Times Mrs. May’s resignation last month meant that, once again, a new prime minister will soon be appointed without a democratic mandate. The overwhelming favorite is Boris Johnson, the controversial journalist-turned-politician, with a lifelong weakness for causing offense and then laughing off the consequences. Unless there is a great upset, Mr. Johnson’s appointment will be announced on July 23, leaving this notoriously reckless figure to navigate Britain’s exit from the European Union, which he has committed to delivering by the Oct. 31 deadline. Each political party has its own way of handling the process. Mr. Brown insisted that he be handed the job by Tony Blair uncontested, which is what happened in 2007. (This was described as a “gigantic fraud” at the time by none other than Mr. Johnson.) For the Conservatives, there is a complicated series of votes among the party’s members of Parliament to whittle things down to two candidates, who are then presented to the party’s members. The choice before the Conservative membership is between Mr. Johnson and Jeremy Hunt, a more trusted but unexciting man, with far less appeal to the Conservative base. At a time of deep political and economic anxiety, the contest is producing the surreal experience of something that feels like democracy — an election campaign season, complete with televised debates and policy announcements — but https://www.nytimes.com/2019/06/25/opinion/boris-johnson-election.html 2/7 6/27/2019 Opinion | A Fanatical Sect Has Hijacked British Politics - The New York Times without any public franchise. In this case, the “electorate” consists of a mere 160,000 people, just 0.3 percent of the national electorate, who are significantly older and richer than average. And while Mr. Johnson is hounded by questions surrounding his honesty and indiscretions — questions that might damage him in a nationwide contest — the Conservative Party membership seems to view his personality as an asset. This is uncharted territory. Conservative Party rules have changed since Mr. Major entered office in 1990, to allow the members to have the final say. (Mrs. May’s rivals all withdrew in 2016, so the members weren’t consulted.) At first glance, a leader elected by 160,000 people might seem to have a greater democratic mandate than one appointed by their own colleagues. But as more becomes known about the unusual identities and priorities of the party members, the worry is that Britain is now in the grip of something combining the worst aspects of both oligarchy and representative democracy. It might best be described as unrepresentative democracy. Mr. Johnson’s appeal to his base rests heavily on his enthusiastic comments about “no deal” Brexit, a kamikaze policy that would devastate Britain’s economy and produce a state of emergency for basic civil infrastructure, such as the supply of medicines. It would, however, signal a complete https://www.nytimes.com/2019/06/25/opinion/boris-johnson-election.html 3/7 6/27/2019 Opinion | A Fanatical Sect Has Hijacked British Politics - The New York Times rejection of the authority of Brussels, which is why Mr. Johnson toys with it. The fact that a clear majority of the public opposes the idea is, for now, irrelevant. More disturbingly, new polling suggests that Conservative Party members are now so fixated on Brexit that they believe it is worth doing at almost any cost — even if it leads to Northern Ireland or Scotland leaving the United Kingdom, “significant damage to the U.K. economy” or, most strikingly, the destruction of the Conservative Party. For the next few weeks, the most influential force in British politics is a fanatical sect. How did Britain reach this extraordinary situation? A plausible part of the explanation is that the Conservative Party has been heavily infiltrated by supporters of Nigel Farage, the far-right populist who formerly led the U.K. Independence Party and who recently established the Brexit Party. His new party took more than a third of the vote in May’s European Parliament elections, energized by the fact that Britain did not leave the European Union on the scheduled date of March 29. Last August, Arron Banks, a major U.K.I.P. funder over the years and backer of the xenophobic Leave.EU campaign, wrote an op-ed for The Times of London titled “Join Tories and unseat the traitor Theresa.” It’s hard to know for certain https://www.nytimes.com/2019/06/25/opinion/boris-johnson-election.html 4/7 6/27/2019 Opinion | A Fanatical Sect Has Hijacked British