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| Every MP to get Brexit guidebook, paid for by crowdfunding drive Every MP to get Brexit guidebook, paid for by crowdfunding drive | |
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| A campaign by a software engineer to fund distribution to every MP of a book touted as the “ultimate guide to Brexit” has crashed through its target, just days after it was launched – thanks to backing from more than 200 members of the public. | A campaign by a software engineer to fund distribution to every MP of a book touted as the “ultimate guide to Brexit” has crashed through its target, just days after it was launched – thanks to backing from more than 200 members of the public. |
| Oxfordshire-based Justen Hyde launched the appeal to to put copies of Ian Dunt’s Brexit: What the Hell Happens Now? into the hands of MPs a week ago. Seven days later, it had already passed its £4,000 goal. With three weeks to go until the fund closes, the organiser expects more money to come in. | Oxfordshire-based Justen Hyde launched the appeal to to put copies of Ian Dunt’s Brexit: What the Hell Happens Now? into the hands of MPs a week ago. Seven days later, it had already passed its £4,000 goal. With three weeks to go until the fund closes, the organiser expects more money to come in. |
| Among high-profile backers for the initiative is philosopher and vocal remain campaigner AC Grayling, who contributed £100. He wrote on the Justgiving page: “Harass every MP until they have read Dunt’s book.” | Among high-profile backers for the initiative is philosopher and vocal remain campaigner AC Grayling, who contributed £100. He wrote on the Justgiving page: “Harass every MP until they have read Dunt’s book.” |
| Hyde said: “I’m just staggered by the response. I don’t even have much of a social media presence, so this has been incredible.” He was inspired to send copies of the book after he became increasingly frustrated by the level of debate surrounding Brexit. | Hyde said: “I’m just staggered by the response. I don’t even have much of a social media presence, so this has been incredible.” He was inspired to send copies of the book after he became increasingly frustrated by the level of debate surrounding Brexit. |
| “After the referendum, I have been waiting for some sort of clarity from the government about what happens next,” he said. “But I have become so frustrated that no one in power seems to have a clue about what they are doing. If I approached my [job] in the same way that the government is approaching Brexit, I would be in deep trouble.” | “After the referendum, I have been waiting for some sort of clarity from the government about what happens next,” he said. “But I have become so frustrated that no one in power seems to have a clue about what they are doing. If I approached my [job] in the same way that the government is approaching Brexit, I would be in deep trouble.” |
| Though he voted remain, he said his campaign was bipartisan and aimed simply at ensuring those in power are informed about the complexity of negotiating the UK’s departure from the EU. | Though he voted remain, he said his campaign was bipartisan and aimed simply at ensuring those in power are informed about the complexity of negotiating the UK’s departure from the EU. |
| “I picked up the book to find out what people in the know would do,” said Hyde, who lives in Witney, the former constituency of David Cameron, who was replaced as MP by Robert Courts, a leave campaigner. “I wanted to send a copy to him, not to change his mind but because if we are going to go ahead with this, we need to be clear about the task.” | “I picked up the book to find out what people in the know would do,” said Hyde, who lives in Witney, the former constituency of David Cameron, who was replaced as MP by Robert Courts, a leave campaigner. “I wanted to send a copy to him, not to change his mind but because if we are going to go ahead with this, we need to be clear about the task.” |
| Dunt’s book was written to cut through the propaganda, myth and half-truths perpetrated by both sides during the EU referendum campaign in June. The author, editor of the politics.co.uk website, spoke to constitutional and trade experts about the risks involved in Brexit negotiations and how to minimise any negative effect on the UK. The author said: “It was based on exactly the opposite of what Michael Gove wanted to do [by ignoring experts].” | Dunt’s book was written to cut through the propaganda, myth and half-truths perpetrated by both sides during the EU referendum campaign in June. The author, editor of the politics.co.uk website, spoke to constitutional and trade experts about the risks involved in Brexit negotiations and how to minimise any negative effect on the UK. The author said: “It was based on exactly the opposite of what Michael Gove wanted to do [by ignoring experts].” |
| Hyde said he hoped reading the book would “challenge the magical thinking among MPs that they can make Brexit a success simply by stating that it will be a success”. | Hyde said he hoped reading the book would “challenge the magical thinking among MPs that they can make Brexit a success simply by stating that it will be a success”. |
| Inspiration to send the book to all 650 MPs came from Skeptics in the Pub, the critical thinking and drinking group that sent a copy of Mark Henderson’s The Geek Manifesto to every MP to improve debate around science. | Inspiration to send the book to all 650 MPs came from Skeptics in the Pub, the critical thinking and drinking group that sent a copy of Mark Henderson’s The Geek Manifesto to every MP to improve debate around science. |
| Canbury, the publisher of Brexit: What the Hell Happens Now? has responded to the campaign by paying for half the books, reducing a potential bill of £6,393 to £3,959. Hyde had initially planned to use any extra money raised to send copies to members of the House of Lords, but news that a Lords committee is pressuring the government to put in place a transitional deal with EU, to ease the process of Brexit, has changed his mind. | Canbury, the publisher of Brexit: What the Hell Happens Now? has responded to the campaign by paying for half the books, reducing a potential bill of £6,393 to £3,959. Hyde had initially planned to use any extra money raised to send copies to members of the House of Lords, but news that a Lords committee is pressuring the government to put in place a transitional deal with EU, to ease the process of Brexit, has changed his mind. |
| “They are raising all the questions we want them to,” Hyde said. “What we think will be more useful is to send copies to all the members of the Scottish parliament and Welsh and Northern Ireland assemblies because they will have a significant role to play in negotiations.” | “They are raising all the questions we want them to,” Hyde said. “What we think will be more useful is to send copies to all the members of the Scottish parliament and Welsh and Northern Ireland assemblies because they will have a significant role to play in negotiations.” |
| He added that he hoped MSPs and devolved assembly members would pressurise MPs to read the book. If insufficient money is raised to fund extra copies, remaining money will be donated to reading charity the Book Trust. | He added that he hoped MSPs and devolved assembly members would pressurise MPs to read the book. If insufficient money is raised to fund extra copies, remaining money will be donated to reading charity the Book Trust. |
| Dunt said he had been encouraged by Hyde’s campaign. “There has been so little content to the debate that MPs are having in parliament, I really hope that those who are backing leave will read it,” he said. | Dunt said he had been encouraged by Hyde’s campaign. “There has been so little content to the debate that MPs are having in parliament, I really hope that those who are backing leave will read it,” he said. |
| Dunt’s book is only the latest literary giveaway to be targeted at MPs. Earlier this week, a pensioner presented a collection of short stories, memoirs and essays about refugees to British parliamentarians. Michaela Fyson handed over copies – one for each MP – of A Country of Refuge, with help from the book’s editor Lucy Popescu, at an event attended by MPs, members of the Lords, writers and refugees. | Dunt’s book is only the latest literary giveaway to be targeted at MPs. Earlier this week, a pensioner presented a collection of short stories, memoirs and essays about refugees to British parliamentarians. Michaela Fyson handed over copies – one for each MP – of A Country of Refuge, with help from the book’s editor Lucy Popescu, at an event attended by MPs, members of the Lords, writers and refugees. |