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NIGEL FARAGE, THE UKIP leader, announced yesterday that he is stepping down, claiming he “wants his life back” and that his “political ambition has been achieved” now that the UK has voted to leave the EU.
This comes on the heels of Boris Johnson’s decision not to take part in the race for leadership of the Conservative Party. This followed David Cameron himself announcing that he was standing down as Prime Minister.
So, what’s going on with British politics? The details are murky and rapidly evolving, but let me attempt to provide an explanation for this week’s events.
Cameron resigns
David Cameron launched the referendum on whether the UK should leave the EU. The reason why he did that has to do with internal Conservative Party politics.
Indeed, there has always been a Eurosceptic current in the party, and it became rather strong. With the rise of Nigel Farage’s UKIP, the Conservatives worried about being out-flanked on the right on immigration and Europe. In order to clamp down on that threat, Cameron said that if elected he would hold a referendum. He hoped that Remain would win, thus neutralising the Eurosceptic challenge.
But people voted for Brexit. Having lost his gamble, Cameron was virtually forced to resign, because the referendum was such a huge issue that it became a vote of confidence in the Prime Minister.
Leavers jump ship
In the wake of their victory, the Leave camp’s lack of planning for an EU exit quickly came to light.
Few of those who had inflamed the campaign trail with alarmist speeches about immigration and the evil nature of the EU seemed to have thought about what to do in the event that people would actually be convinced by their declarations.
The Brexit referendum has let the genie of far-right forces out of the bottle. Both the UK and EU, by implementing austerity that led to job losses, economic recession and cuts to public services, have set the stage for extremist elements to emerge feeding on popular resentment. This is best represented by Nigel Farage in the UK, but the same applies to Marine Le Pen in France and Donal Trump in the US.
The problem is that once out of the bottle, those forces are somewhat uncontrollable. The individuals who led the Leave camp made sensationalist speeches without much rational thinking about the likely consequences, leading into the current unpredictable environment.
Conservative Real Politik
Boris Johnson was set to lead the new Conservative government, teaming up with his pal Michael Gove. But Gove decided to go it alone and betrayed Boris. Boris then assessed the situation and concluded that without Gove, he didn’t have enough support to lead the Party and so dropped out of the race.
Almost immediately after Gove triumphantly launched his own candidacy, he lost support from the Conservative Party MPs because he was seen as unreliable and inclined to backstabbing.
This leaves two main contenders: Theresa May and Andrea Leadsom. Their candidacy helps to explain much of what’s at stake in the leadership race.
In a nutshell, the party must balance two factors: On one hand, the British political and business establishment is opposed to Brexit and so they want a candidate who is favorable to maintaining links with Europe – that’s Theresa May.
On the other hand, given the outcome of the referendum can’t be ignored, they need to present a candidate that’s also open to cutting links with Europe – that’s Andrea Leadsom. It remains to be seen which one will be victorious.
Farage’s farewell
This leaves us with Farage, which is a trickier case. Why did he resign, having won his referendum and now seemingly in a position of strength?
Here is a possibility: He concluded that leading UKIP was no longer useful to further his ambitions.
Nevertheless, Farage’s political capital has increased thanks to the referendum. Therefore, he may want a new vehicle to exert his influence. For example, he could have eyes on joining a Tory Party led by Andrea Leadsom.
Maybe he wants to join the efforts of his multi-millionnaire friend Arron Banks, who has bankrolled UKIP but now wants to start a new party, which would be an improved version of UKIP, fixing its many problems. Farage could play an important role there, in particular, to mobilise members and voters through a grassroots effort nicknamed a “right-wing momentum”, in reference to the left-wing activist group supporting Jeremy Corbyn.
Or maybe Farage just threw everything up in the air in an emotional outburst, unable to deal with the unexpected Brexit vote. But I very much doubt it. Some politicians are depicted as irrational fools, but they could never have made it very far without a plan.
Julien Mercille is a lecturer at University College Dublin.
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Jeez, we can’t seem to get rid of our clowns, i wonder why?!
I’m sure pay and expenses and political pensions have a lot to do with it.
The leader of our opposition (martin) was in gov when our gov almost bankrupt the country back in 2008-10.
If he was in the UK, he’d be gone long ago.
Our politicians have no dignity, no respect.
A lot of MPs are no less corrupt than our lot look at their expenses scandals. After resigning they’d just be sent to the House of Lords. To say their better than us is laughable.