Politics - The New York Times how many people have followed Mr. Banks’s advice, but Faragism has clearly penetrated the Conservative Party: 59 percent of Conservative members voted for the Brexit Party in the European elections. What’s more, the majority of Mr. Johnson’s supporters in the membership joined the party after the 2016 referendum. The party also appears to have experienced a surge in membership of around 30 percent since last summer, when confidence in Mrs. May’s Brexit deal started to plummet. Pockets of deep resentment toward governing “elites” are a feature of most liberal democracies today, to which there are a range of possible responses. What’s different in Britain is the collision between its old-fashioned, unwritten constitution and the exceptional drama of Brexit, which has become a Trojan Horse through which nationalist, anti-establishment rage is being channeled directly into the corridors of power. For years, the case for reforming Britain’s constitution, to ensure that parties and parliament are more representative of the public, has been viewed as a somewhat academic topic, never urgent enough to demand much attention. Not any more. For the time being, Mr. Johnson has said enough to reassure the Conservative members that he will govern with the same xenophobic bravado that he has always expressed in his journalism. But if Mr. Johnson’s personality offers one https://www.nytimes.com/2019/06/25/opinion/boris-johnson-election.html 5/7 6/27/2019 Opinion | A Fanatical Sect Has Hijacked British Politics - The New York Times glimmer of hope, it’s that he’s never shown any indication of holding principles, and is entirely relaxed about letting people down. William Davies (@davies_will) is a sociologist and political economist at Goldsmiths, University of London, and the author, most recently, of “Nervous States: Democracy and the Decline of Reason.” Related Opinion | Tanya Gold Boris Johnson? How Did We Come to This? June 21, 2019 Opinion | Richard Seymour Nigel Farage Is the Most Dangerous Man in Britain May 28, 2019 Opinion | James Meek Dissecting the Dreams of Brexit Britain March 15, 2019 Opinion | Sam Byers Britain Is Drowning Itself in Nostalgia March 23, 2019 The Times is committed to publishing a diversity of letters to the editor. Weʼd like to hear what you think about this or any of our articles. Here are some tips. And hereʼs our email: [email protected]. https://www.nytimes.com/2019/06/25/opinion/boris-johnson-election.html 6/7 6/27/2019 Opinion | A Fanatical Sect Has Hijacked British Politics - The New York Times Follow The New York Times Opinion section on Facebook, Twitter (@NYTopinion) and Instagram. https://www.nytimes.com/2019/06/25/opinion/boris-johnson-election.html 7/7.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Uncovering the Underground's Role in the Formation of Modern London, 1855-1945
    University of Kentucky UKnowledge Theses and Dissertations--History History 2016 Minding the Gap: Uncovering the Underground's Role in the Formation of Modern London, 1855-1945 Danielle K. Dodson University of Kentucky, [email protected] Digital Object Identifier: http://dx.doi.org/10.13023/ETD.2016.339 Right click to open a feedback form in a new tab to let us know how this document benefits ou.y Recommended Citation Dodson, Danielle K., "Minding the Gap: Uncovering the Underground's Role in the Formation of Modern London, 1855-1945" (2016). Theses and Dissertations--History. 40. https://uknowledge.uky.edu/history_etds/40 This Doctoral Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the History at UKnowledge. It has been accepted for inclusion in Theses and Dissertations--History by an authorized administrator of UKnowledge. For more information, please contact [email protected]. STUDENT AGREEMENT: I represent that my thesis or dissertation and abstract are my original work. Proper attribution has been given to all outside sources. I understand that I am solely responsible for obtaining any needed copyright permissions. I have obtained needed written permission statement(s) from the owner(s) of each third-party copyrighted matter to be included in my work, allowing electronic distribution (if such use is not permitted by the fair use doctrine) which will be submitted to UKnowledge as Additional File. I hereby grant to The University of Kentucky and its agents the irrevocable, non-exclusive, and royalty-free license to archive and make accessible my work in whole or in part in all forms of media, now or hereafter known.
