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Issue 001

June 2018 £3.95

Kanye West’s Also:


Manifesto* Inside the
*according to clink
our creative
interpretation Life as a prison warden
of his lyrics at one of America’s most
high-security jails

Ben Bradshaw
Exclusive interview
with the country’s
first openly gay MP
to be elected

OT ENTER! DO NOT ENTER!


DO NOT ENTER!
DO NOT E

This MAN
is protesting
Trump’s visit
We meet
drag queen
Cheddar Gorgeous
2 politifix.co.uk
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Your Political Lifestyle Fix

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Edited by: Publisher: Journalist Enquiries:


Navya Hebbar Politifix Magazine politifixmagazine@gmail.com
Euan Antona
Daniel Hopkins
Jamie Firby Published by: Follow us:
Andreas Koumoudis
Andrew Burdett Politifix Magazine Twitter: @PolitifixTheMag
Roxanna Arif 9 Mappin Street Facebook: @PolitifixMag
Sheffield
S1 4DT Euan: @EuanAntona
Copyediting: Jamie: @Jamie_Firbyyy
Andrew: @Burdett
Daniel Hopkins
General Enquiries: Andreas: @akoumoudis
Jamie Firby Daniel: @DanHopkins97
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+44 0114 222 2503 Roxanna: @RoxannaArif
Journalism:
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4 politifix.co.uk
EDITORIAL

Welcome to your
monthly fix

C
ongratulations, you are holding cover, Jamie Firby went to Exeter to meet
the first ever edition of Politifix. The Right Honourable Ben Bradshaw MP, to
The team and I are very proud to discuss his experiences as the first openly
launch with some really interesting gay Member of Parliament to be elected.
content, which exhibits some of the best In an eye opening report, Daniel
young journalistic talent on the market. Hopkins speaks to a former prison warden
Politifix brings a new angle to the from one of America’s most secure prisons.
world of the political magazine. We believe I explore whether the Royal Wedding
that the political market is saturated with could have been done on a tighter budget.
publications aimed at older, wealthier, Navya Hebbar explores the competition
established professionals. Politifix will between countries to use space as a tool for
bring a range of features from across combat, while Andrew Burdett examines
the spectrum together, for a younger the balancing act that is PR and politics.
audience. That does not mean that we Our political climate is changing so
are dumbing anything down, our features quickly, it’s hard to predict what or where
are engaging, thought provoking and, the next story is going to be. Elvis Costello
at times, challenging. Our goal is to be once sang, ‘yesterday’s news is tomorrow’s
your long latte read, your transport travel fish and chip paper.’ However, with social
companion, your monthly knowledge fix. media being a huge part of today’s
Our magazine will not always contain society, stories don’t always disappear as
views and opinions that you agree with, quickly as they did when we relied on the
and you know what, that is perfectly newspapers and television news. It’s quite
fine. If we all believed and agreed on easy, with the thoughts and opinions of
the same issues, the world would be a thousands spread across the internet,
rather dull place to be. We want to show for the line between fact and opinion to
you a vast array of opinions, from left become blurred, and the true meaning lost.
to right, in and out, and allow you to We see it as our duty, as journalists, to
make a judgement on where you stand. provide you with accurate and objective
Because this is 2018, naturally we content. As a magazine, we will delve
aren’t just a print publication. Our website into stories that pass through the public
will keep you updated on a more regular consciousness in a flash, providing you
basis with content to satisfy your desire with new, unexplored perspectives and
to learn. As you read this, the first of our a different way of looking at things.
live podcasts will be up and available to This is just the start of an exciting
listen to on the go. In these, we will be journey for Politifix, I sincerely hope you
discussing news topics from the week, are up for coming on the journey too.
as well as exploring our articles further,
with the journalists who wrote them. Euan Antona
This first copy contains some great
interviews. As you’ll have seen from the Politifix Editorial Team

This month’s cover highlights the power of activism in


drag. We wanted to stand out from the other current affairs
magazines on the news-stand, by tackling a story about
Donald Trump in a rich and impactive way, instead of
featuring just another white, middle-aged politician.

We also wanted to bring attention to the word MAN, because


Cheddar is twice the man that Trump will ever be.

politifix.co.uk 5
POLITIFIX

Contents
page 9
President Kanye
Kanye West has confirmed that he’s “definitely” running for
US President in 2020. That got us thinking: what might his manifesto
look like? Looking for clues, we’ve gone back through his old lyrics.

pages 10-12

Ben Bradshaw
In-depth interview with Britain’s first
openly gay MP to win an election

COMMENT: Forget ‘Don’t Tell The Bride’, page 15


Don’t Bother Telling the Royal Wedding Couple

pages 16-17
Defeated Terrorists
A former prison warden at America’s most secure jail
discusses how dangerous inmates tried to change the
world with violence.

pages 22-24

‘Wires and Lights’


Are echoes of McCarthyism slowly creeping back
into today’s political rhetoric?

Lessons from a PR maestro pages 18-19

What would a ‘crisis management’ guru advise the current scandal-stricken government?

Weird Rules from Weird Leaders page 49

Africa’s crippling dictators pages 42-43


A look at some of the continent’s worst tyrants

6 politifix.co.uk
POLITIFIX

Issue 1 / June 2018

pages 46-47

Is Korean reunification around the corner?


Is Trump to thank for what seems to be a thawing
in relations between North and South Korea?

pages 50-51
Playing with History
Imagining a ‘what if?’ history, if climate-change had affected Russia sooner

Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow pages 26-31


A glimpse of life through refugees’ eyes — and drawings — from all over the world

COMMENT: Don’t criticise Pep Guardiola so quickly page 65


There might be a place for politics within the beautiful game

Power Two The People pages 38-39


Who holds those in power to account, outside two-party politics?

The Drag Queen Dissident


pages
32-35

Our cover-story: Cheddar Gorgeous, the 26-year-old


leading the protest against Donald Trump’s state visit.

What’s in a name? pages Power to the Xi-ple


Life as the descendant of a There’s a new Mao at the page 52
54-55
famous forefather top in China

Where’s my jetpack? Politifix World Cup


page 57 Picturing a football game with pages
Exploring the future of
politicians on the pitch 66-67
personal transport
Space Wars
On the trail of the 21st
pages Colombia’s fragile peace page 45
58-59 Expert analysis on the situation
Century’s space race

Mother Europe page 36 COMMENT: Titanic The


Party relations leave page 63
Angela Merkel in trouble Musical? Whatever next?!
Songs that changed pages John Bercow
the world The House of Commons speaker page 68
60-61
featuring Nina Simone faces Politifix’s teatime questions
politifix.co.uk 7
8 politifix.co.uk
FUNNYFIX

Imma let you finish, but...


A year on from his shock announcement of a presidential
run, Politifix exclusively reveals Kanye West’s manifesto.

1 “In the French restaurant / Hurry up with


my damn croissants!”
—  from “I Am a God”
Politifix says: It’s good to know the president will be well fed for those meetings
with Macron, and breakfast is the most important meal of the day after all...

2 “Nicki, what you think? / We got two white


Russians but we also need some drinks”
—  from “Blazin’”
Politifix says: Uh oh, looks like President West is hoping to have a ‘special relationship’
with a few more countries than just the UK.

3 “I  just talked to Jesus / He said: ‘What up


Yeezus?’ / I said: ‘Shit I’m chillin’ /
Trying to stack these millions.’”
—  from “I Am a God”
Politifix says: …I’m not sure this is the best way to keep hold of the Republican party’s
Christian base.

4 “Uh, black girl sippin’ white wine / Put my fist


in her like a civil rights sign”
—  from “I’m In it”
Politifix says: First there was Trump’s tape, and a message of grabbing her by the pussy – it
looks like Kanye is willing to take it one step further.

5 “I keep it 300, like Romans /


300 bitches, where’s the Trojans?”
—  from “Black Skinhead”
Politifix says: Continuing the proud American tradition of historical inaccuracy (300 is a
reference to the Battle of Thermopylae, a battle in Ancient Greece several hundreds of
years before Rome was founded, and with absolutely nothing to do with the Trojans).

6 “You see there’s leaders and there’s followers


WORDS: JAMIE FIRBY

/But I’d rather be a dick than a swallower”


—  from “New Slaves”
Politifix says: Perhaps things won’t be that different to Donald Trump after all.

politifix.co.uk 9
INTERVIEWFIX
INTERVIEWFIX

Being Ben
Bradshaw
Ben Bradshaw MP opens up on being the first
openly gay candidate to win an election
Words: Jamie Firby

C
lassic FM bleeds through the air, and rain patters dad could be bothered to worry about me that much.”
against the window. From his top floor flat, Ben Graduating from the University of Sussex, he
Bradshaw can see the River Exe as it flows through benefited from one of the biggest LGBT communities
the city, into the countryside, and out to sea. He casts in the country. This fuelled his confidence in
a glance at the scene outside. Today, it is chaos; the wind and himself as he stepped into the world of politics.
the rain blurring the line between the river and the pavement. “I’ve never been in the closet,” Ben says. “I wasn’t about
We are safe in here, though, and Ben softly smiles through to jump into it. And so, when I applied to be a Labour
the window at his constituency, dreary as it may currently be. candidate in Exeter, I made a conscious decision that I was
“Tony Blair, bless him,” he says, as if the prime minister not going to seek support based on partial disclosure.”
of 10 years was little more than a foolish schoolchild. “The “At my selection meeting I wanted to make
first job in government he gave me was in the foreign office, absolutely sure that everybody in that room was
where I was basically a minister responsible for the entire voting for me in the full knowledge that I was gay.”
Muslim world. I’m not sure how well he thought that out.” “I basically said, ‘There’s one more thing you should know
The violins vibrating from the radio and through the air about me if you don’t already, and that is that I’m gay. Some of you
softly punctuate each sentence. He speaks with a calm assurance. may find that difficult, but we could be making history here.’”
“The dictator in charge of Malaysia, Mahathir And make history they did. Ben Bradshaw became
Bin Mohamad, said that I wouldn’t be welcome in the first openly gay MP to win an election in the UK,
his country if I brought in my partner. I thought, alongside Stephen Twigg. It was a brave decision
‘Great! That’s one less country I have to visit.’” which he is characteristically nonchalant about.
And then Ben Bradshaw laughs. It is a gigantic laugh, “I wasn’t particularly worried about how people
for which he throws his head back and lets out a delighted would respond,” he says. “It was a much less accepting
roar. It cuts straight through the violins, through the serene age, but I was of the firm view that the public were much
atmosphere and the lapsang tea. This is a man happy to act more liberal on sexuality than they were given credit for.”
however he wishes regardless of the world around him, “I knew that would backfire, in my heart of hearts,
whether that be Classic FM or a homophobic East Asian despot. and indeed it did. A lot of decent Tories voted for me
Ben Bradshaw has always been unafraid – and unashamed because they were so horrified by Rogers’ campaign.”
– of his sexuality. “I was incredibly lucky for someone of my In that famous election night of 1997, Ben Bradshaw
generation,” he explains. “I had elderly parents, but they were received the biggest swing to Labour of any candidate in the
both liberal. My dad was a vicar, but he was very loving.” South West. Since then his majority has grown even stronger.
“When I came out they were both very fond Speak to voters in Exeter and time-and-time again you will
of my first partner. It was probably a bit difficult meet groups of those ‘decent Tories’, hoping for a Conservative
for my Dad at first, but he came round to thinking government, yet voting Labour due to their kinship with Ben.
that what mattered most was that I was happy.” “Approachable is his middle name,” says Jill Brush,
Any struggles Ben might have had with his sexuality were a proud resident of Exeter and traditional Conservative.
side-lined during his teenage years. Family issues took priority. “You wouldn’t see many MPs cycling down Cowick
“My mum developed early dementia. I had to grow Street, stopping at the traffic lights and exchanging
up quite quickly, and because of that I don’t think my pleasantries with one of their supporters – but Ben does!”

