New Times,
New Thinking.

  1. Politics
15 November 2017

The Telegraph’s “mutineers” front page is a handy guide to the only Tories worth your while

Its montage of rebels shows us who opposes the government’s stupid approach to Brexit.

By Media Mole

Ah, the Brexit press. How does it manage to be so insecure when everything – including a nationwide referendum and a craven Prime Minister – goes its way? Presumably because it’s beginning to realise its vision for Britain is completely out of step with anything remotely in the interests of its readers, of course! Here is the Telegraph’s latest nervous breakdown of a front page:

That’s right, a series of relatively flattering, friendly photos of Conservative MPs who don’t believe trashing the entire economy to placate a minute fringe of ideological zeal is necessarily the best thing for our country. Ie. THE MUTINEERS.

Yes, this is what mutiny looks like in 2017 Britain. No handsome pirates jollying around with muskets and grog. No. Just a bunch of polite but uncomfortable looking estate agents, headmistresses and retired butlers.

Select and enter your email address Your weekly guide to the best writing on ideas, politics, books and culture every Saturday. The best way to sign up for The Saturday Read is via saturdayread.substack.com The New Statesman's quick and essential guide to the news and politics of the day. The best way to sign up for Morning Call is via morningcall.substack.com
Visit our privacy Policy for more information about our services, how Progressive Media Investments may use, process and share your personal data, including information on your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications.
THANK YOU

These are the Conservatives who plan to rebel against the government when it tries to enshrine the UK’s date of departure from the European Union in law. The government is proposing to include this date – 11pm on 29 March 2019 – in the EU Withdrawal Bill. Entirely pointlessly and self-destructively.

Anna Soubry, a Tory MP included in the montage, has called the front page “bullying” – and it does indeed look like the paper’s intention was to create a sort of modern-day “Wanted” poster.

But no one else is, well, on the same page.

The Brexit minister Steve Baker, who campaigned to leave the EU, has slammed “media attempts to divide our party”– adding that his colleagues pictured have made “sincere suggestions to improve the Bill which we are working through and I respect them for that”.

Even arch Brexiteer Tory MEP Dan Hannan opposed the front page, tweeting: “Expressing those opinions is not mutiny; it’s representative democracy.”

In fact, one of the only people praising the splash appears to be JK Rowling, who finds it a handy guide to the only Conservatives vaguely interested in our national interest at present…

Cut out and keep!

Content from our partners
Homes for all: how can Labour shape the future of UK housing?
The UK’s skills shortfall is undermining growth
<strong>What kind of tax reforms would stimulate growth?</strong>