The last two weeks in British politics have been profoundly strange, with accusations of racism flying thick and fast, two former Prime Ministers fighting for relevance in a world that would rather forget them, and Jacob Rees-Mogg being Jacob Rees-Mogg. Here’s the whole story.
Interesting Times
A famous Chinese curse states, “May you live in interesting times,” and it certainly seems that the times we’re living in will remain interesting.
Political Upheavals
In the past two weeks alone, a series of political upheavals have happened in the UK, which, individually, would seem bizarre, but taken all together in such a short time, suggests that we have truly fallen down the rabbit hole.
From Tragedy to Farce
Here are five times that British politics has descended from tragedy into farce in the last two weeks.
#1. Lee Anderson Leads Tory Turmoil
The Metropolitan Police is currently investigating reports of hate speech against MP Lee Anderson, who stated that Islamists had “got control” of Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London.
Suspended
Anderson refused to apologise for his racist comments and was promptly suspended from the Conservative Party.
Calling Out Racism
Sadiq Khan called on the Prime Minister to call out Anderson’s remarks as racist and Islamaphobic, but so far, the Prime Minister has refused to do so, stating only that what Anderson said was “wrong.”
“Entirely Legitimate”
However, others in the Tory Party, such as Jacob Rees-Mogg, have supported his comments, stating that “his concerns about Islamism are entirely legitimate.”
Reform UK
Anderson has since suggested that he move to the newest refuge for Conservative MPs who have been kicked out for scandalous reasons, the Reform UK party.
#2. Suella Braverman Also Jumps On Board The Islamaphobic Bandwagon
Disgraced Former Home Secretary Suella Braverman’s racist tirade in the Telegraph landed her in hot water after she insisted that “the Islamists, the extremists and the anti-Semites are in charge now.”
Rishi Sunak’s Weakness
Braverman’s comments were met with accusations similar to Anderson’s. However, she has not been punished accordingly, which some have interpreted as a sign of the weakness of Rishi Sunak’s leadership position.
“Shameful”
Braverman’s insane accusations were met with an outpouring of criticism and condemnation from both political figures and Muslim Community Organisations, with Scotland’s First Minister Humza Yousaf calling the article “shameful.”
#3. Boris Johnson Claims “World Was Safer Under Donald Trump”
Unable to bear being out of the headlines for more than a few weeks, disgraced former Prime Minister Boris Johnson waded back into the political scene, announcing that the “world was safer under Donald Trump.”
Trump Supporter
Johnson, whose disastrous handling of the Tory Party led to his ousting as Prime Minister, was an ardent supporter of Trump despite the former president’s persistent legal troubles and his ongoing, incorrect belief that the last election was stolen from him.
Back in the Limelight
The statement was met with outrage from many political commentators and human rights groups, but the damage was done, and Johnson had found himself where he most wanted to be, back in the limelight for a few short days.
#4. Liz Truss, Remember Her? She’s Back Too
Another of the Tory party’s disgraced former Prime Ministers, Liz Truss, found herself amongst like-minded right-wing idealogues at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in the US, where she gave a speech advocating for conservative principles and the need for a Republican in the White House while stopping short of explicitly endorsing Trump.
“Chinos”
Truss, whose own short tenure as Prime Minister crashed the economy with those same conservative principles she advocates, emphasised the importance of conservative resolve in facing global challenges posed by nations like Russia, Iran, and China, while also criticising “Chinos” (conservatives in name only) who prioritise social acceptance over ideological integrity.
#5. Jacob Rees-Mogg Goes On Weird Milk Rant on GB News
Finally, to show that not all of the mad goings on in British politics are portents of our upcoming doom, Jacob Rees-Mogg, Britain’s favourite time-travelling MP, was back in the headlines after he went on an incredibly strange rant railing against “liberals who drink skimmed milk,” asserting that only full-fat milk can “nourish your inner Tory.”
When is Milk Not Milk?
Rees-Mogg’s remarks came after he sampled various milk types on his GB News program, denouncing plant-based alternatives like oat, almond, and cashew milk as “ghastly” and claiming they cannot be considered milk.
Whole Milk is Back!
He celebrated the resurgence of traditional whole milk sales, criticising the health lobby’s promotion of low-fat options.
Utter Disbelief
The reactions to Rees-Mogg’s seemingly unhinged rantings ran the political gambit from utter disbelief to Labour MP Stella Creasy’s tongue-in-cheek assertion that the whole saga was so strange it couldn’t actually be real.
Deepfake Technology
“We must tackle deepfake technology being used to create political content urgently before they further undermine what confidence people have left in democracy,” she stated, no doubt with a wry smile.
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The post Tricky Times in British Politics: 5 Times Things Got Crazy in the Last Fortnight first appeared on Edge Media.
Featured Image Credit: Shutterstock / John B Hewitt.
Grant Gallacher is a seasoned writer with expertise in politics and impactful daily news. His work, deeply rooted in addressing issues that resonate with a wide audience, showcases an unwavering commitment to bringing forth the stories that matter. He is also known for satirical writing and stand up comedy.