politifix.co.uk 11
INTERVIEWFIX

With voters like this, a safe Conservative religion preaches love, tolerance and acceptance.
seat has been turned into a safe Labour one. It should be challenging to the prejudices of
So, how has he done it? It’s simple, Ben believes. It’s politics. the past, rather than just reinforcing them.”
“I was never ‘the gay MP,’” he says. “I was the Labour As for his own experiences of homophobia,
member of parliament for Exeter who happened to be gay.” he does not wish to dwell on it. An abusive phone
call here, a death threat there. He brushes it away.
“It’s not nearly as bad as the misogyny, racism and anti-
“It was always my opponents who Semitism that you come across on Twitter,” he says. ‘“And the
big unaddressed area of inequality and discrimination is for
focused on my sexuality. I treated trans people. That will be the big test for the Conservatives;
it as irrelevant, which is what I what they do with the Gender Recognition Act. They’re
consulting on it, but it seems to be taking a terribly long time.”
think it should be.” Leaning back, Ben Bradshaw quietly takes in
his flat. It is smart, minimalist, overlooking the rainy
“The best thing you can do to further LGBT equality riverside. Dots of colour fill in the gaps; bananas on the
is just do a good job on behalf of your constituents.” table, a pot of daffodils. Two decades ago, along with
It’s not that Ben Bradshaw puts his sexuality on the side Stephen Twigg, he became the first openly gay candidate
lines. As well as being unashamedly open, he is a passionate to win an election. Now there are dozens of them.
campaigner for LGBT rights across the world, and calls
out prejudice wherever he sees it. His fight for equality
has taken place on many fronts since he was elected. “For years I used to get the most
“There has been a real sea change since I’ve been
in parliament, thanks in large part to what our Labour
moving letters from young
government did” he says. Those early Blair years are one of his people all over the country
favourite topics. “We swept away all those discriminative laws.”
“In the olden days people could say what they struggling with their sexuality.”
liked – and I’m sure those people are still out there,
some of them, in the undergrowth. But they know that “They would tell me how important and valuable it
if they break the law they are liable for prosecution.” was to have a role model, somebody who was out there
So, where next? “We’ve come a long way,” he says. being open an honest. A role model that they could point
“But the job is far from done – and my worry with the to when they came out to their friends and families.”
Conservatives is they just play lip service to equality. Since gay A lot of Ben’s stories come from the past. There is a
marriage went through, everything seems to have stalled.” great deal of pride, and perhaps a sense of nostalgia, for his
“Take so-called “gay conversion therapy”. I’ve been early career and the achievements of Blair’s government.
working with the Church of England to persuade the On the present – and the future – he is less vocal.
government that it is a problem, but they ignored it.” “I am hopeful,” Ben smiles, coyly, “about the state
‘Gay-conversion therapy’ is an attempt to ‘cure’ of Labour at the moment.” Long a critic of his party’s
people of their sexuality. Throughout his campaign leader, he seems to take the view that, for now, national
against it, Ben has received emails of support circumstances are more important than political infighting.
from people who have been forced through it. “Everything,” he says, the lines on his face turning
“I’ve had a lot of people contacting me saying they’ve serious, “everything in our politics at the moment depends
been completely traumatised by attempts to cure them of on Brexit. I very much hope that when it comes to the
their gayness. It may not be a problem in the mainstream vital vote on a deal, if we get that far, we will do the right
medical community, but it is in some faith communities.” thing and vote against this disaster. If we don’t, then
As a practising Christian, equality in the religious Labour is complicit, and Brexit will not only sweep the
sector is something Ben feels very strongly about. Tory government away, but the Labour leadership with it.”
It is also the area where the most change is needed. “But,” he says, with a quick flash of that smile,
“It gives me another cause,” he says. “We’ve “I am confident we will be in the right place. And if
made big advances in the secular world, but there is Jeremy Corbyn stops Brexit, he will be a national hero.”
still a lot of work to be done within the church. You The battleground might look different, but the fight
still can’t get married in a church if you are gay, if is far from over, and Ben Bradshaw is used to fighting.
you’re a gay priest you can’t live with your partner.” He smiles, longer this time, allowing it to take over
“The way we change that is by debate, by his face. The wall behind his head is lined with pictures of
intellectual and theological curiosity. By winning Exeter’s landmarks; its cathedral, majestic and intricate,
the arguments. We’ll get there in the end. Once watches over us. Ben Bradshaw has been confined to
the dam breaches, it will happen very quickly.” the backbenches for several years, but this is a man
And just like his sexuality, he does not allow himself proud not just of his achievements, but his constituency.
or his politics to be defined by his religion. Always And why shouldn’t he be?
willing to be challenged, Christianity is simply one of When he cycles along the riverside, or sits in the
the many facets that make up his charming personality. local cinema, and is met with a chorus of “hi, Ben!”
“I’ve never had a problem with it,” he says. “Tim Farron It is a reminder of the love this city has developed
got into a big muddle not because of his Christianity, for him. This city was blue, and now it is red.
but his brand of Christianity. It isn’t a Christianity that I Perhaps, Jeremy Corbyn could learn a thing or two
recognise or is anywhere near my type of Christianity. My from him?

12 politifix.co.uk
politifix.co.uk 13
14 politifix.co.uk
COMMENTFIX

Forget ‘Don’t tell the Bride’;


Don’t bother telling the couple!
I’m not sure why they even put the Royal Wedding on TV,
we couldn’t even vote to evict them.

Words: Euan Antona

H
ello people of the future! By the
time you read this, it’ll all be
over. The ‘special relationship’
between Great Britain and
America will have been signed, sealed,
delivered; peace once again granted to the
homeless evicted from the streets of Windsor.
Yes, Harry, my fifth favourite Prince
behind Phillip, William, Albert and ‘of Persia’,
has finally got his act together to follow Wills
‘n’ Kate down the aisle. The new Princess?
American smile on legs, Meghan Markle.
While the day will have been lovely and
beautiful and romantic, the cynics within
us struggle to overlook that the event is
an incredible marketing tool for both the
country and the Royal Family. A quick
scroll through the official Twitter feed for
Kensington Palace and you will discover “The entertainment
that florist Philippa Craddock will be using
can be covered by a
flowers grown at the estates of Britain to
make up the arrangements. The wedding celebrity version of
invitations? That is American ink on British The X Factor, judged
paper, courtesy of newly qualified apprentice by Prince Philip, Sarah
Lottie Small, using techniques from the 1930s. Ferguson and Diana’s
This promotional gain should not,
however, come as a surprise to anyone.
hairdresser.”
In the financial year 2016-17, the Royal
Family received £42.8 million from the
government as the annual Sovereign grant,
according to figures from their financial
report. What could that hefty sum of
money be used for elsewhere? If on a
starting salary, it could fund over 800 new
GP’s annually, or perhaps 1,600 teachers. celebrity version of The X Factor, judged by day could have taken place on a much
Maybe then, just maybe, we the general Prince Philip, Sarah Ferguson and Diana’s tighter budget. However, just because the
public deserved more of a say on how hairdresser. Who wouldn’t love to watch day is done and dusted, why should we stop
the wedding was planned. We could have Adele sing off against Stormzy or Sir Elton? there? The honeymoon could see Harry and
helped to minimise the costs incurred by The dress, however, is a bit of a biggie. Meghan board Brendan’s Coach Trip across
such a lavish event and put a bit back into Vogue predicted a plethora of designers the Mediterranean, the duration of which
the public purse. How, you might ask? could take the crown and win the illusive could be decided on how entertaining the
Through the crucible of light entertainment. contract. I think it would be better to use couple are - boring and they are booted off
This may sound like an unrealistic the winner from the latest series of The by Calais. On return, the whole family could
target. However, the programmes Great British Sewing Bee. The dress could be participants in a new series of The Real
you need are already out there. still be in a modernist or traditional style, so Housewives of Windsor, where Kate bitches
First things first, we need the venue. long as it utilised an undercarriage built of a to Meghan about what ‘Liz told Camilla.
The Queen gave her blessing to use Windsor sleeping bag and some offcuts of pond liner. I wish the new couple well. For all
Castle, but that’s not going to come cheap - Come Dine with Me would cover the expense of putting on the ceremony,
not even a National Trust membership could all things food, mouldy mushrooms, thousands of people have an opportunity to
cover that. Instead, why not host it, like a lot burnt beef and a cheesecake sweatier be happy. Children can say to their children
of people do, at a hotel found courtesy of than Gemma Collins tanning mitt that they went to Windsor for the day, to
Four in a Bed? What’s the extra journey time should do the trick. The cake done by wave flags, smile and cheer. If for whatever
to Torquay going to matter between friends? that one off the Bake Off... Yeah, that one. reason, things don’t quite plan out, thank
The entertainment can be covered by a It seems to me that, actually, the big god for Judge Rinder.

politifix.co.uk 15
the
defeated
TERROrISTS

A former prison warden


at America’s most secure jail
tells Daniel Hopkins about his experiences
with inmates who tried to change the world with violence.

