Soapboxes, the Sun and demagoguery

“I see Michael’s back on his soap-box!” said one of my good friends last night. He gave up reading my last post, Are referendums democratic - or not? Let's get real halfway through, he said. Thanks a bunch, Boris!

 

Picture from Too Busy To Fundraise.com

I protested that it was just an argument about consistency. Anyway, today, I have a real concern, in fact a fear. It’s this. Even if there were a second referendum, for which I think are perfectly admissible justifications, there are plenty of demagogues who would take to the airwaves and all forms of media to stir up civil strife.

The Sun newspaper today employs the lurid tones of demagoguery in its comment column, “The Sun says”, headlined, “The Tories must prevent Remainer MPs from stealing Brexit from the ­British people

“What a tsunami of rage politicians would unleash by ignoring the democratic rights of millions on the winning side of the biggest vote in British history.” The article quotes the Rt Hon Dr Liam Fox accusing some of his fellow MPs of “stealing Brexit from the British people.” And it ends, “If Remain won, our democracy would be shattered, all faith in politicians destroyed. That never ends well.

“Do you think Brits are too reserved for civil disorder? Cast your mind back to the riots of the 1970s, 1980s, 1990 or 2011. Or the febrile atmosphere of the referendum, during which Jo Cox MP was heartbreakingly murdered.

“What a tsunami of rage politicians would unleash by ignoring the democratic rights of millions on the winning side of the biggest vote in British history.”

Now that, my friend, is soap-boxing. No it’s more. It’s rabble-rousing. How dare The Sun quote Jo Cox’s murder in a perversion of what she stood for? If you are looking for the roots of the populism that has undermined faith in politicians, you need search no further than the rhetoric of this flagship of Grub Street, the tabloid press. No doubt someone felt very proud of his or her vitriol, but I doubt very much if they stopped to consider whether it was contributing to the health of public discussion in the country.

Why should Great Britain be unable to hold two referendums without tearing the social fabric apart whilst neighbours such as Ireland and Denmark have done so without destroying themselves, and Switzerland repeatedly put the same questions to the nation and keep ticking along like a Rolex watch? Are we so much less civilised than them? The only reason that we might be is not that we lack reserve, but that the likes of The Sun and cabinet ministers such as Dr Fox and Mr Gove (and even the Prime Minister) embark on their own project, Project Hate, ably assisted by the chorus line of ex-ministers and politicians. If there were a referendum concerning Mrs May’s agreement, it would only be as useful and civilised as those leading the debate. It might conceivably be that those wanting a “People’s Vote” are concerned for more than wanting to remain in Europe.

It’s not enough to stick your fingers in your ears and shout, “La-la-la!”, and to hurl insults at those who want to say something you don’t want to hear. If you’re truly concerned for peace and national unity, then you have to talk and not shout, listen and not stop your ears – above all, you need to admit that you may be mistaken.