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Andrew Marr says that his ill-judged remarks about migration "eroding our sense of self" were simply an "urban liberal" trying to explain the referendum, but if he wanted to talk about identity and Brexit, he ignored something that was staring him in the face.
Thread (1/x)
Thread (1/x)
At the beginning of Marr’s monologue about Brexit, he surveys the map of the results, characterising the Remain vote as coming from “the posher, better-educated and richer parts of Britain”, but doesn’t mention his native Scotland or Northern Ireland at all. (2/x)
During the same programme, Andrew Neil spoke about a new volume in our “island story” but focused almost exclusively on how Brexit could be part of “a pan-European uprising against the EU project”, but no mention of the impact on the union. (3/x)
How could they miss it?
Throughout his rise to prominence, Nigel Farage built his message on appeals to English nationalism. In his 2011 speech he berated Westminster politicians for being "ashamed of the very word ‘England’." (4/x)
Throughout his rise to prominence, Nigel Farage built his message on appeals to English nationalism. In his 2011 speech he berated Westminster politicians for being "ashamed of the very word ‘England’." (4/x)
Farage to Andrew Neil in 2012: “I think the English parliament should be in the House of Commons… To be honest with you, I don’t see any need for Scottish or Welsh or Northern Irish MPs to come and debate things that are English-only issues.” (5/x)
Note how Andrew Neil bristled at the idea of Westminster as the English parliament, suggesting it could become “the imperial parliament” with an English parliament somewhere else. (6/x)
It’s odd that Marr didn’t pick up on this theme, since over 20 years previously, he had written that leaving the EU would likely be “the triumph of a style of conservative English nationalism much resented north of the border”. (7/x)
independent.co.uk/voices/beef-is…
independent.co.uk/voices/beef-is…
In the same 1996 column, Marr predicted that if the economic argument in favour of the EU were neutralised, it would allow “popular xenophobia” to be unleashed, so it’s particularly sad that he didn’t take more care over his words in the aftermath of the 2016 vote. (8/x)
If the genie of English nationalism is out of the bottle, it is up to those of us who believe in a liberal, open England to help define its identity, and not leave it up to Farage, or to those who would appease him.
This is the real challenge to our “sense of self”. (9/9)
This is the real challenge to our “sense of self”. (9/9)
