Britain Archives | Page 12 of 46 | MelaniePhillips.com

Glad, confident morning for Britain’s battling Brexiteers? Er, not quite

August 22, 2019August 22, 2019 MelanieBoris Johnson, brexit, eu, Irish backstop

Suddenly Brexit has become possible, coo the newspapers this morning; and suddenly, this Brexiteer’s heart stops for the umpteenth time during this national crisis. For what they are saying has now suddenly become possible is not Brexit — which, after all, Britain’s new prime minister, Boris Johnson, has been intoning like a stuck record will happen on October 31 even with no deal – but Brexit with a withdrawal deal with the EU. And that’s because the German Chancellor, Angela Merkel, has given Boris Johnson thirty days to come up…

Britain Culture wars

The deep bigotry of those screaming racism

August 1, 2019August 1, 2019 MelanieMeghan Markle, racism, Vogue

Along with several other commentators, I had harsh words to say in my Times column (£) about the choices made by the Duchess of Sussex, the former actress Meghan Markle, in listing 15 female impact-makers in her guest-edited issue of British Vogue. Like others, I found these choices shallow and meretricious, amounting to little more than politically correct and deeply divisive virtue-signalling that seemed to me disrespectful of both the monarchy, which is above all an apolitical and unifying force, and the country of which it is the symbol. People…

Britain Culture wars

Meghan’s “woke” Vogue is shallow and divisive

July 31, 2019July 31, 2019 Melanie"woke", Duchess of Sussex, Meghan, Vogue

Who knew that, among her many accomplishments, the Duchess of Sussex would exhibit an unparalleled talent for excavation? When in a hole, she doesn’t just keep digging. She keeps going until the earth caves in on top of her, and she doesn’t stop even then. The duchess, the former actress Meghan Markle, has been criticised for high-handedness and for failing to grasp that, as a member of the royal family, she now needs to be apolitical and no longer make herself the centre of the story. Failing to acknowledge this,…

Britain Israel Videos

Walking into the guns: proposing that anti-Zionism is antisemitism

July 28, 2019July 31, 2019 Melanieanti-Zionism, antisemitism, debate, Intelligence Squared

In June, I took part in an Intelligence Squared debate in London in which I proposed the motion “Anti-Zionism is antisemitism” before a largely hostile audience. My seconder was the Israeli former member of Knesset Einat Wilf, and we were opposed by the expatriate Israeli anti-Zionist Ilan Pappé and the journalist Mehdi Hasan. You can watch the video of the event below. Underneath the video, you can read a written version of my opening remarks. Anti-Zionism is antisemitism: speech for the proposition I never visited Israel at all until the…

Britain Global conflict Israel

Is Boris Johnson “good for the Jews”?

July 26, 2019 MelanieBoris Johnson, Iran, Israel, jews

Britain now has its first celebrity prime minister. On Tuesday, Boris Johnson was elected leader of the Tory Party following Theresa May’s resignation over her failure to deliver Brexit. On Wednesday, Johnson “kissed hands” with the Queen and thus succeeded Mrs. May as Britain’s PM. As with all social or political developments of note, the Jewish world is predictably asking about this one: “Will it be good for the Jews?” Johnson has entertained and scandalized Britain for years through his many scrapes, his jokes, his politically incorrect gaffes, his chaotic…

Britain

As ruthless Johnson signals “Brexit do or die”, I’m still counting my spoons

July 25, 2019July 25, 2019 MelanieBoris Johnson, brexit, Cabinet

The commentariat has been utterly convulsed by the composition of new prime minister Boris Johnson’s government. As Remainer ministers and those disloyal to Johnson were either sacked or fell on their swords to be replaced by Brexiteers in every key position, Brexit supporters were as ecstatic as Remainers were choked with horror and rage. Johnson’s purpose in effecting this ruthless transformation was clear: to send an unequivocal signal that the Remainers’ game is now up. Britain will be leaving the EU on October 31, “do or die”. The purpose of…

Britain Videos

“The View” on new PM Boris Johnson

July 24, 2019July 24, 2019 Melanie

I appeared this morning with Ian Dunt on Sky’s All Out Politics paper review spot, The View. Naturally there was only one topic for discussion: the election of Boris Johnson as Tory party leader and Britain’s new prime minister. You can watch our exchanges on this here.

Britain

Every flawed PM needs a Clemmie Churchill

July 24, 2019July 24, 2019 MelanieBoris Johnson, Clementine Churchill, Sonia Purnell, Winston Churchill

As few surely can be unaware, Boris Johnson idolises Winston Churchill. He has indeed been mocked for appearing to believe that he is Churchill reincarnated. Wags have observed that when Johnson waxed eloquent in his biography of Churchill about the great man’s stellar attributes he appeared to be describing himself. The comparison, however, might not be quite such a joke. I recently caught up with First Lady, Sonia Purnell’s justly acclaimed biography of Winston’s wife Clementine. This was an eye-opener for two reasons. First was the extent to which Clemmie…

Britain

Will prime minister Johnson put lipstick on the pig?

July 21, 2019July 21, 2019 MelanieBoris Johnson, brexit, eu, No Deal

Today’s Sunday Times reports that various EU countries are panicking so badly over Britain leaving the EU with no deal they are willing to offer a new one. At its shallowest, this proves the point some of us have been making from the get-go: that the only way the EU would ever offer withdrawal terms in Britain’s interests would be if the UK credibly threatened to leave with no deal at all. However, there is a far less rosy way to look at this reported development. Boris Johnson has positioned…