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You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/media/greenslade/2016/feb/08/does-britains-rightwing-press-really-want-to-bring-about-brexit

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Does Britain's rightwing press really want to bring about Brexit? Does Britain's rightwing press really want to bring about Brexit?
(about 3 hours later)
Anyone surprised by this opinion poll finding? UK media are regarded by the British public as the most rightwing and biased in Europe.Anyone surprised by this opinion poll finding? UK media are regarded by the British public as the most rightwing and biased in Europe.
That’s the finding of a YouGov poll conducted across seven European nations which asked people how they perceived the media in their own countries.That’s the finding of a YouGov poll conducted across seven European nations which asked people how they perceived the media in their own countries.
It found that 26% of Britons viewed their newspapers, TV and radio as “too rightwing” while only 17% of though them “too leftwing”.It found that 26% of Britons viewed their newspapers, TV and radio as “too rightwing” while only 17% of though them “too leftwing”.
This rightwing bias was greater than in France, Germany, Sweden, Norway, Denmark and Finland.This rightwing bias was greater than in France, Germany, Sweden, Norway, Denmark and Finland.
YouGov notes: “Once the percentages for the media being biased to the left are subtracted, Britain’s media is viewed as having a right-wing bias in all five areas, most of all on economics.”YouGov notes: “Once the percentages for the media being biased to the left are subtracted, Britain’s media is viewed as having a right-wing bias in all five areas, most of all on economics.”
Related: UK press most likely to be seen as rightwing, European poll shows
As for media’s stance on immigration, 34% of British people say the press is too negative about immigration, compared to 25% who say it gets the balance about right and 24% who believe it’s too positive.As for media’s stance on immigration, 34% of British people say the press is too negative about immigration, compared to 25% who say it gets the balance about right and 24% who believe it’s too positive.
This will not surprise Guardian writers such as Martin Kettle (anti-European press coverage is “mendacious”) and Polly Toynbee (don’t let the rightwing press bully us out of the European Union).This will not surprise Guardian writers such as Martin Kettle (anti-European press coverage is “mendacious”) and Polly Toynbee (don’t let the rightwing press bully us out of the European Union).
Their analysis of an hysterical rightwing press campaign against the EU and all its works has been illustrated yet again over the past four days.Their analysis of an hysterical rightwing press campaign against the EU and all its works has been illustrated yet again over the past four days.
Aside from editorials either calling for Brexit or, just as pejoratively, attacking David Cameron’s renegotiation package, there were heavily angled “news” stories that engender prejudice.Aside from editorials either calling for Brexit or, just as pejoratively, attacking David Cameron’s renegotiation package, there were heavily angled “news” stories that engender prejudice.
The Saturday and Sunday newspapers were packed with EU material, including several news articles, features and commentaries, most of them detailing splits in the Tory party.The Saturday and Sunday newspapers were packed with EU material, including several news articles, features and commentaries, most of them detailing splits in the Tory party.
On Monday, the Daily Telegraph’s front page was dominated by a story headlined “PM: Brexit will bring ‘Jungle’ to Kent”. Inside was a fence-sitting column by Boris Johnson, a leading article attacking the European court of justice, and a column by Charles Moore mulling over how Margaret Thatcher would vote in a referendum.On Monday, the Daily Telegraph’s front page was dominated by a story headlined “PM: Brexit will bring ‘Jungle’ to Kent”. Inside was a fence-sitting column by Boris Johnson, a leading article attacking the European court of justice, and a column by Charles Moore mulling over how Margaret Thatcher would vote in a referendum.
Moore was responding to a Sunday Times’s splash, “Thatcher ‘would vote yes to EU’”, based on a claim by Charles Powell. Tim Montgomerie, in the Times, also took up the same baton, as did the Daily Mail with a full page plus an editorial scorning the notion of Thatcher “falling for this stitch-up.”Moore was responding to a Sunday Times’s splash, “Thatcher ‘would vote yes to EU’”, based on a claim by Charles Powell. Tim Montgomerie, in the Times, also took up the same baton, as did the Daily Mail with a full page plus an editorial scorning the notion of Thatcher “falling for this stitch-up.”
(This kind of speculation about Thatcher reminded me of the Sun’s habit in the 1980s of imagining how deceased world leaders, Stalin, perhaps, or Churchill, would react to contemporaneous events).(This kind of speculation about Thatcher reminded me of the Sun’s habit in the 1980s of imagining how deceased world leaders, Stalin, perhaps, or Churchill, would react to contemporaneous events).
On a news spread, the Times carried a piece highlighting a claim by Tory MP David Davis that Cameron’s plan to curb migrants’ benefits will provoke “a new surge in migrants.” The Daily Express went big on the same claim with a front page scream “We can’t stop new migrant surge”.On a news spread, the Times carried a piece highlighting a claim by Tory MP David Davis that Cameron’s plan to curb migrants’ benefits will provoke “a new surge in migrants.” The Daily Express went big on the same claim with a front page scream “We can’t stop new migrant surge”.
The Sun’s splash, “Migrant Mr Big exposed”, was the result of an investigation that revealed the activities of an Afghan gang smuggling migrants into Britain.The Sun’s splash, “Migrant Mr Big exposed”, was the result of an investigation that revealed the activities of an Afghan gang smuggling migrants into Britain.