T
errorism, like war, is politics by other means. to be a role model to staff, prisoners and visitors.
Every terrorist has an agenda and has done so Inmates at the prison include Ted Kaczynski -the Unabomber-
throughout history. The bombs they detonate, who killed three people in a 17 year bombing campaign
massacres they perpetrate and fear they spread targeting people involved with technology, Terry Nichols, a co-
are the blooming actions from a seed of political desire. conspirator in the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing which killed
Robert Hood knows better than most the people behind 168 people and Boston marathon bomber, Dzhokhar Tsarnaev.
such acts. From 2002 to 2005, he was the Warden of ADX Others include the Shoe Bomber Richard Reid, hate preacher
Florence- the most secure prison in the United States. The Abu Hamza and Eric Rudolph, the Olympic Park bomber.
supermax facility located in Colorado houses inmates deemed Another notable inmate is Ramzi Yousef, one of the men
to be the most dangerous within the prison system and behind the 1993 attack on the World Trade Centre in which a truck
in need of the tightest security, including many terrorists. bomb attempted and failed to bring down the Twin Towers. The
His role included responsibility for the care and plan was resurrected eight years later in the September 11 attacks.
custody of each offender, visiting inmates on a regular “Terrorists obviously do terrible acts,” says Robert.
basis and trying to make their conditions of confinement “I don’t know if they are inherently evil but they have
as reasonable as possible. Mr Hood says he strived sure harmed others and need to be in a prison setting.”

16 politifix.co.uk
FEATUREFIX

“The act of terrorism impacts others; separate cells and only interact on rare
that’s simply what it is. Kaczynski, for
example, is internationally known but
occasions. They can very occasionally
talk to each other, but this is only when
Timeline of
most people have forgotten ‘why’ he
committed the bombings. The first World
recreating in separate outdoor caged areas
where they can yell to each other. Or even
ADX inmates’ crimes
Trade Centre bombers killed six people by yelling from cell to cell, sometimes”. 1993: Ramzi Yousef leads a group that
and harmed hundreds more. Some believe Robert stops short of divulging any detonates a truck bomb in the garage
the act was religious in nature, while others particular things the terrorists may have of the North Tower of the World
look at the small group of offenders as just said to him during his conversations with Trade Centre, with the aim of sending
common criminals without a real cause. them. His unwillingness to discuss in- it crashing into the South Tower. The
“Regardless of reason,” he says, “all depth about what he was told highlights tower doesn’t collapse according to
have committed a crime. Some of their acts the dangerousness of those in the prison. Yousef ’s plan, but does cause extensive
have, unfortunately, changed the world.” “A terrorist may have an interest damage, killing six and injuring over
Despite their heinous crimes, Robert says in sending out a code word or phrase 1000. He is arrested two years later
he found the inmates easy to work with and to their supporters in the community,” while planning to assassinate the Pope.
in most cases “very respectable”- something he says. “Something simple relayed
he admits the public would find surprising. to the general public could provide 1995: Terry Nichols assists Timothy
“I had daily conversations with information to a terrorist organisation. McVeigh in building a truck bomb
terrorists and other inmates, with most “For example, I may comment on which kills 168 people in Oklahoma
being around conditions of confinement. an inmate who continues to ask when City. Nichols is sentenced to life,
“All conversations were extremely he can have his hair cut. It seems minor, while McVeigh is executed in 2001.

Ramzi Yousef Terry Nichols Abu Hamza

pleasant. Most stories and discussions were but commenting about the particular
common items; the weather, their appeals inmate and their ongoing question could 1996: Eric Rudolph kills two people with
and sometimes about family. Although telegraph information to his community; a bomb detonated in Atlanta during the
terrorists, some had family members that a simple code could be promoting a future Summer Olympics. The aim was to force
were of concern. Sharing a photo or basic terrorist attack. The ADX exists to limit the cancellation of the games in what
information about a spouse or child was communications to the outside world.” was an anti-abortion motivated attack.
common, as most had no visitors and Despite working with some of
limited communications from family.” the most dangerous criminals in the 1996: Theodore Kaczynski is arrested
Always trying to retain a dignified American prison system, Robert after a 17 year bombing campaign
approach to the prisoners, Robert reveals he was never scared about daily targeting those involved with modern
wouldn’t discuss their crimes with them. encounters with the terrorists, including technology. He is sentenced to life for
However, he does believe that they must those on the notorious “bombers row”. killing three and injuring many more.
have thought constantly about their “My entire career in corrections was
actions and subsequent imprisonment. surrounded by dangerous inmates. I never 2001: Richard Reid unsuccessfully
“Perhaps once the crime is completed focused on their crimes or felt unsafe in attempts to detonate a shoe bomb
[they enjoy the notoriety]. But not their presence. Once they understood that on a flight from Paris to Miami.
after sentencing and confinement. No I was not going to make their incarceration
one ever expressed joy in their deed a harsher experience, it was all fine. 2009: Umar Abdulmutallab attempts
once they were sent to the supermax. While he believes that some must wonder to detonate explosives sewn into
“Personally, I believe some of the if their actions were worth it, Robert says that his underwear on a Christmas Day
‘follower-type’ inmates knew they messed they were still remorseless in their deeds. flight from Amsterdam to Detroit.
up. Spending life plus 240 years for a “I have worked with dozens of domestic
horrific act is something to be pondered. As and international terrorists. None have 2013: Dzhokhar Tsaernaev and
they sit in a cell for 23 hours per day, most expressed shame or regret for their actions. his brother plant a bomb near the
inmates reflect on their lack of a future. All have accepted their sentence but clearly finish line of the Boston Marathon
“Life inside an ADX is terrible. don’t like the conditions of confinement. which kills three people. Tsaernaev
Spending your years in a cell for life must “Most prison inmates are good is currently awaiting execution.
be pathetic and most terrorists are young people who have deviated from their
and will end up dying at the ADX. Many moral compass. At the supermax, 2015: Hook-handed preacher Abu
must question if their cause was worth it.” most will never leave the institution Hamza is sentenced to life in prison
Indeed, when so much time is spent for the terrible crimes they for hostage taking and planning to
inside a cell, interaction is a rare commodity. committed during their lifetimes. set up a terrorism camp in the U.S.
“All ADX inmates are secured in “Some just never owned a compass.”

politifix.co.uk 17
FEATUREFIX

Lessons
from a PR
maestro
Paul Blanchard is the man to whom
corporate executives turn in a
crisis. So what would he advise the
scandal-ridden government?

Words: Andrew Burdett

F
or as long as there have been those question by Yvette Cooper, the chairwoman This damning revelation directly
who desire power, there have been of the Home Affairs Select Committee: countered her assurance to the
others all too glad to assist in that “Targets for removals, when were they set?” parliamentary press gallery days earlier,
campaign. Today, there is a view The then-Home Secretary, battling when she told reporters she’d “not approved
that politics is more ‘stage-managed’ than to retain her job, responded: “We do not or seen or cleared any targets for removals”.
ever: every element of the message, precisely have targets for removals”, contradicting By the Monday morning, she’d resigned.
handled in order to maximise exposure. That’s evidence heard moments earlier from ISU, Blanchard says he’s seen it all
the game. That’s the seesaw – the balancing a trade union for immigration officers, that before: “She didn’t do her homework.
act – of public affairs and public relations. objectives did exist, at least on a regional level. “She either did know about the
But when things go wrong, they Within 24 hours, Rudd was forced into targets and lied, or ought reasonably
can erupt with an often ferocious fallout.
Paul Blanchard, founder of the award-
winning PR company Right Angles, has
“It’s never the crime, it’s the cover-up, or it’s the
been working in corporate reputational sense that the story’s dragging on and on.”
management for nearly twenty years. He
says that there’s no ‘set response’ to handling
a crisis, as every situation is different. an embarrassing climbdown, telling the to have known about them and didn’t.”
“There isn’t one ‘killer tip’,” he explains, House of Commons that such immigration He concurs with the old adage,
“but there’s certainly things that in any crisis targets would now be removed. But her sometimes attributed to Alastair Campbell,
I would advise. Number one is don’t lie.” ultimate condemnation came a few days that no cabinet minister can survive a
It seems strikingly obvious, but later when, after a long and personally negative story that rumbles on for more
Blanchard says it’s the sword of truth which bruising fortnight, a Sunday paper than ten days. “It’s never the crime; it’s
often proves the most fatal. Last month, published a letter from January 2017 in the cover-up,” Blanchard says, “or it’s the
when Amber Rudd was being questioned which she wrote she was working with the sense that the story’s dragging on and
over the Windrush Generation scandal, she “aim of increasing the number of enforced on, which knocks people to the ground.”
was asked a blunt and apparently simple removals by more than ten per cent”. So where did it all go wrong,