But the big difference is they resign in Britain. Here they put up with one or two days of criticism in the media, then its forgotten about. Kennys position was untenable after the Garda Commissioner sacking scandal, same with Martins position in gov during the financial crisis.
Even if they were in Iceland, they’d be gone long ago.
They’re better than out lot by a million times. If Mick Wallace or Michael Lowry were British, they’d be languishing in Jail! No doubt about it
They resign from cabinet posts not as MPs. The only difference with Britain is they wouldn’t keep re-electing the lawbreakers like Lowry and Wallace
Another extreme left rant with no explanation offer for the scaremongering regarding genies and bottles.
Also is he saying the Conservative party is far right now? He speaks of them in the same breath as such
Another left wing rant offering no explanation regarding the ridiculous assertion of the “genie being let out of the bottle” with no explanation as to what the hell he’s on about.
Yes Adrian the people of Ireland bear no responsibility for the political class. We only vote them in and allow them a soft run
They might never have been found out!
With ‘lord’ Chilcotts inquiry in to the Iraqi war set to be made public everybody is running for cover.Over 1 million dead,including many Brit soldiers and all for nothing,a complete waste.
Theories around that Corbyn is digging in his heals in order to get at this report tomorrow. Or rather that the concerted effort to oust him is because of Blair’s supporters seeing him heavily criticised by Corbyn
Corbyn has been publicly critical of Blair’s role in the Iraq War since that war started. He hasn’t had an independent report like Chilcott to back up his claims and he’s chomping a the bit and can’t wait for tomorrow I’d say.
After tomorrow the Blairites might not have the same stomach for the fight.
The austerity in the UK was implemented by the Conservative government after a financial crisis turned into an economic recession brought about by London based banks.
I am getting tired of people scapegoating the EU for their countries problems.
London banks? Our own were the worst in history!
Yes but Fred is commenting on austerity in the UK not in Ireland.
Our banks beat everyone in incompetence and skuldugery….
EU stress tests?
“I am getting tired of people scapegoating the EU for their countries problems.”
It’s a pathetic victim culture.
Er, so how has the EU impacted here, when we should have burned bondholders a bomb would have gone off in Dublin. In the real world nobody’s business gets bailed out. I’m tired of people selling out there sovereignty for a few schekles, and their indigenous industries..
I guess they all want to spend more time with their family
Because after leading their people over a cliff and seeing the bitterness and divisiveness there is currently in UK society they have now run away for someone else to clean up the mess.
Have to say, some mess they left. Farage had a grudge with the lads in the EU, cause they laugh at him for suggesting to leave. He is not working for the people, he was working on his own grudge and not in the interested of the people of the UK.
As evidenced by his pathetic speech where he basically insulted everyone then asked for them to be nice during negotiations!
There us the old nugget that they don’t hang-on as careerists like they do here. Neither if the leaders brigade were current political establishment leaders. And needn’t be either. Campaigning against a particular issue is quite different from managing a government. There are plenty of politicians around to deal with the will of the people. Thank Christ we got rid of the FIFA Cabal. Er sorry the EU, same thing really..
None of them expected ‘Leave’ to win. Boris is a canny operator, although he plays the fool quite well. The next PM will inherit a poisoned chalice that only a power hungry fool would want.
Maby so many are leaving the jobs because no one is up to task or compent enough to lead the uk through post brexit
Because they don’t want to do the hard work in the wake of the mess they made. Cameron, I can understand to a degree. Why waste all that time and effort negotiating something he campaigned against when he can play with his millions. Farage and Johnson are rich con artists who jumped, rather than be exposed as charlatans for having no plan.
You’re really milking brexit.
It hasn’t even begun, it’s still a story
. Machiavellian leaders don’t usually reveal the entire and/or real reason they’re doing something unless it’s somehow advantageous to them.
They’re cunning.
Narcissistic.
Controlling and manipulative.
Everything is part of one big game they’re playing.
They believe the end justifies the means.
The Tory Party manifesto.
The 48 laws of power.
That sums up George Osborne pretty well….
Cameron seems a decent sort but the other pair are odious.
Cameron-Gone, Johnson-Gone, Farage- Gone, Corbyn? Forgotten but not gone…..
Because none of them want to take responsibility if it goes t!ts up!
Three Stooges from Westminster…..