    [Show full text]
  • Article the Empire Strikes Back: Brexit, the Irish Peace Process, and The
    ARTICLE THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK: BREXIT, THE IRISH PEACE PROCESS, AND THE LIMITATIONS OF LAW Kieran McEvoy, Anna Bryson, & Amanda Kramer* I. INTRODUCTION ..........................................................610 II. BREXIT, EMPIRE NOSTALGIA, AND THE PEACE PROCESS .......................................................................615 III. ANGLO-IRISH RELATIONS AND THE EUROPEAN UNION ...........................................................................624 IV. THE EU AND THE NORTHERN IRELAND PEACE PROCESS .......................................................................633 V. BREXIT, POLITICAL RELATIONSHIPS AND IDENTITY POLITICS IN NORTHERN IRELAND ....637 VI. BREXIT AND THE “MAINSTREAMING” OF IRISH REUNIFICATION .........................................................643 VII. BREXIT, POLITICAL VIOLENCE AND THE GOVERNANCE OF SECURITY ..................................646 VIII. CONCLUSION: BREXIT AND THE LIMITATIONS OF LAW ...............................................................................657 * The Authors are respectively Professor of Law and Transitional Justice, Senior Lecturer and Lecturer in Law, Queens University Belfast. We would like to acknowledge the comments and advice of a number of colleagues including Colin Harvey, Brian Gormally, Daniel Holder, Rory O’Connell, Gordon Anthony, John Morison, and Chris McCrudden. We would like to thank Alina Utrata, Kevin Hearty, Ashleigh McFeeters, and Órlaith McEvoy for their research assistance. As is detailed below, we would also like to thank the Economic
    [Show full text]
  • Catalogue 244: the Churchills 1 15
    The Churchills Catalogue 244 July 2021 ABOUT THIS CATALOGUE Most of the books in this catalogue are from the private library of the late The Hon. David Levine AO RFD QC. Most carry his bookplate or book label, usually affixed to the upper pastedown or upper free endpaper. TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF SALE Unless otherwise described, all books are in the original cloth or board binding, and are in very good, or better, condition with defects, if any, fully described. Our prices are nett, and quoted in Australian dollars. Traditional trade terms apply. Items are offered subject to prior sale. All orders will be confirmed by email. PAYMENT OPTIONS We accept the major credit cards, PayPal, and direct deposit to the following account: Account name: Kay Craddock Antiquarian Bookseller Pty Ltd BSB: 083 004 Account number: 87497 8296 Should you wish to pay by cheque we may require the funds to be cleared before items are sent. GUARANTEE As a member or affiliate of the associations listed below, we embrace the time-honoured traditions and courtesies of the book trade. We also uphold the highest standards of business principles and ethics, including your right to privacy. Under no circumstances will we disclose any of your personal information to a third party, unless your specific permission is given. TRADE ASSOCIATIONS Australian and New Zealand Association of Antiquarian Booksellers [ANZAAB] Antiquarian Booksellers’ Association [ABA(Int)] International League of Antiquarian Booksellers [ILAB] Australian Booksellers Association REFERENCES CITED Cohen: Bibliography of the Writings of Sir Winston Churchill. By Ronald Cohen. In three volumes. Thoemmes Continuum, London, 2006.
    [Show full text]
  • Background, Brexit, and Relations with the United States
    The United Kingdom: Background, Brexit, and Relations with the United States Updated April 16, 2021 Congressional Research Service https://crsreports.congress.gov RL33105 SUMMARY RL33105 The United Kingdom: Background, Brexit, and April 16, 2021 Relations with the United States Derek E. Mix Many U.S. officials and Members of Congress view the United Kingdom (UK) as the United Specialist in European States’ closest and most reliable ally. This perception stems from a combination of factors, Affairs including a sense of shared history, values, and culture; a large and mutually beneficial economic relationship; and extensive cooperation on foreign policy and security issues. The UK’s January 2020 withdrawal from the European Union (EU), often referred to as Brexit, is likely to change its international role and outlook in ways that affect U.S.-UK relations. Conservative Party Leads UK Government The government of the UK is led by Prime Minister Boris Johnson of the Conservative Party. Brexit has dominated UK domestic politics since the 2016 referendum on whether to leave the EU. In an early election held in December 2019—called in order to break a political deadlock over how and when the UK would exit the EU—the Conservative Party secured a sizeable parliamentary majority, winning 365 seats in the 650-seat House of Commons. The election results paved the way for Parliament’s approval of a withdrawal agreement negotiated between Johnson’s government and the EU. UK Is Out of the EU, Concludes Trade and Cooperation Agreement On January 31, 2020, the UK’s 47-year EU membership came to an end.
