The government’s problem so far in its handling of Cummings - apart from the obvious refusal to sack him - is they still think their Brexit ‘culture war’ strategy is operative. It isn’t. It hasn’t been at any stage in this pandemic. This, is, not, America.
First, this isn’t Brexit, which has happened anyway. Brexit itself has been detoxified somewhat - hence many Leavers say they’d accept an extension. Leavers’ trust in Boris has kept his ratings afloat during corona BUT that bond of trust isn’t as strong as Trump and the Trumpists
The American culture wars are founded heavily on religious fundamentalism and a view of ‘freedom’ that is deep rooted and frankly bonkers (gun nuts). Abortion, gay rights, seen as murder and hellfire. And Fox News making the Sun look like the Encyclopaedia Britannica.
That’s why Trump can get away with anything, on any issue, in the eyes of most Republicans.
In Britain the values divide is based on ‘open v closed’, sovereignty, views on immigration, and other somewhat nebulous grievances. None of those have been triggered in the pandemic
In Britain the values divide is based on ‘open v closed’, sovereignty, views on immigration, and other somewhat nebulous grievances. None of those have been triggered in the pandemic
Which is why Trump attacking the ‘fake news’ media gets an audience whilst Cummings trying the same line has fallen flat.