18 politifix.co.uk
FEATUREFIX

and was there any way Rudd could admit the business is in crisis.’” “That’s a great question,” he says,
have kept her Great Office of State? Replace ‘management’ with his voice sounding gleeful as he relishes
“In these situations, what you should ‘government’ and ‘business’ with ‘country’, the prospect of a press secretary job. “I
do is get to the bottom of it, and then and the comparisons to politics are clear. think the problem with the perception of
offer a full and immediate, fully-briefed “It’s ridiculous how many time times the current government – that lurching,
and fully-knowledgeable, apology.” Rudd big corporations will not have things lolling, listing all around – is that it
“invited further journalism” at every ready. I sometimes act as a catalyst to seems to be a manifestation of the truth.”
step of the scandal’s twisting turmoil, get them to decide. And the problem Blanchard is a sworn Blairite, who
is that if you don’t, the media will treasures a letter of thanks the former Prime
waste acres of newsprint speculating.” Minister once sent him, after he wrote a
But what about the old idea of ‘keeping particularly flattering column about Tony
your head down’? Surely if you say nothing, Blair’s legacy. It comes as no surprise when he
the storm will eventually blow over? harks back to the New Labour government.
Blanchard pauses. “It depends. It “When Blair came into power he
depends how interested the media are.” had a rapid reaction unit, that allowed the
News running orders, on which every story immediate challenge to any misinformation
is assigned a level of priority, require each that came into the media, to stop that
item to be judged against the importance of momentum building up.” The media machine
others on any given day. “If something’s quite was well-oiled and served the government
obscure, and the media aren’t necessarily well, certainly in the early years, Blanchard
interested, then sometimes saying nothing says. Announcements from government
can actually make the problem go away.” departments were finely coordinated
But beware ‘the Streisand Effect’, he to avoid clashing with one another.
Amber Rudd was forced from her post in late- adds quickly. This phenomenon, familiar “The problem you have now is there
April, after her role in the Windrush Scandal. across both the worlds of business and seems to be a huge reaction against that. The
GETTY IMAGES
politics, has become shorthand for public are against that overly-disciplined,
and made things easy for news-hungry inadvertently drawing attention to the very overly-regimented, statement culture.
hacks who could keep the story going. thing you’re trying to suppress. In 2003, a “Look at people like Boris Johnson.
“When she said she hadn’t been aware little-known website, charting the effects of With him, it’s the very fact that he does
of the targets, that only took someone to Californian coastal erosion, uploaded aerial appear to be a shambles, and he’s off-
inevitably dig out the clashing memo, so photographs of the south-west US coastline. message, and says sometimes contradictory
that the story could drag on another day. Among the pictures was an image of Barbara things. That attracts people because
“If she’d just completely Streisand’s seaside property in Malibu. they perceive that as being authentic.”
admitted one apology that covered In the process of attempting to have Authenticity, then, is essential. “People
everything comprehensively, I think the offending webpage taken down, the want to follow someone on Twitter that’s
she’d have still been in her post.” American entertainer in fact brought the real them. I always say to our clients,

B
a greater public awareness to the site’s no one wants to follow a CEO’s Twitter
lanchard recalls the “drip drip existence. More than 400,000 people account that’s clearly ghost-written by a
drip” of information that damaged are thought to have visited the site the PR company that just talks in generalities.”
President Nixon during the following month — far more than would This final lesson is especially true when
Watergate affair. “I always say that ever have otherwise even heard of it. disaster strikes. “If a big company cocks
if he had just released all of the tapes in “The effort to try and hide something up, they must show empathy and convince
one go, it would have been forgotten about sometimes makes things worse,” Blanchard you that they’re trying to put it right.”
in a couple of weeks.” But the incremental reflects. “You have to take it on a case-by-
release of the tapes, with redacted sections case basis, really.” As a case in point, he refers
serving only to provoke further speculation, to President Trump’s threats to sue over Fire
added fuel to an already raging fire. “It and Fury, Michael Wolff ’s tell-all account
just made the story bigger and bigger.” of life inside the current White House. That
Times have changed since 1974 though the President seemed so incensed about its
— and not in a good way, for those who find publication, censuring Steve Bannon for
themselves in a quandary. Most obviously, his contributions towards it, brought to
the rise of social media adds armies of the fore a wider awareness of contention.
voluntary new recruits to an already bulging When Trump is considered in the
commentariat. “Fifty years ago, people said context of a readily-hostile media, his very
that the problem with the world is that a public vexation seemed unwise, at best. At Theresa May put her hands up to apologise
lie can get halfway around the globe before worst, it further sensationalised the book’s over the disastrous election campaign.
the truth has got its boots on. I think that release, cementing it as a must-read among AP PHOTO / RUI VIEIRA

applies in seconds now, for good and bad.” the political classes. Far from dismissing the
The speed of response, therefore, veracity of the book, Trump seemed to give Theresa May’s party conference
is “incredibly important”. Throughout credence to the claims detailed within: if speech last October, itself beset with
Blanchard’s practice, he says he they’re worth him getting angry about, so the snags, did at least try to make amends
regularly encounters situations where thinking goes, they must be worth reading. for the notorious election campaign five

W
major organisations are slow off the months prior. Admitting her failings,
mark. The ensuing tide cannot be hat of Britain and its she confessed the strategy had been “too
held back by engaging journalists in political scene? The scripted, too presidential”: “I hold my
off-the-record discussions, he says. government is said to be so hands up for that. I led the campaign,
“They’ll quietly tell reporters, ‘We weak it is merely lurching I take responsibility, and I am sorry.”
don’t have a clue yet’,” Blanchard explains, from crisis to crisis. What would Blanchard, It is perhaps time, though, for May
“and then of course it goes in the paper: the great corporate publicist, do if he to display a little more authenticity in her
‘Sources close to the management were in the Downing Street media team? leadership.

politifix.co.uk 19
20 politifix.co.uk
politifix.co.uk 21
WIRES AND
LIGHTS IN A BOX
The echoes of McCarthyism, and its insidious practice of unfairly discrediting opponents,
can be heard again in today’s political rhetoric. Andreas Koumoudis explores a recurring
phenomenon from 1950s America to the present day.

22 politifix.co.uk
FEATUREFIX

O
ne of the darkest political Trump and Stone ran a smear was using the congressional committees for
periods in American history campaign against Reform candidate Pat his inquisition, there were critics, but not
occurred in the 1950s, when Buchanan in 1999, who was convinced that many and not so outspoken as fear of
senator Joseph McCarthy’s to run by the latter, where Trump called prosecution loomed around the corner. One
Congressional House Un-American him a Hitler-lover, anti-Semite, and of the people who contributed to McCarthy’s
Activities Committee set out to expose that he doesn’t like black or gay people. demise was the veteran journalist Edward
‘fifth amendment Communists’. At that While Trump may resembles the R. Murrow who the senator described as
time, McCarthy, along with others, tried methods of McCarthyism, a skilled master “a symbol, the leader and the cleverest of
to convince the public of a Communist of the art is Russian President Vladimir the jackal pack which is always found at
conspiracy to take over the country through Putin, who has been in power for over the throat of anyone who dares to expose
‘traitors’, who happened to be civilian and 10 years and has been at the centre of individual Communists and traitors”.
military figures of the past administration. allegations of bullying and the execution Murrow did an exposé on McCarthy in
While anyone could become the next of opponents. He has branded critics as 1954 on his documentary series broadcast
target, chances were certainly increased traitors who want to destroy Russia by “See It Now” on CBS. In that broadcast, he
if you had a critical stance concerning manipulating the media and has presented presented the evidence fairly and calmly on
the senator and his practices. Or indeed, a great conspiracy to destroy Russia the senator and his activities, which was a
even if at any point in your life you by both external and internal forces. controversial subject and not welcomed with
had a conversation with someone who Yet, Putin and Trump are just two open arms on television. Murrow said in his
was ‘different’. Such evidence during figures that carry out McCarthyism 1958 speech “Wires and lights in a box” that
congressional hearings could have been tactics. As NPR journalist Deborah “I have reason to know, as do many of you,
fabricated and on many occasions not even Amos explains: “We live in an era when that when the evidence on a controversial
presented to you nor to the public, as you politicians have worked very hard to subject is fairly and calmly presented,
were tried through gossip and innuendo. undermine facts and to blur what’s true. the public recognises it for what it is - an
McCarthy claimed that there were “Our whole trade is on sourcing and effort to illuminate rather than to agitate”.
over 200 known Communists in the State trying to be as accurate as possible and to In a sense he was right; the public
Department. He manipulated the media, keep opinions out of what we do. Reporting is could handle controversy and the networks
exaggerated and told outrageous stories the holy grail, not opinions. And I think that realised it during ABC’s ‘unconventional’
about the Communist conspiracy, distorted part of our work has been degraded in this coverage of the 1968 conventions. To
facts and smeared opponents as Communist political era and that’s what the problem is, boost ratings, there were a series of debates
sympathisers. During Army hearings he between the right-wing king-maker William
yelled when a testimony wasn’t to his liking, F. Buckley and left-wing iconoclast Gore
as well as verbally attacking witnesses, Vidal. The debate soon became a blood sport
attorneys and senators. From this bullish and
criminal behaviour, as well as demagoguery,
“We live in an era when as both made personal attacks at each other,
reaching a point in one of the debates where
the term McCarthyism was coined. politicians have worked Vidal called Buckley a Crypto-Nazi. In that
Some 60 years later, Trump descended moment Buckley lost and control and yelled:
on an escalator into a campaign filled very hard to undermine “Now listen, you queer, stop calling me a
with hateful rhetoric towards critics and
the other candidates, press manipulation
facts and to blur what’s crypto-Nazi or I’ll sock you in your goddam
face, and you’ll stay plastered”. The televised
and minority scapegoating and blaming. true” conflict excited the audience, sky-rocketed
Throughout his campaign and subsequent ABC’s ratings and rewired television itself,
presidency, Trump has accused senator changing radically the course from avoiding
Ted Cruz’s father of having a connection controversy to welcoming it. Bring one
with the JFK assassin, called the Democrats and all politicians do in favour and one against an argument;
traitors for not applauding him during it, from Putin to Trump”. let them argue it out in a theatrical way
the State of the Union and implied that Putin, Trump, and other politicians and let commentary become news.
Mexicans in the U.S. are criminals and direct their views by utilising the media This format welcomed conflict and
rapists. He has also presented the narrative as their megaphones. Throughout the became a political tool not so much as for
that former President Bill Clinton raped presidential campaign, the New York discussing the news but reinforcing political
multiple women, all the while slandering Times calculated that Trump received narratives. The first 24 hour cable news
long-standing media outlets as ‘fake news’. about $2 billion worth of free coverage, channel, CNN, was founded in 1980 and a
Trump has an indirect connection because of the huge ratings drawn from his few years later in 1986, FOX was founded,
to McCarthy and his methods through controversies. Furthermore, a journalist’s which created a greater demand for coverage
the people he has had links with during duty is to report on what is happening. of news. Soon, big businesses swept in to
his life. Roy Cohn served as McCarthy’s When doing this, a truly objective transform broadcast news into a series
chief counsel during the Communist journalist must attempt to include some of entertainment, scaremongering, and
activity investigation committees and form of quote to retain a level of fairness. political packages. Their new format gave
was Trump’s man for solving problems Deborah brought up the example the opportunity for Conservatives to have a
during his early business career. Another of reporting on climate change. She says channel of their own as FOX was and is today,
important figure in Trump’s life who that “one of the things you have to do the most watched news channel in the U.S.
played an important role in developing as a reporter is be to present both sides. The news became driven by ratings
him as a political figure is Roger Stone. “Despite this overwhelming science, as the plurality of partisan media outlets
The political consultant has been most people who cover climate change for was increased. This is an essential part in
involved in the campaigns of Reagan, the news aren’t scientists, so what you saw for understanding how television has aided in
Nixon, Bush senior and junior, Bob a long time was this group of people who if broadening the divide, allowing for easier
Dole, Al Sharpton and Trump in 2016, you wanted to do a story on climate change, manipulation of the media, due to a lack of
as well as in 2000, when Trump hinted you had to include them because the editor representatives who have a critical view of
that he might seek the nomination of would say, but where is the other side?” them, pushing their narrative on ‘friendly
the Reform Party which was drawing The media play an essential territory’ and discrediting the opposition
votes away from the Republicans. role in all of this. When McCarthy on air with little regard to evidence.

