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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| The Sun's Brexit call is unsurprising but it has a symbolic significance | The Sun's Brexit call is unsurprising but it has a symbolic significance |
| (2 months later) | |
| As front page political endorsements go, the Sun’s backing for Brexit is utterly unsurprising. The newspaper has been consistently Eurosceptic for almost 40 years. | As front page political endorsements go, the Sun’s backing for Brexit is utterly unsurprising. The newspaper has been consistently Eurosceptic for almost 40 years. |
| Just a couple of years after urging its readers in 1975 to vote to stay in the Common Market, it changed its mind. | Just a couple of years after urging its readers in 1975 to vote to stay in the Common Market, it changed its mind. |
| From at least 1981 onwards, it has not concealed its contempt for the European project. It has, as its Tuesday leading article stated, “campaigned relentlessly against the ever-expanding superstate.” | From at least 1981 onwards, it has not concealed its contempt for the European project. It has, as its Tuesday leading article stated, “campaigned relentlessly against the ever-expanding superstate.” |
| In so doing, I am convinced it has reflected the views of the majority of its audiences. Sure, its relentless opposition to the EU may have changed some readers’ minds. | In so doing, I am convinced it has reflected the views of the majority of its audiences. Sure, its relentless opposition to the EU may have changed some readers’ minds. |
| But I doubt very much that it can be accused of a mass conversion. I spent five years as the paper’s assistant editor and it was clear that its various anti-EEC campaigns were received enthusistically by the readership. | But I doubt very much that it can be accused of a mass conversion. I spent five years as the paper’s assistant editor and it was clear that its various anti-EEC campaigns were received enthusistically by the readership. |
| In 1984, many thousands of readers wrote in to obtain badges bearing the slogan “Hop off you Frogs” during an alleged “war” over the import British lamb into France. | In 1984, many thousands of readers wrote in to obtain badges bearing the slogan “Hop off you Frogs” during an alleged “war” over the import British lamb into France. |
| The Sun has opposed every attempt at forging greater European integration, as exemplified by its famous 1990 front page deriding Jacques Delors, the then president of the European Commission. | The Sun has opposed every attempt at forging greater European integration, as exemplified by its famous 1990 front page deriding Jacques Delors, the then president of the European Commission. |
| That “Up Yours Delors” article referred to “the Froggie Common Market chief” and called on readers to “tell the French fool where to stuff his ECU.” | That “Up Yours Delors” article referred to “the Froggie Common Market chief” and called on readers to “tell the French fool where to stuff his ECU.” |
| Overt anti-French and anti-German racism was a common theme in the Sun’s original coverage. That xenophobia has become a little more muted in recent years, although echoes of it occur (and, arguably, remain within the mind-set of its older readers). | Overt anti-French and anti-German racism was a common theme in the Sun’s original coverage. That xenophobia has become a little more muted in recent years, although echoes of it occur (and, arguably, remain within the mind-set of its older readers). |
| Now comes BeLEAVE in Britain, a front page that can be seen as the culmination of the paper’s desire to pull Britain out of the European Union. | Now comes BeLEAVE in Britain, a front page that can be seen as the culmination of the paper’s desire to pull Britain out of the European Union. |
| Trevor Kavanagh, the Sun’s associate editor, columnist and former political editor, told Radio 4’s Today programme that it represented “a long and legitimate campaign” going back over 40 years. He was undeniably correct. | Trevor Kavanagh, the Sun’s associate editor, columnist and former political editor, told Radio 4’s Today programme that it represented “a long and legitimate campaign” going back over 40 years. He was undeniably correct. |
| “We must,” said the paper, “set ourselves free from dictatorial Brussels... If we stay, Britain will be engulfed in a few short years by this relentlessly expanding German dominated federal state” (hear that echo?). | “We must,” said the paper, “set ourselves free from dictatorial Brussels... If we stay, Britain will be engulfed in a few short years by this relentlessly expanding German dominated federal state” (hear that echo?). |
