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PM's divisive 'surrender bill' phrase neither careless nor casual PM's divisive ‘surrender bill’ phrase is neither careless nor casual
(about 1 hour later)
Part of the fury among MPs about Boris Johnson’s inflammatory rhetoric is that it appears to be a deliberate, election-driven strategy.Part of the fury among MPs about Boris Johnson’s inflammatory rhetoric is that it appears to be a deliberate, election-driven strategy.
Labour MPs are incandescent at the idea that the best way to honour Jo Cox is to get Brexit done and the prime minister’s dismissive attitude towards concerns about their safety.Labour MPs are incandescent at the idea that the best way to honour Jo Cox is to get Brexit done and the prime minister’s dismissive attitude towards concerns about their safety.
But the situation is made worse by the suspicion that it is neither careless nor casual – but rather a concerted effort to whip up anger in the country against MPs in order to motivate pro-Brexit voters to back him at the polls.But the situation is made worse by the suspicion that it is neither careless nor casual – but rather a concerted effort to whip up anger in the country against MPs in order to motivate pro-Brexit voters to back him at the polls.
Johnson’s language about a “surrender bill” is calculated to cast his opponents as people colluding with foreign powers to block Brexit. It was not a flippant, one-off comment, as the prime minister has used the words at least eight times in the House of Commons. He also told Conservative MPs that he was determined to continue using those words.Johnson’s language about a “surrender bill” is calculated to cast his opponents as people colluding with foreign powers to block Brexit. It was not a flippant, one-off comment, as the prime minister has used the words at least eight times in the House of Commons. He also told Conservative MPs that he was determined to continue using those words.
Labour MPs are wise to this but fear that it is already “cutting through” to voters, as electoral strategists say, not just through the traditional media but clipped versions of Johnson’s speeches spreading through social media.Labour MPs are wise to this but fear that it is already “cutting through” to voters, as electoral strategists say, not just through the traditional media but clipped versions of Johnson’s speeches spreading through social media.
'Man with no shame': the papers on Boris Johnson's performance in the Commons'Man with no shame': the papers on Boris Johnson's performance in the Commons
Thousands of comments below the prime minister’s Facebook posts congratulate him for his approach to Brexit, while pro-Brexit commentators and even some far-right activists such as Tommy Robinson and Katie Hopkins amplify his message.Thousands of comments below the prime minister’s Facebook posts congratulate him for his approach to Brexit, while pro-Brexit commentators and even some far-right activists such as Tommy Robinson and Katie Hopkins amplify his message.
The rhetoric is also spreading throughout the media via anonymous “senior government source” quotes distributed variously to political journalists. Using outlandish, eye-catching metaphors, these sources try to make the phrase “surrender bill” enter the public consciousness in the same way that the Vote Leave slogans about “taking back control” and spending “£350m on the NHS”.The rhetoric is also spreading throughout the media via anonymous “senior government source” quotes distributed variously to political journalists. Using outlandish, eye-catching metaphors, these sources try to make the phrase “surrender bill” enter the public consciousness in the same way that the Vote Leave slogans about “taking back control” and spending “£350m on the NHS”.
This is the hallmark of Dominic Cummings, the former Vote Leave architect who is now Johnson’s most senior adviser. Jeremy Corbyn, the Labour leader, has also highlighted its similarities with the language of rightwing populist demagogues such as Donald Trump. “He is whipping up division with language that’s indistinguishable from the far right,” the Labour leader said in his conference speech this week.This is the hallmark of Dominic Cummings, the former Vote Leave architect who is now Johnson’s most senior adviser. Jeremy Corbyn, the Labour leader, has also highlighted its similarities with the language of rightwing populist demagogues such as Donald Trump. “He is whipping up division with language that’s indistinguishable from the far right,” the Labour leader said in his conference speech this week.
After Wednesday' night’s fractious debate over Johnson’s inflammatory language, several MPs say death threats and abuse got worse overnight. An explanation of what is occurring came from Jess Phillips, the Labour MP and women’s rights campaigner. After Wednesday night’s fractious debate over Johnson’s inflammatory language, several MPs say death threats and abuse got worse overnight. An explanation of what is occurring came from Jess Phillips, the Labour MP and women’s rights campaigner.
“The use of language yesterday and over the past few weeks, such as the surrender bill, such as invoking the war, such as betrayal and treachery, it has clearly been tested, and workshopped and worked up and entirely designed to inflame hatred and division,” she said.“The use of language yesterday and over the past few weeks, such as the surrender bill, such as invoking the war, such as betrayal and treachery, it has clearly been tested, and workshopped and worked up and entirely designed to inflame hatred and division,” she said.
“I get it, it works, it is working. It is not sincere, it is totally planned, it is completely and utterly a strategy designed by somebody to harm and cause hatred in our country.”“I get it, it works, it is working. It is not sincere, it is totally planned, it is completely and utterly a strategy designed by somebody to harm and cause hatred in our country.”
No 10 is now entirely in campaign mode, with every action designed to get Johnson closer to securing a mandate to carry out the type of Brexit that he wants. His aggressive language now looks to have put paid to the chances of finding any consensus across the Commons with Labour MPs on a Brexit deal, even if he were to bring back a fresh offer from Brussels. He may even ramp up his clash with the judiciary by refusing to seek an extension in line with the Benn bill and forcing the courts to impose one on him.No 10 is now entirely in campaign mode, with every action designed to get Johnson closer to securing a mandate to carry out the type of Brexit that he wants. His aggressive language now looks to have put paid to the chances of finding any consensus across the Commons with Labour MPs on a Brexit deal, even if he were to bring back a fresh offer from Brussels. He may even ramp up his clash with the judiciary by refusing to seek an extension in line with the Benn bill and forcing the courts to impose one on him.
After that, the opposition have said they will give him the election that he now appears to be intent on. But his culture war on MPs is a high-risk strategy for the Conservatives that could end up backfiring if outrage over his divisive behaviour starts to overshadow his messaging on Brexit and domestic policies.After that, the opposition have said they will give him the election that he now appears to be intent on. But his culture war on MPs is a high-risk strategy for the Conservatives that could end up backfiring if outrage over his divisive behaviour starts to overshadow his messaging on Brexit and domestic policies.
Boris JohnsonBoris Johnson
House of CommonsHouse of Commons
LabourLabour
ConservativesConservatives
Dominic CummingsDominic Cummings
BrexitBrexit
analysisanalysis
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