    [Show full text]
  • Whig and Tory Historical Political Party
    Whig and Tory historical political party https://www.britannica.com/topic/Whig-Party-England Whig and Tory, members of two opposing political parties or factions in England, particularly during the 18th century. Originally “Whig” and “Tory” were terms of abuse introduced in 1679 during the heated struggle over the bill to exclude James, duke of York (afterward James II), from the succession. Whig—whatever its origin in Scottish Gaelic—was a term applied to horse thieves and, later, to Scottish Presbyterians; it connoted nonconformity and rebellion and was applied to those who claimed the power of excluding the heir from the throne. Tory was an Irish term suggesting a papist outlaw and was applied to those who supported the hereditary right of James despite his Roman Catholic faith. https://www.britannica.com/topic/Anglicanism https://www.britannica.com/topic/archbishop-of-Canterbury https://www.britannica.com/topic/Jacobite-British-history whig - began to take shape only after 1784, The Conservative and Unionist Party (usually shortened to Conservative Party, or informally as the Tory Party) is the main centre-right political party in the United Kingdom. Their policies usually promote conservatism. They are the largest party in the House of Commons after the 2019 United Kingdom general election, with 365 out of a possible 650 seats. The party has generally had liberal economic policies. that favours free market economics, and deregulation, privatisation, and marketisation. The party is British unionist, opposing Irish reunification, Scottish and Welsh independence, and is generally critical of devolution. After a leadership election in the Conservative Party in June and July 2019, Boris Johnson became the leader of the party.
    [Show full text]
  • Britain's No-Deal Debacle?
    Britain’s No-Deal Debacle? The Costs at Home and Likely Setbacks Abroad John Ryan STRATEGIC UPDATE OCTOBER 2020 LSE IDEAS is LSE’s foreign policy think tank. Ranked #1 university affiliated think tank in the world in the 2019 Global Go To Think Tank Index. We connect academic knowledge of diplomacy and strategy with the people who use it. CONTENTS Brexit—Endgame of the Reluctant European?— 4 The Phase of Scepticism 1945-2016 No-Deal Brexit Consequences for Ireland 7 The 2020 Irish Republic Election Result 11 Has Recast Ireland’s Political Dynamics A Joe Biden Presidency and Congress May 14 Block US-UK Post-Brexit Trade Deal Conclusion 18 References 20 ‘‘ Britain’s No-Deal Debacle? The Costs at Home and Likely Setbacks Abroad | John Ryan 3 he UK left the EU on 31 January 2020 after 47 years of membership. If a No-Deal Brexit Tbecomes a reality, it may not only be a sore The historic awakening for Boris Johnson and his government, but ‘‘commitment by the also for the United Kingdom as a whole. In this paper, US government to I will examine UK scepticism over Europe as a long- the peace process established phenomenon as well as the failure over the withdrawal agreement and the problems with the in Northern Ireland poorly executed UK strategy for Brexit negotiations. is a factor, but in I will then look at how a No-Deal Brexit scenario will addition the Irish complicate the economic and political consequences American vote ‘‘ for Ireland, and the associated repercussions for trade matters in US negotiations for the UK with the United States.
    [Show full text]
  • What Is Churchill 2015?
    What is Churchill 2015? Churchill 2015 is a unique international celebration of the life and legacy of The 32nd Annual International Churchill Sir Winston Churchill, fifty years after his Conference a ords a special opportunity to mark death, sixty years after his final resignation the 50th anniversary of the passing of Sir Winston as prime minister, and seventy five years Churchill, to reflect on his accomplishments and after his ‘finest hour’ leading the fight commemorate his memory. against fascism in 1940. This occasion also offers a moment to celebrate Churchill’s life; to Churchill-related activity will take place get to know the man behind the legend. By examining the whole of around the world to commemorate his Churchill’s life, including the controversies surrounding him such as achievements, to highlight his vibrant his role in the battle of Gallipoli and consolations in which he took existing legacy, to promote a range of refuge such as painting and bezique, the conference will illuminate educational opportunities and to bring his much about the man voted Greatest Briton. life and work to new audiences. The conference also aims to explore the ways in which we remember and celebrate his accomplishments by considering how Churchill 2015 follows three main themes: he is portrayed in the media and what it means to play Winston Commemoration, to mark this important Churchill. Does placing him in a historical context alongside people anniversary appropriately; like Napoleon help or hurt his memory? Through the conference we Education, to engage and inspire future ask you to reflect on how we, the next generation of Churchillians generations; and can continue to remember his legacy as we look toward the future.
