Buried in a 19,800 word Spectator essay written by former online editor and Vote Leave director Dominic Cummings is an admission: The Brexit referendum was won by lying to the public.
The piece, found here, is well worth reading but also falls victim to classic “mansplaining” (explaining something in a condescending or patronizing way) of a complex issue with many words wasted on prose that most politicians would be proud of, working around the subject rather than delving in to the heart of it.
Of course, that’s for a very good reason, because at the heart of the vote to leave the European Union is an entanglement of lies and propagandist sensationalism that even the most brave souls wouldn’t dare admit to.
There is the admission that the NHS wouldn’t really take back our £350 million EU fee, and that immigration wouldn’t really be capped, and that standards of living wouldn’t really change if we left the EU. All of which are matters that the general public voted on, and all are incorrect.
And so to the damning paragraph that outs the Leave Campaign for what it was:
“Pundits and MPs kept saying ‘why isn’t Leave arguing about the economy and living standards’. They did not realise that for millions of people, £350m/NHS was about the economy and living standards – that’s why it was so effective. It was clearly the most effective argument not only with the crucial swing fifth but with almost every demographic. Even with UKIP voters it was level-pegging with immigration. Would we have won without immigration? No. Would we have won without £350m/NHS? All our research and the close result strongly suggests No. Would we have won by spending our time talking about trade and the Single Market? No way.”
Politics and Insights 
Reblogged this on | truthaholics.
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So what’s new The Yoons wanted it so the vote was based on well tried and tested tactics. The surprising thing is that as Brexit unfolds, the credibility of those who wanted Brexit, Farage Johnson et.al are reaping the consequences of their lying. As a student of political machinations. This is a poor attempt at the divide and conquer system. If nothing else it shows that Tory and leavers are really as incompetent a lot as you would ever find. Their slogans Brexit means Brexit and Strong and Stable are now a millstones round their necks. What happened to Imperial spirit of we are the government and we know what is best for you. Why did the PM ask the EU for help this week if she runs a S&S government. In years to come will the universities praise or condemn them and their stratagems for trying to leave the EU at no cost to them I leave you to figure that one out. When the last productive worker dies and freedom of speech and thinking are but dreams and fantasies. The old saying of you can fool some of the people some of the time and most of the people most of the time BUT not all of the people all of the time and it is in that dogma that the reality of what is really happening will the demise of the Tory supposed credibility will fail.
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Reblogged this on sdbast.
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Reblogged this on Worldtruth and commented:
As I tried to explain to many people, the LEAVE Campaign was based almost entirely on lies. That’s not to say the REMAIN camp were not also guilty of certain snippets of misinformation – something that should not have happened, but in contrast to the bare faced lies of their opposition, paled to insignificance in the truth debate. The truth on immigration was always applicable to both sides of the argument and still needs addressing in a fair and reasonable fashion – their must be some new rules introduced to curb the type and sheer volume of migrants, but because of Tory mismanagement of the economy, Britain would be sunk without the many contributions the migrants make. Had Corbyn and McDonnell succeeded in securing the election in 2015(as opposed to the Tory Lite Labour offerings) things might indeed, have been very different. Wages would have gone up in keeping with inflation and programmes to skill train the 18-24 year olds and give many other young people the opportunity to study without incurring massive debt, the introduction of legislation to curb the excesses of Corporations and tax evasion(still continuing under our elitist government)PQE to restart the job industry and get millions in work and many more obvious amendments to the current state of affairs, we would have had no need for a referendum. When the offer of a referendum was announced, I had already made my own investigation into the facts and despite being a long time opponent of the EU, decided that I was at heart an Internationalist and that we would actually be better off remaining. Much as I despise Macron’s suggestions, I still believe we are better off in than out. The damage is done and democracy must be allowed to rule, however dishonestly the vote was won. Unless another referendum is held to ascertain whether people would prefer another referendum on membership of the EU(in hindsight of the REAL truths now being made available)I cannot and will not, treat the original vote as a best of three darts match. The original should have been binding only if there was a differential in the votes cast exceeding a minimum of 5% and since that was never a condition, the vote must stand. Currently, the only people who benefit from a Brexit are the corporates, the tax dodgers, credit companies and the many private industries raking in huge profits at the expense of ordinary people. Until everyone understands this, the situation is not likely to be reversed, certainly not if we leave the EU(or for that matter, the punitive “austerity” scam limiting our progress and the disparity between earnings and their relation to welfare dependency requiring Housing Benefit and Child Tax credits to top up the discrepancy). Should we ever be in a position to reverse this vicious circle with Corbyn and McDonnell’s investment in people then the issue of EU membership would probably be moot.