politifix.co.uk 23
FEATUREFIX

From the very infancy of television, with a weapon. So what I can conclude from
Murrow understood its importance. He that is that my contacts on Facebook and
thought of it as an instrument that can social media are not part of the group of people
teach, illuminate and even inspire. But his involved in ‘pizza-gate’. I never saw that post
personal experiences led him to warn his but millions of people did” Deborah said.
fellow newsmen when he warned them The echoes of McCarthyism are
NO FEAR (1954)
“that television in the main is being used to plaguing society once again as the political
distract, delude, amuse and insulate us, then strategies come full circle. Trump didn’t “We will not walk in fear,
television and those who finance it, those create this situation of fear, division,
who look at it and those who work at it, polarisation, hate and distrust, he merely one of another. We will
may see a totally different picture too late.” exploited the situation as McCarthy did. not be driven by fear
The internet and social media have As Murrow said to McCarthy; “Cassius was
changed the way we consume news and right, the fault dear Brutus is not in our stars
into an age of unreason,
information, as well as changing the way we but in ourselves. Goodnight and good luck.” if we dig deep in our
communicate with each other. New forms
of media are becoming a main source of
history and our doctrine,
news for many people, but this comes with a and remember that
danger of being served fake news, distorted we are not descended
facts, rumours and innuendo as proof, along
with great conspiracies about the deep state. from fearful men -- not
Fake news has become so powerful that it
Jon from men who feared
has even managed to modify people’s voting
patterns. In some ways, social media can
Stewart, to write, to speak, to
host of The
be used as an extension of McCarthyism.
Daily Show associate and to defend
Deborah can recall a story from when
she saw what was apparently a BBC news
causes that were, for
video, which said that Russia was invading the moment, unpopular.
Crimea. However, after she tweeted it out,
her colleagues in Crimea told her that there
This is no time for men
were no Russians there. “I realised that I who oppose Senator
had seen the most professional fake news McCarthy’s methods
broadcast I had ever encountered in my
life. I had never seen anything like it. And to keep silent, or for
I had to climb back on Twitter and say that THE COMEDY AVENGERS those who approve. We
I have been had by a fake news website”.
can deny our heritage
“Now watching the and our history, but
we cannot escape
news is a lot like trying When the news reaches the tipping
responsibility for the
to follow a set of point of exaggeration, Charlie Brooker
best characterised it when he said: result. There is no
instructions written in “watching the news is a lot like trying to
way for a citizen of a
a garish font on a belly- follow a set of instructions written in a
garish font on a belly-dancer’s underlying republic to abdicate
dancer’s underlying torso torso while a psychopath stands in the his responsibilities. As
room playing the trombone in your ear”.
while a psychopath stands Jon Stewart and the Daily Show stepped a nation we have come
in the room playing the in and from 1999 to 2015, the satirical news into our full inheritance
show became the main source of news for
trombone in your ear” many in the U.S., with 3.5 million viewers at a tender age. We
on TV and millions more on the internet. proclaim ourselves,
Social media has a strong role to The show was widely successful as Stewart
play in McCarthyism as the users are shed a light on the acute level of hypocrisy,
as indeed we are, the
bound by algorithms that will ensure they fear mongering, pathological lying and defenders of freedom,
stay in a bubble and are not exposed to constant division perpetrated by the media
information and news that is of no interest and politicians, as well as showing the
wherever it continues
to them. They are dominated by tsunamis of ridiculousness of commentary theatrics to exist in the world,
misinformation, innuendo and controversy instead of news. Stewart did it gracefully by but we cannot defend
that are designed to keep them on the site. For reaching out to people from both parties.
example, YouTube, Deborah says, favours His prodigies and other comedians freedom abroad by
more radical content to keep you there. now have their own shows, and in spite deserting it at home”.
“A lot of people didn’t read the news of their success they lack something that
before, but because Facebook presented it Jon Stewart and Edward Murrow had in
and the way that the algorithm works, you common. They could communicate with
Edward Murrow
end up seeing what your friend is seeing, you their audience sincerely through their own
become cocooned in this political mind-set. voice, without using scapegoats, holding a
“It’s funny how the ‘pizza-gate’ happened mirror to society and telling us what we did
here, I realised that I never saw a pizza gate was wrong or unjust, but they didn’t do so as
story in my news-feed until a guy walked lecturers or critics; they talked to us as fellow
into the pizza parlour in Washington journey-men.

24 politifix.co.uk
politifix.co.uk 25
ARTFIX

YESTERDAY TODAY TOMORROW


Paris-based artist Bryan McCormack isn’t your run of the mill artist. He spends most
of his year collecting drawings from refugees in squats and camps across Europe
and more recently, across the world. These drawings made by children and adults
alike narrate harrowing tales of their past and the dreams they hold for their future.
Amongst other things, they depict scenes ranging from attacks carried out on their
home and families, right through to imagined futures of security, safety and dignity.

‘Today’, by a
12-year-old
Syrian girl,
currently living in
City Plaza Hotel
Refugee Squat,
Athens, Greece.

‘Today’, by a
17-year-old
Syrian boy,
currently living in
Refugee Camp,
Samos.

26 politifix.co.uk
ARTFIX

‘Tomorrow’,
by a 29-year-
old Congolese
man, currently
living in Massy
Refugee Shelter
(La Cimade),
Massy, France. It
shows a scene of
retribution.

‘Yesterday’, by
a 29-year-old
Nigerian man,
currently living
in Moi Refugee
Squat, Turin,
Italy.

politifix.co.uk 27
ARTFIX

‘Today’,
a 29-year-old
Congolese man,
currently living
in Massy Refugee
Shelter, Massy,
France.

‘Yesterday’, by an
18-year-old Syrian
boy, currently
living in Kara Tepe
Refugee Camp,
Lesbos Island.

28 politifix.co.uk
ARTFIX

‘Tomorrow’, by
a 29-year-old
Senegalese man,
currently living
in Moi Refugee
Squat, Turin, Italy.

‘Yesterday’, by
an 18-year-old
Syrian boy,
currently living
in Kara Tepe
Refugee Camp,
Lesbos Island.

politifix.co.uk 29
ARTFIX

‘Yesterday’, by
a 29-year-old
Congolese man,
currently living
in Massy Refugee
Shelter (La Cimade),
Massy, France.This
man drew a portrait
of himself being
tortured.

‘Leave’, by a 22-year-
old Pakistani man,
currently living in
Samos Refugee
Camp, Samos
Island, Greece.

30 politifix.co.uk
ARTFIX

‘Today’, by a
16-year-old
Afghan boy,
currently living in
Samos Refugee
Camp, Samos
Island.

‘Today’, by a 3-year-old
Syrian girl, currently
living in City Plaza Hotel
Refugee Squat, Athens,
Greece. It is a self-
portrait.

politifix.co.uk 31
SECTIONHEADER

A Protest fit
for a President
Meet the drag queen who isn’t
afraid of spilling tea over Trump
Words: Navya Hebbar
INTERVIEWFIX

C
heddar Gorgeous looms the that makes people look at you and that politically engaged, directly or indirectly,
streets of Manchester in her actually makes people listen to you. by forcing something to be seen.
stilettos, ready to be the new face There are people that say
of queer Britain. The creation Do you ever fear a backlash drag takes away the seriousness of
of Michael Atkins, a researcher at the politics, what is your reply to that?
University of Liverpool, Cheddar has been because of the flamboyant I would say that anything that
instrumental in organizing a mass protest attitudes with which you encourages people to think and talk about
against US President Donald Trump, who handle these situations? it is a good thing. What would you rather
will be visiting the UK on the 13th of July. They may not like you, they may not - that somebody is accused of not making
Cheddar works as a trained agree with what you are presenting, they it serious or that somebody just simply not
anthropologist by day and assumes notice that it is occurring. I think if
drag by sunset as a performer somebody comes to me and goes you
and host at the Cha Cha boudoir. are not treating this with any form of
In a Q and A with Politifix, she
speaks about her work in drag “And the issues I seriousness, I’m going to say “Greaaa-
at, does this mean we are going to have