That is a valid piece of journalism, of course. But it needs to be seen in the context of that paper’s Euroscepticism and through the prism of the totality of the rightwing media’s overall anti-EU coverage.That is a valid piece of journalism, of course. But it needs to be seen in the context of that paper’s Euroscepticism and through the prism of the totality of the rightwing media’s overall anti-EU coverage.
As we move towards the referendum on whether the UK remains in the EU, the Brexit message - sometimes consciously, always unconsciously - is being relayed with increasing intensity.As we move towards the referendum on whether the UK remains in the EU, the Brexit message - sometimes consciously, always unconsciously - is being relayed with increasing intensity.
But do our national newspapers really want Britain to leave the EU? Some clearly do not (Guardian, Independent, Financial Times, Daily Mirror). One clearly does (Express) and another gives every indication of doing so too (Mail).But do our national newspapers really want Britain to leave the EU? Some clearly do not (Guardian, Independent, Financial Times, Daily Mirror). One clearly does (Express) and another gives every indication of doing so too (Mail).
The stance of the Telegraph, Times and Sun is - to be honest - less clear. Their editors have yet to declare how they will advise their audiences to vote in the coming referendum.The stance of the Telegraph, Times and Sun is - to be honest - less clear. Their editors have yet to declare how they will advise their audiences to vote in the coming referendum.
You may be forgiven for thinking after years of running critical EU material that they will urge readers to vote no.You may be forgiven for thinking after years of running critical EU material that they will urge readers to vote no.
But it is feasible to argue that their hostile reaction to Cameron’s renegotiation package has been more about criticising the prime minister’s failure to honour his manifesto pledge rather than an indication of their eventual referendum intentions.But it is feasible to argue that their hostile reaction to Cameron’s renegotiation package has been more about criticising the prime minister’s failure to honour his manifesto pledge rather than an indication of their eventual referendum intentions.
The danger is that in having marched their troops in one direction the Fleet Street generals may not be able to turn them around? Do editors really imagine that having bashed the EU at every turn for years and years they can now say: on reflection folks, taking everything into account, reconsidering the good points in Cameron’s deal, thinking hard about the future, wondering again about the economic risks, accepting that although it’s not perfect it’s the best we can expect, please vote yes.The danger is that in having marched their troops in one direction the Fleet Street generals may not be able to turn them around? Do editors really imagine that having bashed the EU at every turn for years and years they can now say: on reflection folks, taking everything into account, reconsidering the good points in Cameron’s deal, thinking hard about the future, wondering again about the economic risks, accepting that although it’s not perfect it’s the best we can expect, please vote yes.
The tide appears to be turning after all. After the period of unrelenting media criticism of Cameron’s reforms initiative, the Times led its front page on Friday with a YouGov poll finding that 45% would vote to leave the EU compared with 36% who wanted to remain.The tide appears to be turning after all. After the period of unrelenting media criticism of Cameron’s reforms initiative, the Times led its front page on Friday with a YouGov poll finding that 45% would vote to leave the EU compared with 36% who wanted to remain.
Even accepting that opinion poll results have never been dodgier, that news must be worrying for the prime minister. But will it also by worrying for the Times itself, meaning its owner Rupert Murdoch? Does he want Brexit?Even accepting that opinion poll results have never been dodgier, that news must be worrying for the prime minister. But will it also by worrying for the Times itself, meaning its owner Rupert Murdoch? Does he want Brexit?
Although the Sun has traditionally been a reliable guide to Murdoch’s thinking, its position on EU membership has been hard to read.Although the Sun has traditionally been a reliable guide to Murdoch’s thinking, its position on EU membership has been hard to read.
Its two most recent editorials are interesting more for what they don’t say rather than do. One attacked Cameron by arguing that his targeting of benefits for migrants was “a stunt.” It did not state where it stood on the substantive matter of the referendum.Its two most recent editorials are interesting more for what they don’t say rather than do. One attacked Cameron by arguing that his targeting of benefits for migrants was “a stunt.” It did not state where it stood on the substantive matter of the referendum.
The other, on Monday, headlined Failed EUtopia, took up the business about how Thatcher might vote in the referendum, arguing that it showed “desperation in Downing Street to find supporters for the PM’s empty deal.”The other, on Monday, headlined Failed EUtopia, took up the business about how Thatcher might vote in the referendum, arguing that it showed “desperation in Downing Street to find supporters for the PM’s empty deal.”
It concluded with a question: “is the prime minister’s renegotiation really worth the paper it’s printed on? As Britain’s only female PM famously said: No, no, no.”It concluded with a question: “is the prime minister’s renegotiation really worth the paper it’s printed on? As Britain’s only female PM famously said: No, no, no.”
Even so, the paper’s final intention is unclear. Murdoch has been regarded as a Eurosceptic, as has Sun editor Tony Gallagher. Even so, given the enormity of the decision, it is still possible that they may pull back from the brink.Even so, the paper’s final intention is unclear. Murdoch has been regarded as a Eurosceptic, as has Sun editor Tony Gallagher. Even so, given the enormity of the decision, it is still possible that they may pull back from the brink.
The bigger question is whether, if they do eventually advise a remain vote, their call will be too late to persuade their readers to do so?The bigger question is whether, if they do eventually advise a remain vote, their call will be too late to persuade their readers to do so?