    [Show full text]
  • Analyzing the Post-Brexit Conservative Party's Populist Status Quo1 Winn, Jacob2
    Brexit: A Fluke or the Future of British Conservatism? 119 BREXIT: A FLUKE OR THE FUTURE OF BRITISH CONSERVATISM? Analyzing the Post-Brexit Conservative Party's Populist Status Quo1 Winn, Jacob2 ABSTRacT The Brexit vote — the British people’s vote to leave the European Union in 2016 — represents the outcome of a successful populist movement. More recently, the Conservative Party’s staggering 2019 electoral success demonstrated that the populist “Get Brexit Done” message remains popular among both traditional Conservatives and broad swaths of the working class in former Labour Party strongholds. This study aims to explain the Conservative Party’s marked change rhetoric and policy, as well as factional shifts within the halls of Westminster, in response to the ongoing Brexit negotiations. While some scholars look at the supply- side causes of populism (elites and political parties) and others look at the demand- side causes (the voters), this study applies a third school of thought that examines the relationship between supply and demand by analyzing a series of interviews with Conservative Party staff as well as public opinion polling. In doing so, the study concludes that there has been a deep, reciprocal, and simultaneous onset of populist Euroscepticism within both the Conservative Party and the working class 1 This work is licensed under CC BY 4.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons. org/licenses/by/4.0 2 Jacob Winn is a Fall 2020 graduate from The George Washington University's Elliott School of International Affairs. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in International Affairs, with a concentration in International Politics, and a double major in Political Science.
    [Show full text]
  • British Politics and Policy at LSE: Boris Johnson Is a Serial Political Survivor, but the Odds Against Him Are Becoming Insurmountable Page 1 of 2
    British Politics and Policy at LSE: Boris Johnson is a serial political survivor, but the odds against him are becoming insurmountable Page 1 of 2 Boris Johnson is a serial political survivor, but the odds against him are becoming insurmountable The reason Boris Johnson became Prime Minister – Brexit – is ironically also the reason his tenure might end before the next election, writes Robin Pettitt. Once Brexit is delivered, the Conservative Party’s need for Johnson will be vastly reduced. When, possibly sometime in 2021 and certainly before then next general election, Boris Johnson is replaced as leader of the Conservative Party and with that as UK Prime Minister, it will have been for one principle reason: Brexit. Brexit is arguably Johnson’s crowning achievement. Although Cameron gave us the referendum, partly driven by Farage’s decades-long dogged pursuit of what we now know as Brexit, it was Johnson’s support which helped bring the result home. Johnson was very much the embodiment of the Leave campaign, with John Curtice writing: ‘Polling certainly persistently suggested that voters were more inclined to believe what Mr. Johnson said about Brexit than they were the utterances of any other politician, including the Prime Minister’. As such, when the Brexit-driven damage to the UK economy and international standing continues to accumulate after the end of the transition period, it will be firmly associated with him personally. That is likely to continue to undermine his own and his party’s standing in the polls, something which will make his MPs nervous. They are already extremely restive, as exemplified by backbench Conservative rebellion against Lockdown 2.0.