Boris is weak and too attached to his bicycle and knapsack to be a serious contender for PM.
If he didn’t have those self esteem issues, he could have punched Gove in the nose, gone on and acted decisively by building his own power base amongst Tory MP’s and probably have succeeded in leadership race.
Farage has Irish and German heritage and a German wife! You could not make this shit up!!!
Farage is a French surname. He is descended from Huguenot refugees.
sew
Nigel is my man. He set himself a goal, using the 3 pillars of goal setting. The environment must be right at the time, the goal must be achievable, so it was just about and then he set the goal. That is what he set out to do and that is what he did do. In fact, his absence is of benefit because it will remove any animosity from the negotiations.
Note how the working class voters twigged the corruption of the EU. Note also how the great and good, green socialists are whinging. Note how Nigel told the EU that not one of them ever did a decent day’s work in their lives. Yet these idiots are making rules for me to abide by. They banned low melting point silver solder because the Chinese are using it in jewelry. Does any one know why China can trade freely while not allowing free movement of people.
Once again, a Leftist tries to sully all Brexiteers as either racist or stupid or both. It is truly demonstrative of the disregard that liberal elites have for the ordinary person.
And because the EU is the veritable HQ of elite liberalism, they cannot hide their disdain and contempt for those who reject it.
The reality is that issues such as free markets, foundational rights and immigration can be addressed bilaterally or multilaterally without the need for a Leviathan such as the EU, if the political will is there. What’s more is that it would give countries the freedom and flexibility to tailor such agreements to their specific needs at specific times.
But the liberal elites don’t want that. They want the neofunctional behemoth of the EU. They know that for the EU to succeed it has to glean more and more power from sovereign states until it becomes the ONLY entity with real power. And then the Liberal elites will have free reign to impose their Brave New World.
So the Brexit really upset them. That’s why they have their lapdogs like the author trying to shame the British people for asserting sovereignty. That’s why they are funding astroturf “pro-eu” groups. Groups, it seems are full of the same simple minded Leftists who two years ago, protested AGAINST the very same union. But hey, just shout “RACISM” and the Pavlovian Regressives will join your bandwagon.
Its going to be a long road for Britain now, with EU liberals and Leftist thugs making it as hard as possible for them. But hopefully they come out the other side a better country.
“It is truly demonstrative of the disregard that liberal elites have for the ordinary person.”
Blah blah blah leftists blah blah blah liberals blah blah blah lattes…
It’s getting really stale hearing imported American right wing talking points being repeated verbatim.
Oh look, some bloke has capitalized “Brave New World” In flagrant disregard to ANY of the fukken things that happened in that book. It’s not banned in Ireland any more lads, we’re allowed to read it now.
Or maybe Julien, Farage just resigned having felt he had achieved his political goal.
Moving to the Cayman Islands??
‘Stepping down’ English political interpretation = made a blunder, my position is no longer tenable, must step aside in the public interest. Irish political interpretation = head in the sand, deny, hang somebody else out to dry, kick it down the road, set up an enquiry, save own ass, public interest me arse
I have just resigned from the Kingscourt Enda Kenny appreciation society when I failed to get backing for a formal civic reception for the Taoiseach to visit my farm. A local caterer was prepared to put on a splash, roast beef, scallions, beetroot, cole slaw and tay for 300 euros, but none of the 3 members would stump up. In keeping with the current resigning buzz, I decided to do the same.
Going because I think the realisation of “O Fvck what have we done” has just kicked in
Somebody should buy Boris a proper crash helmet for Xmas.
“inflamed the campaign trail with alarmist speeches about immigration and the evil nature of the EU”
“The Brexit referendum has let the genie of far-right forces out of the bottle.”
” Both the UK and EU, by implementing austerity that led to job losses, economic recession and cuts to public services, have set the stage for extremist elements to emerge feeding on popular resentment.”
I think the third point explains the first two points…..
Biased opinion masquerading as fact.
Afraid of their shi-t
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This is what a *victory* looks like in Brexit? What would have happened if they’d lost? Ritual self-immolation?
I think Boris never wanted to leave and I am sure Farage didn’t either, I think sometimes so called opposition politicians are there to diffuse tension only in image and not in practice because money and power talks, the Brexit backfired on them all and that is why they are resigning?
If as you suggest Farage was mainly concerned with personal political ambitions, then he would have stayed in the Conservative Party instead of forming UKIP.
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