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Whilst I have no doubt that the leave campaign were aware they were lying to the public about curbing immigration and that the NHS would benefit from the money now being spent on Europe’s fees, I do feel that people have for some time formed their own views on Europe and were not that difficult to convince.
I think also, it would be a big mistake to think a re-run would provide a much different result, as there is still a hard core that have not changed their minds.
Europe is in great trouble that is not highlighted in the media due entirely for the same reasons we have in this country, the difference though for us is that we still have our own currency.
In short Europe’s trade imbalances and Neo-Liberal leaders that has progressively introduced legislation that give corporations disproportionate power over economic and legal matters, cannot therefore, promote social well being and sustainable living standards that will give stability throughout Europe.
Unless Europe totally reforms it’s Neo-Liberal institutions into democratically accountable ones and the Euro is transformed to serve the interests of people rather than just propping up bankrupt Banks, it will in the not too distant future all collapse.
Most are not really aware of the real Achilles foot in Europe, as the media distorts the reality to fit their own agenda, But if we can open the debate of the real effects of the single currency on member states and German (whether intended or not hegemony) on Europe’s political power base,who’s interests are served by the current situation, when the simple fact is that the Euro has to be reformed, or trade imbalances will crash Europe’s economy as a whole. (Possibly reintroducing a federated state with their own currencies, or the single currency with transferable tax arrangements that redistributes money within the Euro zone).
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The Tories have introduced most of the neoliberal legislations in this country, and will continue to do so, given opportunity, long after we leave. Neoliberalism here started with Thatcher, don’t forget.
The difference between the EU and UK is that while the Tories see protective laws we have as a mere inconvenience, the EU see them as essential to portect citizens from the worst ravages of capitalism. I’m an anti-neoliberal, and can’t get behind it as a socioeconomic doctrine. But with an authoritarian government in office in the UK, and the growth in social prejudice here, directed particularly at socially marginalised groups, I think it was the wrong time to leave. It will leave us with a government that cares nothing for the wellbeing of citizens here, with less international scrutiny and accountability than it had. That will let them off the leash. If you think it was bad in the EU, you’re about to find out just who is responsible for the inequality, punitive policies, harms to citizens and growing poverty in the UK, and it wasn’t and isn’t the EU.
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I am under absolutely no illusion about our government and accept it as a given that we remove them from office as soon as possible.
People though generally forget the laws and institutions that neoliberal European governments have introduced, not forgetting their efforts with TTIP & CETA.
In truth Europe is not a safe haven and its prospects are just s precarious as ours.
Europes vision has changed for the worse since its inception and doesn’t hold the same values no matter what they say.
Look what they did to Greece, bailed out their banks but refused to do the same for them, yes just like here.
It doesn’t have to be this way, here or there.
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The TTIP is a trans-Atlantic agreement and will most likely happen without the EU arbitrating between UK and US, at least in some form, without the safeguards secured by the socialist group and our Labour party MEPs within the EU – namely that the toxic clause (ISDS) permitting corporate entities to sue governments for loss of profit is removed – https://kittysjones.wordpress.com/2015/03/07/labour-meps-secure-support-to-reject-the-isds-clause-in-the-ttip/
I agree with your comment about Greece. However, the OECD have since concluded that austerity is damaging to economies – and austerity is a central plank of neoliberalism. Hopefully there is a lesson to be learned in that research, and it will be taken on board.
The UK government are never going to increase funding for our public services. It will continue to be cut until there is nothing left. here, we face permananent austerity under the Tories. Yes, we need to get them out.
My comment about the timing of the referendum and leaving stands. For all the faults of the EU, there was a mechanism in place to award a degree of protection for citizens in member states. That’s gone now.
The referendum did not happen because the Tories and far right have good intentions and the best interests of UK citizens in mind. They saw our membership as a barrier to getting their own way with imposing on us their increasingly authoritarian, draconian policies.
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Those of us most vulnerable to the effects of brexit were denied a vote. No-one is setting out what will happen to pensions, benefits and most vitally healthcare of Brits in Europe. We have no vote in the UK, and no representation in the EU after the UK has left.
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