The “Churchill factor” and its influence on the Brexit debateDefining the Churchill myth

Abstract

Winston Churchill is undoubtedly one of the greatest British politicians of all time. His life spans the best part of the 20th century and his influence can still be felt today. Some key Brexit players, such as Nigel Farage, are Churchill admirers. Boris Johnson would even like to be seen as an heir to the great man’s legacy. However, according to Hugo Young, Churchill is at the heart of Britain’s misconception of Europe and of Britain’s delusion about itself. This illusion of grandeur, along with Britain’s misunderstanding of its place in the world, was instrumental in the Brexit result. This paper aims to discuss the way Churchill and his image have shaped Brexit. Churchill’s overbearing shadow, what we might call “the Churchill myth”, seems to have pervaded the Brexit debate as the result of the fateful referendum can be interpreted, in part, as Britain’s inability to come to terms with her glorious past. I will first define the Churchill myth to see that it fitted perfectly with the way Brexiters campaigned in the 2016 referendum. I will then try to understand what might be called “the Churchill factor”, that is, the way Brexiters made the most of the Churchill myth.