    [Show full text]
  • Conservative Manifesto
    Get Brexit Done Unleash Britain’s Potential The Conservative and Unionist Party Manifesto 2019 My Guarantee If there is a majority of Conservative MPs on December 13th, I guarantee I will get our new deal through Parliament. We will get Brexit done in January and unleash the potential of our whole country. I guarantee: • Extra funding for the NHS, with 50,000 more nurses and 50 million more GP surgery appointments a year. • 20,000 more police and tougher sentencing for criminals. • An Australian-style points-based system to control immigration. • Millions more invested every week in science, schools, apprenticeships and infrastructure while controlling debt. • Reaching Net Zero by 2050 with investment in clean energy solutions and green infrastructure to reduce carbon emissions and pollution. • We will not raise the rate of income tax, VAT or National Insurance. If Jeremy Corbyn’s Labour and Nicola Sturgeon’s SNP team up and take control on December 13th, we will have two referendums on Brexit and Scotland in 2020. Please support a majority Conservative Government so our country can move on instead of going backwards. 2 Contents Introduction ....................................................................................................................................... 2 Get Brexit Done ......................................................................................................................... 5 We Will Focus On Your Priorities ................................................................9 We Will Unleash Britain’s Potential ....................................................25 We Will Strengthen Britain In The World ................................. 51 We Will Put You First ......................................................................................................59 The Conservative and Unionist Party Manifesto 2019 Introduction For the last three and a half years, this country has felt trapped, like a lion in a cage. We have all shared the same frustration – like some super-green supercar blocked in the traffic.
    [Show full text]
  • Boris Johnson
    1 BORIS JOHNSON ANDREW MARR SHOW, 5TH JUNE, 2016 BORIS JOHNSON. CONSERVATIVE, LEAVE CAMPAIGN AM: Earlier we heard a pretty stinging broadside from Sir John Major against the leaders of the Leave Campaign, and surely not one that Boris Johnson can dismiss. He’s with me now, good morning. Boris Johnson, dismiss it. BJ: Well, I do dismiss it in a way because I think that you’ve got a very short time now to go until this referendum and I think what people want to hear are the arguments, and what we’re setting out on the Leave side of the campaign is I think an agenda for the government to take back control on June 23rd of a lot of things that really matter to the people of this country. So yes, there’s the money. Not an insignificant sum. Yes, there’s our borders but there’s also very, very important aspects of our economic life that invisibly we can no longer control, and we want to take them back and we think it will be great for our country and great for democracy. AM: Well, I want to get onto the details of all of those things later on if I may, but nonetheless, Sir John, following Chris Patton, following Michel Heseltine, they’ve all had a really, really personal go at you. Is this because they’re trying to take you out? BJ: Whether it is or not I think that – I’m rather with John McDonnell this morning who says – AM: Really? Unlikely. BJ: Well he says that there’s too much of this sort of blue on blue action and what he wants to hear is the arguments.
    [Show full text]
  • How Did Boris Johnson Win?
    Lessons Boris Johnson could learn from history [or – why History matters…always…] Cicero – not to know what took place before you were born is to remain forever a child Prime Ministers – there have been 55 in total (since 1721) 53 were male Youngest (when made Prime Minister) was 24, oldest was 70 20 attended one school – Eton College 28 went to Oxford University – including 11 out of the last 14 Prime Ministers (since Winston Churchill) • The only Prime Minister to be born outside the UK • Eton, Oxford etc • Journalist – sacked for lying Boris Johnson – a • MP 2001-2008 brief history… • London Mayor 2008-2016 • MP again 2015 – present • Main campaigner for ‘Vote Leave’ in 2016 Popular Mayor in a ‘Labour’ city How did Boris Johnson win? He learned from previous successful prime ministers: Margaret Thatcher 1979-1990 Tony Blair 1997-2007 Won three elections Won three elections Blue = Conservative MPs North of England Red = Labour MPs Before the election After the election Mistakes other prime minsters have made that Boris needs to avoid… Big majorities are not easy • When you have a lot of MPs, some of them will vote against you • During his second term, Blair faced rebellions in 21% of votes • Over time this breaks down trust and relationships Don’t assume you will always win • For years, the issue of Europe and membership of the EU divided the Conservative Party • In 2016 David Cameron decided to have a referendum to keep the UK in the EU and secure his control over the party • He believed it would be a straightforward path to win and remain in the EU Know what it is you want to achieve • Theresa May saw Brexit as a nuisance and wanted to get it out of the way as quickly as possible • She also wanted to keep all sides happy • She suffered the largest defeat in history Be wary of your colleagues • Neither Margaret Thatcher nor Tony Blair lost a general election • Instead, they were removed by their colleagues.
    [Show full text]