Thread by @SimonFRCox

May’s next month will raise the threat to UK democracy of political violence & loss of confidence in elections. THREAD. 1/
#Brexit

Reckless hyping of the threat from British nationalist voters has been May’s main strategy to press MPs to fall in line behind her deal. 2/

May has used her bully pulpit for a narrative dominated by nationalist & anti-democratic talking points. Billionaire press & TV have mostly gone alone 3/

May has never admitted that Brexit should be a democratic, deliberative process. She’s always talked as if MPs have no legitimate role & as if the 2 year A50 period is more important than the right kind of Brexit. 4/

Even now, she frames Parliament as an *opponent* with whom she is being forced to compromise.

Her unspoken hope is that the *people* will come to her aid. 5/

(IMO part of May’s deep personal strategy in politics - present herself as a fighter, rather than a winner. Old thread >

https://twitter.com/simonfrcox/status/859799583249108992

) 6/

The *democratic* threat - voting for a different candidate - is entirely legit.

But May won’t talk about *institutional* mechanisms of democracy.

Instead she’s hyped dangerous *anti-democratic* threats. 7/

1st, May is feeding narrative that EUref means Parliament *isnt allowed to be* deliberative or to make specific choices about Brexit.

She’s claiming Parliament is subordinate to Gov. 8/

2nd, May claims “the people” decided - but doesn’t say what *mechanism* voters now have. Because that would mean calling for her own backbenchers to be defeated by other parties. 9/

Leavers have no non-gov institutions of their own to take *democratic* decisions on how to campaign. Their leaders have kept this an elite dark-money operation. 10/

This combination: PM calling for pressure + no visible democratic means of exercising it + no trusted non-gov structures for debating & deciding it

creates

loss of confidence in democratic institutions and raised risk of anti-democratic actions. 11/

Ultras & their mass media allies will spend next month pouring fuel on fire. And May’s trajectory is she will legitimise the anger & concern. 12/

The new element is 23 May EuroParl elections.

May’s new stick to wave at MPs - in front of the public. “The people voted not to have these elections!”

May will make many voters see these elections as an attack on sovereignty. 13/

May & her supporters have challenged the legitimacy of:
- judges
- Parliamentary supremacy
- individual MPs’ accountability to constituents

Now elections will be attacked. 14/

I see two outcomes.

1. More weakening of respect for idea of democracy: elections, deliberation, peaceful creation majorities around concrete ideas. More calls for strong leaders.

2. High risk of political violence by ultras. 15/

Political activists on doorsteps asking for votes. When PM says those elections are against “people’s will”. With long standing claim by others that EU “doesn’t let states leave”.

That’s an unprecedented situation. 16/

I don’t think political violence is May’s wish.

May is an authoritarian populist without experience or wisdom to understand what’s at stake. She doesn’t seem to take wise advice.

She cheerfully encourages a fascist tiger to scare others, without thinking if it can be killed.17/

May *should* say that Parliaments are fundamental democratic mechanisms, where *competing* views are represented & decisions taken.

She should say that - while UK Parliament supports UK being in EU - for however short a time - British must be fully represented in EU. 18/18