want to talk about,


and what activism means to her. a loud discussion about treating things
seriously because do you know what?
I can do both.” And the issues I want
Where do you think
the balance between I could talk about to talk about, I could talk about them
in a really serious way too, but you
performance and activism
in drag lie?
them in a really know what, you wouldn’t have been
listening to me unless I spent three
hours putting makeup on my face.
I don’t think there always is a
balance and I don’t think there has serious way too, And I think there is something
interesting the way our society is
to be a balance either. There are some
people whose drag I imagine doesn’t
become politically involved and that is
but you know so obsessed with spectacle, it’s so
obsessed with presentation and
visual things and instagramming
absolutely fine. I think what we have
to think about is that just because what, you wouldn’t and social media and the things
you can put into a very simplified.
something is not overtly, consciously
political, doesn’t mean, necessarily,
that it isn’t a political act. And I
have been So much so that people aren’t often
interested in complexity, so at least it
operates as an opening of the door.
think that can be said about all drag.
Even now where actually some of listening to me But that really is just the tip of
an iceberg that it is at this current
unless I spent three
it has become quite mainstream and
moment. Parody and satire has been
quite accepted, I guarantee you, it is
a massive part a political critique
only mainstream and accepted for a
hours putting
and remains a massive part of
certain kind of person and within a
political critique through different
certain kind of community. So those
societies histories. So if you look at
people who might perceive themselves
as being quite regular standard makeup on.” the price of caricature and cartoon
and of being able to say those things
accept drag queens. You try that in a
that you might not be necessarily
community or a situation that is not
able to get away with in a formal
used to it and it is troubling to people’s
may actually get angry, they may be sad, serious debate. There is a bringing
core beliefs sometimes, what drag queens do.
they may be afraid. But you are noticed. if you like to borrow RuPaulism, there
It plays with and disrupts ideas
And I think there is a great phrase from is an ability to spill tea in a way that
about gender and also other kinds of
the HIV activism era in the 90s which maybe politicians feel restrained in doing.
transformation that genuinely makes
says silence equals death. Now we can And I think it’s actually, I said something
people feel uncomfortable. And it is
view that on a very grand scale and it earlier about boundary pushing, there is
that discomfort and that disquiet, that
would be very fitting now, if you look at something also in being able to slightly push
potential to create a disruption in what
the scenario with Trump, and the cutting a boundary, you end up there for establishing
people perceive as normal that is innately
of HIV provision. You know it’s still a very what your limitations are of how far you can
political because it encourages debate.
real issue and it still is extremely important go with something and that is an important
It encourages the establishment of what
for a lot of people around the world. thing in proceeding with any other debate.
we wish to find normal, what we wish to
find acceptable and actually how we find It is only by remaining visible, they
solutions to the differences between us. may sometimes be able to stay alive. But What inspired you to organise
So, in many ways, the other thing also in smaller political issues - it’s only the protest and how has the
that makes drag a particularly useful by making clear that there is an issue, that
there is a difference of opinion, that people response been so far?
political act, when we are starting to use
are different, would there be any form of You know people always kind of
it in a way that is very overt, is the way
acceptance or small changes. You can look at go, what’s your angle, what do you want
it amplifies our visibility and amplifies
a classic situation, I think for women around from it? And another thing people say is
our voice. So, one of the things that drag
the idea of feminism there is this notion that - “ why not something else?” Now I think
queens do through being a spectacle, is that
you have, of the battle for equality being won. symbolically, you have to think - there are
they make their differentness overt, they
Since it is an issue that is almost invisible, it plenty of issues I can draw attention to,
make it clear that what they want to say
doesn’t get addressed as a legitimate issue. from what Donald Trump has done to the
to people is Í am a different kind of thing.
And when drag enrages people, it queer people’s rights in the US to how he
And it’s that kind of blunt force of
also makes something just as exciting has systemically attacked trans people’s
saying I’m different that actually and
and drives people to want to be rights in the US for whom I feel a particular

politifix.co.uk 33
INTERVIEWFIX

alliance with. I’m not a transgender person to represent to a certain extent that we are
but I think because of my queer upbringing
if you like, and my development as a gay man
“It is all about supposed to hold nearest and dearest. On a
symbolic level, it’s about going ‘that isn’t me’,
and my association with trans people and
their needs and their rights and because of
showing our what my country is doing doesn’t represent
what I stand for. And I think that is incredibly
the recognition that especially when you are
a minority group that actually, you depend on
brothers and important for the position in which you find
yourself when you critique others. It is about
other minority groups to share your interests in
the freedom of all people to express themselves.
sisters in all saying, shouting, ‘we don’t find that tolerable.’
It would be hypocritical of us not to
It is something that has to be acknowledged
by things like protests. By saying actually
the other parts protest Trump and not to protest Saudi Arabia,
true. But then again, on a very practical sense,
the British people think it’s intolerable. Not
that I don’t want him to visit, I want him to
of the world, a protest against a foreign nation already kind
of having debates with doesn’t achieve much.
visit. People ask me why I don’t want Trump
to visit and I’m go, well, I want him to visit
that we stand However, making sure that we have the right
people in the driving seat, the right people
because I want him to see that actually some
of the people object to the things that he has
in solidarity to be at those tables internationally, that is
something we will have to look at and act with
said. And more importantly, that people like
us object to the people that support him and
with them” imperative if there is going to be any change.
And that’s why I can’t say that
some of the values that underpin his regime. it is more important to the British,
So I think that’s the first really important issue the second for because those issues are incredibly important but when it
me is actually about and it is linked to the idea of why not protest actually comes to making sure that shit gets done about those
the king of Saudi Arabia. ‘ Why aren’t you protesting the king of things, we need to make sure that we’ve got the right leaders.
Saudi Arabia’ they ask me and I have to keep establishing that it And the protest is really not about him it’s about the gesture,
is because of the fact that the relationship he UK has already even if he just understands that the headline, that there are these
established with countries like Saudi Arabia. It is not great for massive protests in London, that’s something. And it’s about
queer people. We know that this is something that our government showing our brothers and sisters in other parts of the world that we
is despite the hypocrisy with which they do deal with Saudi stand in solidarity, actually we are troubled by it.
Arabia and the fact is that relationship of critique is established. And it’s a really complex issue, international politics, everything
is quite a complex issue in this world. By showing people who feel
Then why Trump really? that they don’t have power and that they don’t have a voice, that you
This is a man who, as the president of the United States, is are there and you understand their situation, that we can create a
supposed to represent the interests of the free world. He is supposed more tolerant society that can stand up for itself

34 politifix.co.uk
COMMENTFIX

A
lmost 16 months after the between the two Koreas and a radical de-

“ALL THE inauguration of


Trump as the 45th President
Donald escalation of the nuclear sabre-rattling.
Last month, the two sides agreed to
of the United States and – pursue a peace treaty and Kim Jong-un
PROTESTING love him or loathe him – three things
are becoming clearer by the day.
became the first North Korean leader to
set foot inside South Korea. Only recently,
SEEMS A Firstly, unlike most politicians, Donald
Trump keeps his promises. A prime
North Korea released three American
detainees in preparation of a meeting
example of this is his campaign pledge to between Trump and the North Korean
LITTLE SILLY recognise Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.
Pretty much every presidential
leader. This is an astonishing turn around,
and if Trump succeeds in removing the
TO BE HONEST” hopeful has made exactly the same
pledge, but every single one, including
threat of nuclear war from the region he
will be a more worthy recipient of the
Bill Carmichael, journalist at the Bill Clinton, George W Bush and Barack Nobel Peace Prize than Obama ever was.
Yorkshire Post peaks about how Obama, promptly broke the promise once The third thing about Trump is that
Trump might not be the worst they gained office. Not Trump. Instead he he has the knack of upsetting precisely
thing to happen this decade. did exactly what he said he would do, and the right sort of people who then get so
next week the new US embassy opens angry they make utter fools of themselves.
in Jerusalem. Job done. Promise kept. Trump’s language may be colourful,

Secondly, Trump has a tendency to but can anyone seriously challenge


be proved right – particularly at times his central point that the UK, with its
when perceived wisdom proclaims rocketing levels of violent crime, is proof
he is getting it badly wrong. Take, for positive that tough gun control laws do
example, relations with nuclear-armed not guarantee more peaceful societies?
North Korea and the volatile dictator So what are we to make of Trump’s
Kim Jong-un. Years of diplomacy by decision this week, fiercely criticised
the smooth and sophisticated Barack in European capitals, including
Obama achieved precisely nothing London, to abandon the nuclear deal
except to encourage North Korean with Iran signed by Obama in 2015?
aggression and the development of On one level it is yet another
missiles that could deliver nuclear promise kept. Trump was consistent on
warheads to Japan and even US territory. the campaign trial that he believed the
Enter The Don, with a much Iran deal was a disaster for the West and
rougher approach to foreign relations, he would rip it up if he gained power.
ridiculously boasting he had a “bigger Almost 63 million Americans voted
nuclear button” than the North for that and Trump has kept faith with his
Korean leader and describing him supporters and delivered on his pledge.
dismissively as the “little rocket man”. And let us not get too starry-eyed
The diplomatic establishment threw about the bigots who run Iran, who
up their hands in horror and pundits combine brutal repression at home with
warned that Trump was dragging the the promotion of terrorism overseas.
world to the brink of a nuclear war. In fact The thought of these notorious anti-
precisely the opposite happened – there Semites developing deliverable nuclear
has been a remarkable thawing of relations weapons chills the blood.

politifix.co.uk 35
POLITIFIX

Is Europe’s mother on the ropes?


Members of the German SDP are unhappy about their party’s involvement
with Angela Merkel’s centre-right Christian Democratics. Roxanna Arif looks
at whether the German chancellor will be able to keep the coalition together.