| The Sun, which supported David Cameron in the general election, scorned the prime minister’s “witless assurances” about Britain benefiting from voting Remain. By staying, it said, “our powers and values will be further eroded.” It continued: | The Sun, which supported David Cameron in the general election, scorned the prime minister’s “witless assurances” about Britain benefiting from voting Remain. By staying, it said, “our powers and values will be further eroded.” It continued: |
| “Staying in will be worse for immigration, worse for jobs, worse for wages and worse for our way of life... | “Staying in will be worse for immigration, worse for jobs, worse for wages and worse for our way of life... |
| To remain means being powerless to cut mass immigration which keeps wages low and puts catastrophic pressure on our schools, hospitals, roads and housing stock.” | To remain means being powerless to cut mass immigration which keeps wages low and puts catastrophic pressure on our schools, hospitals, roads and housing stock.” |
| The Sun (in company with its owner, Rupert Murdoch) likes nothing better than to oppose “the establishment”, thereby aligning itself with “the outsiders” (the people, its readers) in their fight against “them.” | The Sun (in company with its owner, Rupert Murdoch) likes nothing better than to oppose “the establishment”, thereby aligning itself with “the outsiders” (the people, its readers) in their fight against “them.” |
| So its description of the Remain campaign as being “made up of the corporate establishment, arrogant europhiles and foreign banks” also has a long history. It goes right back to the Sun’s chip-on-the-shoulder arrival as a red-top tabloid in 1969. | So its description of the Remain campaign as being “made up of the corporate establishment, arrogant europhiles and foreign banks” also has a long history. It goes right back to the Sun’s chip-on-the-shoulder arrival as a red-top tabloid in 1969. |
| The positive message was an assertion that “outside the EU we can become richer, safer and free at long last to forge our own destiny... let’s leave it and, using our enormous clout as the world’s fifth biggest economy, strike great trade deals with the other 85 per cent of the world.” | The positive message was an assertion that “outside the EU we can become richer, safer and free at long last to forge our own destiny... let’s leave it and, using our enormous clout as the world’s fifth biggest economy, strike great trade deals with the other 85 per cent of the world.” |
| The paper contended that, once we “reassert our sovereignty, embracing a future as a self-governing, powerful nation envied by all” we will be able to “pick and choose the best migrants from the whole world.” | The paper contended that, once we “reassert our sovereignty, embracing a future as a self-governing, powerful nation envied by all” we will be able to “pick and choose the best migrants from the whole world.” |
| So who decided on the Sun’s stance? Kavanagh was unequivocal, telling Today it was the editor’s call. Well, I am sure that the editor, Tony Gallagher, agreed with every word of his leading article. | So who decided on the Sun’s stance? Kavanagh was unequivocal, telling Today it was the editor’s call. Well, I am sure that the editor, Tony Gallagher, agreed with every word of his leading article. |
| He has not concealed his contempt for the EU and all its works in his previous positions, as editor of the Daily Telegraph and in senior executive positions at the Daily Mail. | He has not concealed his contempt for the EU and all its works in his previous positions, as editor of the Daily Telegraph and in senior executive positions at the Daily Mail. |
| But it is inconceivable that Gallagher would have run that front page without knowing that he had Murdoch’s firm backing. On this topic, Murdoch, Gallagher and Kavanagh are in complete agreement. | But it is inconceivable that Gallagher would have run that front page without knowing that he had Murdoch’s firm backing. On this topic, Murdoch, Gallagher and Kavanagh are in complete agreement. |
| What difference will it make? Precious little. The overwhelming majority of the Sun’s readers who have decided to vote on 23 June have already made up their minds where to place their cross. | What difference will it make? Precious little. The overwhelming majority of the Sun’s readers who have decided to vote on 23 June have already made up their minds where to place their cross. |
| But the Sun’s statement certainly has a symbolic importance and it is likely to give the jitters to the already nervous Cameron and his Remain campaigners. | But the Sun’s statement certainly has a symbolic importance and it is likely to give the jitters to the already nervous Cameron and his Remain campaigners. |