From “Crush the Saboteurs” to “Coalition of Crackpots”

Abstract

In January 2013, former British Prime Minister David Cameron announced that, if re-­elected, his Conservative government would hold an in-­out referendum on membership of the European Union. Following the rise of the Eurosceptic UK Independence Party (UKIP), his promise soon became an integral part of the Conservatives’ manifesto in the 2015 General Election. Although having successfully renegotiated Britain’s ­ position in the block of 28 member states that make up the EU, in delivering on his election pledge, in February 2016 he announced that a referendum on Britain’s future relationship with the EU would indeed be held in the summer. What then followed were passionate, and indeed sometimes uncivil, months of campaigning: Cameron himself pledged to “­ Remain” in a reformed union, while UKIP under the leadership of Nigel Farage campaigned ferociously to “Leave”. And although public opinion painted a somewhat mixed picture, in London at least – where I lived at the time – those wishing to “Remain” occupied a clear majority of an otherwise fragmented electorate. This was not just evident from frequent and particularly visible demonstrations in the capital: across Islington, house facades were plastered with “Remain” banners; shop owners left “Remain” flyers on their tills; and colleagues and friends alike were left unconcerned about a possible win for the “Leave” camp. Concerned, though, they should have been, as on the morning of 23 June, the previously unthinkable had happened: 52% of the British population had voted to leave the European Union. A triumphant Nigel Farage emerged in the early morning hours, declaring Brexit as Britain’s “Independence Day”. Within hours of the result being announced, an emotional David Cameron emerged outside Number 10 Downing Street, announcing his resignation and appearing to lose his voice when he declared his “love” for Britain. Ever since, the country has been plunged into a sustained period of political and economic uncertainty. In a minority government led by the Conservatives under Prime Minister Theresa May, questions about the long-­term economic consequences Britain will face, or whether, indeed, Brexit will happen at all, remain the order of the day. But how did it come to this? What role did the media play? And what does all of this mean for a digital democracy?