U
sually a stable force in Europe, (AfD) party are now the coalition’s main
things aren’t so straightforward parliamentary opposition. With almost
for German Chancellor six million votes, they now have a louder
Angela Merkel these days. voice to call for border controls and
Although she was sworn in for the reintroduction of the Deutschmark.
her fourth term in March, a six-month- Away from political parties, a rise in
long period of uncertain negotiation the far-right is taking place in German
demonstrates how differently her workplaces too. A number of right-wing
own party, the Christian Democratic unions have become popular, such as
Union (CDU), and their coalition the alternative ‘Zentrum Automobil’
partners, the Social Democratic Party union, which is allegedly being used
(SDP), envisage Germany’s future. by neo-Nazi groups to gain influence.
The two parties eventually came But Professor Langenbacher
together after talks of a ‘Jamaican thinks we have already seen the peak.
coalition’ (the ‘black’ CDU, the Green “There is still a lot of social stigma to
Party and the ‘yellow’ Free Democratic overt right-radicalism and xenophobia
Party) failed in November last year. in Germany. The people behind this
Fearing prospects of yet another union are truly radical and I think that
election, they made concessions and will limit their potential growth” he says.
came together. This is how things stand
now: a coalition of the SDP, the CDU, How Merkel could hold on
and their sister party, the Bavarian CSU. Some experts in German
rate of tax and put more money into the politics believe that the media and
Merkel’s waning power pockets of the German middle classes. other political actors are simply
As Germany’s economy continues its Since then the party have fallen out of overplaying the idea of an imminent
fast growth, and more workers are needed, favour with the electorate largely due to collapse. Professor Langenbacher
the debate around Merkel’s previous open- their past support for Merkel’s immigration believes Merkel has time on her side.
door immigration policy is at the forefront policies. Traditional working class voters “As Angela Merkel put it, the coalition
of minds. But this is not the only issue that feel the government is too focused on is ‘alternativlos’-there is no alternative and
could hurt the newly formed government. giving money to refugees and not to them. all the parties know it,” he says. “There is no
Dr Josefin Graef, a Postdoctoral Analysts now believe the party must clear successor to Merkel in the CDU, yet.”
Fellow at the Hertie School of Governance change its image if it is to survive. Dr Graef One potential successor is
in Berlin, points out that even in the says that the future of the party is unclear. Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer,
early stages of coalition, a wide-range of “The question is to what extent the whom Merkel recently selected as
publicly displayed conflicts have been party leadership will manage to reinvent the CDU’s new secretary-general.
seen. He says these have included “the the party, create a new authentic image for Kramp-Karrenbauer, a former leader
advertising of abortion services, the level itself, and provide sustainable answers to of the forested technology hub state
of unemployment benefits, the position of the challenges posed to the modern world of Saarland, is seen as a centrist within
Islam in Germany, and family reunification of work, social security and other topics the party and has previously been
for recognised asylum seekers.” traditionally occupied by the SPD,” he says. involved in coalition discussions. But as
Dr Graef also believes that the Professor Eric Langenbacher at Langenbacher points out, she still needs
balance of power is shifting. “Merkel’s Georgetown University follows German time to develop a stronger public profile.
power is increasingly waning, both inside politics closely. He predicts that the Other potential candidates are Jens
and outside her own party, given that’s SDP will hold on until the end. An Spahn, the current Federal Minister of
she’s been Chancellor for nearly 13 years early election would not be in their Health, or Julia Klöckner, the current
now.” People are beginning to look to interests, he believes, and their best bet Federal Minister of Food and Agriculture,
the future to see where the next leader is to position themselves for the future. both of whom have had controversies in
will come from. Change is anticipated. “They got a great deal from the the past that could come back to haunt
coalition negotiations with the number of them. (Spahn has previously been accused
Who are the SDP? ministries and policies disproportionate of making ‘anti-immigrant’ remarks, and
The Social Democratic Party of to their actual strength,” he says. Klöckner was investigated for prematurely
Germany (SDP) is one of the two major tweeting the result of an election.)
parties in Europe’s largest economic Challenge from the far-right Therefore, expect no major
power. Despite their Marxist roots, Like their neighbours the movement, at least for the next year or
they are now a centre-left party with Netherlands and Austria, Germany so.
strong links to the Labour Party. has seen a recent rise in popularity
During the election then-leader, for the far-right. The Eurosceptic and For the very latest analysis of news from the
Martin Schulz, vowed to raise the highest nationalistic “Alternative for Germany” continent, visit politifix.co.uk/europe

36 politifix.co.uk
38 politifix.co.uk
FEATUREFIX

V
oters descended upon polling The Assembly burst into the public “The most important thing is that
booths across the country this consciousness through an open letter, people tend to change their ideas when
May to elect their councillors. In published in the Guardian. An extensive they enter into a conflict with the current
the majority of cases, the cross list of high profile left-wing activists backed system or establishment,” he says. “They
was placed in one of two boxes (no prizes for them, including Tony Benn and Owen Jones. can see that it is not working in their favour.
guessing which ones). After all the council Following this, the campaign put forward “It could be that your boss is about to
seats had been declared, 2,350 were won radical proposals to rebuild public services, sack a load of the workforce for financial
by Labour and 1,332 by the Conservatives. clamp down on tax avoidance, re-allocate reasons, but at the same time you can
The third highest-scoring party were spending and develop a sustainable economy. see bosses and CEOs are being paid huge
the Liberal Democrats, with just 536. Despite having recently received backing amounts of money in bonuses. It could be
A lack of choice can be something from Labour’s Jeremy Corbyn and the that your local library or swimming pool
of a hindrance for overturning voter Green Party’s Caroline Lucas, the Assembly is going to shut down because of cuts.
apathy. In the 2017 general election, proudly maintain their independence “The other thing is just putting
Britain’s electorate surpassed 46 million from all parties. They rely entirely forward an alternative to what the
people. Only 68 percent of these voted. upon donations from their supporters. mainstream media says in a very big
It also prevents smaller parties from way. We’re not saying it is going to be
gaining momentum. The effect of the first job done after one big demonstration.
past the post system, leading to tactical voting “We still remain and As well as lobbying Parliament,
for the two main contrasting parties, means the Assembly organise national
other options are side-lined and cannot will continue to remain demonstrations to mobilise supporters
impact upon the leadership of the country. a non-party affiliated and help to promote their message.
The system works in theory. Election on “What those demonstrations do
election, strong governments are generally organisation,” says Sam is put forward an idea that you are not
created. But as a result, these parties are
mainly held to account by their singular
“which is very important. hearing anywhere else; they mobilise
people around it, and the impact of
political opponent: each other. Holding the There are still lots of that is about changing ideas as well as
leadership and opposition of the country putting pressure on the government.
responsible is key to ensuring that decisions
people who do not trust “Without those big demonstrations,
are made in the interest of the electorate. politicians.” without there being some very obvious vocal
Trade unions have traditionally lobbied and big amount of people saying ‘no, we’re
to ensure that the views, needs and opinions not going to accept this’, we wouldn’t have
of the members they represent are heard by “There are people who vote for the been able to change the ideas of millions.”
those in Parliament. But with smaller parties Green Party. There are people who don’t In the five years since the letter
unable to gain traction, it is left to a range of vote at all, but still want to campaign to save was sent to the Guardian, the number
campaigning groups, made up of passionate their local hospital, or agree that austerity of groups supporting the campaign
people united by a common cause, to should be ended. We want to create the has exceeded 150. Sam believes they
place pressure upon the government biggest and broadest possible movement, to must keep on putting pressure on the
The People’s Assembly Against have the biggest impact on the government.” government to see a real difference.
Austerity is one of these groups. Following Although everyone involved with “People feel that there are a huge amount
the global crash of 2007, Conservative the People’s Assembly plays a large part of politicians who do things that they don’t
Party leader David Cameron committed to in campaigning activity, membership like, who don’t represent them, or their
implementing a series of cuts in response to is operated on an affiliation scheme MP will vote for something that they don’t
what was claimed to be excessive national with smaller groups and organisations want them voting for,” he says. “But they
spending by the then Labour government. uniting over the common cause. have got no way to hold them to account.
The Assembly was formed in 2013, with “Obviously individuals can get involved “I’d like to see, as soon as possible,
the aim to challenge the impacts faced and do what they want to do, but the idea is another general election. I think that if there
by the country from this period of cuts. to promote collective action,” he stresses. were another, the Tories would lose it, and
Sam Fairbairn, the General I think they know that themselves as well.”
Secretary of the People’s Assembly, While the People’s Assembly
was there at the very beginning. “The strengths we have have achieved a considerable amount
“There had been several years of are our numbers. We can in the past five years, Sam believes
austerity going on, and there were various there is still a lot left to campaign for.
different campaigns kicking off across the only realise that strength “We want to see everything being run
country to challenge it,” he remembers.
“There were lots of local campaigns
when we act together.” in the interests of what people need. The
first thing we have got to think is how are
to save libraries and hospitals, but there we going to campaign, because I think the
was no national body that could pull “Individually you are powerless in lots government is very weak at the minute. They
and tie all these different things together, of different ways, but collectively we can are in a very bad state amongst themselves.
link up the issues, and direct that anger have a very big impact. We want to always “It would not take a huge amount if
at a national level towards government. continuously promote people who work there was enough unrest, enough strikes,
“We wanted to make sure that all of together in their workplace, community enough demonstrations continuing across
these different campaigns were represented, or wherever it is, to make that possible.” the country. They would be forced into an
were talking to each other, building on One of the greatest challenges faced early election or forced into resigning in one
each other’s experiences, and putting by the People’s Assembly is changing way or another. I do believe that is possible.
together an argument.” For Sam, it is all the capitalist attitudes that are closely “We’re thinking ‘how do we create that
about solidarity. “The austerity programme associated with success and achievement. situation?’”
is coming from central government and if The Conservatives have remained the
we are going to seriously challenge it, we largest party in parliament for the last More information about The People’s
have to challenge the whole programme, eight years and Sam believes it is first-hand Assembly can be found at:
not just on an issue by issue basis.” threats that influence people to change. thepeoplesasembly.org.uk

politifix.co.uk 39
SECTIONHEADER

40 politifix.co.uk
politifix.co.uk 41
FEATUREFIX

Africa’s crippling
dictators
In the 1990s, it was popular to call Africa’s new generation of leaders the
‘new hope’. Since then, many of the old guard have only let people down. Adama Barrow -
We take a look at where some of them are now, and evaluate the new
politiciains hoping to lead the continent to unprecedented prosperity. Gambia
Property developer turned
Zimbabwe president, Adama Barrow has

A
spent his first year in charge
fter heroically leading his turning Gambia more liberal.
nation to independence Abolishing the death penalty,
Mugabe waited just seven years releasing prisoners detained
before overthrowing the new without trial and beginning
constitution and making himself supreme Gambia’s journey back into the
leader. Although he is still loved by the Commonwealth were among
Chinese and some Africans, Mugabe is his first actions.
an almost universal sign of the evils that
tyranny can bring. After being forced out
of power, he now spends his days ranting
about the new “illegal” government.

Rwanda

U
nder Kagame, Rwanda have
moved from genocide and civil
war to peace and a growing
economy, making steps toward
his grand vision of ‘the Singapore of
Africa’. Rwanda has also been criticised
of being a one-party virtual police state,
breaking human rights and imprisoning
journalists. Perhaps the lesson for
Kagame is to quit while he’s ahead.

Tunisia

S
entenced to a lifetime in prison,
Ben Ali is one of the few dictators
to be convicted for his crimes.
Sadly, he ran away from it.
Corruption, human rights abuses and
killing his own people are just a few of
Ben Ali’s crimes. It was due to his rule
that the first protests of the Arab Spring
erupted, and although he has admitted
‘errors’ during his reign he remains in exile.

Kenya

N
ever convicted of any crimes,
it is thought Moi’s peaceful
retirement was the result of a
deal. He was, however, a largely
popular in Kenya – at least in the early
years. Mired by undemocratic policies,
torture and human rights abuses, Moi
nonetheless pushed through many
progressive reforms. Steps were made
towards the end of the death penalty
(officially abolished in 2009) and the
infrastructure he built laid the foundations
for Kenya’s booming ‘silicone savannah’.

42 politifix.co.uk
Tunisia

George Weah - Mokgweetsi Masisi John Magufuli –


Liberia Botswana Tanzania
Former Ballon D’or Botswana have quietly Described as more popular
winning footballer, George spent the last few decades than the party which led Tanzania
Weah is Liberia’s first developing one of the highest to independence, John Magufuli
democratically elected leader GDPs in the continent. Their is one of Africa’s brightest
in 74 years. He has taken a new leader, Mokgweetsi political lights. Waging war
25% pay cut to put back into Masisi, hopes to diversify the with corruption and increasing
the public sector, vowed to end economy away from diamond inter-African links, Magufuli is a
corruption and held meetings mining and bring in further brave leader. He moved funds for
with FIFA and star footballers investment. independence day celebrations to
to develop sport in Africa. anti-Cholera efforts.

Kenya

P
olitifix are fed up with all African leaders of
being lumped in the same boat. Too often news
describes politicians in black or white terms:
they are democratic, or they are a despot. Rwanda
When Mugabe was forced from power, the Guardian led
calls for pressure on Paul Kagame – a leader with an entirely
different level of popularity in a country with little political
or geographical similarity. Rwanda is an economy on the up,
Zimbabwe is stagnant. The only similarity is that they are African.
The term ‘African politician’ brings a few recurring
image to mind: an elderly man who may have been
popular once, has now clung to power for too long,
crippled his nation and ruled with an iron fist.
And, undoubtedly, there are leaders that fit into this
stereotype. But if you look across this page, you will see a
range of politicians. Any number of leaders could have
been chosen and the result would have been different.
We believe the world is not separated as people think: just
like everything else, politics is a spectrum. African leaders
fall onto the same spectrum as English ones (remember the
expenses scandal???), and they can be at any point on the scale.
With some leaders, you have to look at where they have
come from. Musevini of Uganda and Kagame are rightly
criticised for their human rights record, but they should also
Zimbabwe
be praised for saving their nations from the brink. Other,
more despicable leaders – Omar Al-Bashir, Robert Mugabe
– should not be placed in the same basket just because they
are African. Above all don’t forget about the new leaders,
unnoticed in the West, who are making real progress.

politifix.co.uk 43
44 politifix.co.uk
SECTIONHEADER

Colombia’s shaky peace


Colombia’s fragile peace is beginning to crack. Roxanna Arif speaks to
Gimena Sanchez-Garzoli, a leading expert about the situation.

A
fter more than 200,000 the public in a referendum in October 2016 two terms. This election is therefore,
deaths across five decades which was, to the surprise of most, narrowly to a lot of people, a second referendum
of one of the world’s most rejected by a margin of less than 1 per cent. on the peace deal, with the candidates
brutal forgotten conflicts, the A month later, the Colombian Congress divided on how to best solve the issue.
Colombian government finally reached approved a new revised agreement. Sanchez-Garzoli argues that FARC need
a peace deal with the Revolutionary to reinvent themselves if they are going to
be taken seriously as a candidate for power.
Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) What has gone wrong? “FARC need to keep moving forward
in 2016. Now, just two years after the
ceasefire, cracks are beginning to appear. with reintegration and the building of a
According to Gimena Sanchez-Garzoli,
Parliamentary elections in Colombia political party and movement,” she says.
the leading Colombia human rights advocate
this year left conservative groups “A lot is needed for them to convince
at the Washington Office on Latin America
strengthened. No group benefited more many Colombians of the political agenda.”
(WOLA), the government has questions
from this than the Conservative Centro “The regional elections should have
to answer. “Overall the FARC has met its
Democratico Party, led by controversial served as a major wake-up call to them that
promises. Unfortunately, the government
former president Álvaro Uribe Vélez. they do not have the political backing of the
has not held up its side of the bargain by
Vélez, an enigmatic figure who was critical people they assumed they had. They need
providing the necessary reintegration
to the peace process, is currently being to adapt, transform, and do the hard work
assistance, services, and amnesties to former
investigated for murder, and has ties to the of building a political movement that works
combatants. It’s moved very slow” she says.
United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia for present-day Colombia. They should not
While international organisations,
(AUC), a far-right group which has been just focus on denouncing what others are
including the UN, were initially willing
designated a terrorist group by the US. doing wrong.”
to help, the government did not take
As the electorate give power to extreme advantage and there was a lack of planning.
groups, the peace is further being shaken “It did things piecemeal and after- Can FARC ever be a
by violence bubbling under the surface. As the-fact, when such transformations
many as 22 FARC fighters have allegedly successful political force?

A
require a lot of buy-in, funding and
been ‘murdered’ this year, according to state delicate handling. It’s as if it put all of its
prosecutor Martha Janeth Mancera, with the s part of the deal, FARC were
effort in the negotiation and then dropped given ten Congressional seats
majority being linked to other paramilitary the seriousness in the implementation.”
groups or FARC dissents. as a base from which to grow
Sanchez-Garzoli believes that their presence as a political force.
Former FARC leader, Iván Márquez, the government’s bad handling has
who negotiated the peace deal with the In the Congressional elections this year,
led to its inability to convince those despite fielding more than 74 candidates,
government, is under investigation for drug who never believed in the deal.
trafficking and it has been reported that he they failed to gain any more than these ten.
has since fled Bogota. Are the Colombian people
How can the deal be saved? just not ready to accept FARC as a

S
legitimate political option? It will take
Background to the conflict? anchez-Garzoli believes that patience, according to Sanchez-Garzoli.
both sides can make efforts to “Building a political movement
A ten-year civil war coined ‘La ensure the longevity of the deal. that can influence electoral politics will
Violencia’ was sparked by the assassination “The outgoing government take time and needs much support. The
of populist politician Jorge Eliécer Gaitán needs to convince whomever takes political machinery and corruption also
in April 1948. Around 5,000 people were over in August to move peace forward,” need to be addressed so that new actors
killed in the immediate aftermath and this she says. “The alternative would be have a chance in Colombian politics.”
violence continued. Fighting was initially a major step back for Colombia.” “People living in areas where
between the Colombian Liberal Party “The Special Jurisdiction for Peace the FARC were formerly armed are
and the Colombian Conservative Party, (JEP) need to get up and running welcoming of their demobilization, but
although eventually both of these groups and show they can deliver. Also, wary of them. There is an opportunity
fought the Communists. FARC found their Colombia should not extradite but it needs support, reconciliation
roots as the military wing of the country’s members of FARC but have them efforts and financial backing to work.”
communist party in the 1960s and fought go through the transitional justice After half a century of violence,
the government to gain control of parts of system, since that is what will peace was never going to come
Colombian territory through the civil war guarantee the rights of victims easily to Colombia. The
for over five decades. This violence resulted and potentially transform immediate future depends on
in the deaths of more than 200,000 people the society,” she says. the next government’s attitude
and the displacement of 5 million others. The current president, to the deal and FARC’s ability
Following five years of meetings, Juan Manuel Santos, will to legitimise itself.
various attempts at ceasefires, and further leave office in August
controversies, a deal was reached in June having already have Colombian president Juan
2016. The original peace deal was put to served the maximum Manuel Santos

politifix.co.uk 45
Is Korean reunification
Korea’s youth hope not!
With relations between the two Koreas warming, a peace deal
almost agreed and denuclearisation looking increasingly likely,
many in South Korea and abroad are once again discussing potential
reunification. However, the majority of young Koreans remain sceptical.

A
20-year-old trainee accountant by those who believe the country’s visual popular culture couldn’t be more
from the city of Busan, who only economic and political systems are unfair. different from the government controlled

I
wants to be known as Jennifer, dramas in the hermit kingdom which
worries that South Korea may see t is hard for anyone to see North Korea’s promote the regime. Even linguistically,
adverse effects if reunification is too hasty. ruling Kim family voluntarily giving the languages have diverged with the South
“I think that firstly the two Koreas up their power anytime soon. It is adopting many loanwords from English.
need to change in regards to language even harder to imagine South Koreans Although many are too young to
and culture because the differences are give up their democracy and willingly be remember, the South Korean
too big to unify now. The economic ruled by the North. Therefore, how can youth look to Germany’s
situation will not be good either” she says. Korea once again become a single nation? reunification to
Many of her peers agree. An opinion Kim Seo-Hee, a 19-year-old student find answers
poll conducted last year by the think-tank from Seoul thinks that reunification would about what
“Korea Institute for National Unification” be too hard to achieve and a better solution Korean
(KINU) showed that whilst over 71% of would be for the two Koreas to co-exist.
Koreans over 60 think reunification is “It will be too hard to change the
necessary, only 39% of under 30s agree. dictatorship system in North Korea
Dr Kevin Gray is a senior lecturer in peacefully, to maintain peace it will
international relations at the University be easier to accept their system.
of Sussex, who specialises in Korean “Peace between the two Koreas could
politics. He believes the realities of modern last longer if North Korea dismantled
Korean society have been a leading factor their nuclear programme” he says.
in shaping the views of the youth. “This Dr Gray doesn’t think
reflects the quite extreme competitive reunification is likely in the short
pressures that young South Koreans face to medium term. As he explains;
in both education and in employment, “North Koreans are not simply
and their individualistic outlook contrasts ‘South Koreans in waiting’ they
with that of the older generations” he says. over seven decades developed
Korean parents spend more per-capita their own identity and culture,
on private tutoring than in any other nation which is not simply reducible
in the OECD as competition to get into to the Kim regime.” South
the nation’s top universities, the so-called Korea has been creating
SKY universities, becomes increasingly a strong brand for itself,
challenging. This valuing of education with the “Hallyu wave”
in Korea is often seen as the force behind spreading across Asia
Korea’s quick ‘economic miracle’ but has and even recently
also led to high youth unemployment as the United States as
many technical positions remain vacant. South Korean music
In recent years, a popular youth phrase and dramas gain
used on Korean community forums has international fans.
been “Hell Joseon” (meaning “Hell Korea”) This bright, heavily

“It will be too hard to change


the dictatorship system in North
Korea peacefully, to maintain
peace it will be easier to accept
their system.
around the corner?
“In Korea there are still so many people who cannot meet their families since
our land was divided in two in 1953. Most of them died before they got a
chance to meet them again. It is such a big tragedy in Korean history.”

T
reunification could mean. Germany was in economic he conservative block, which now
These answers are not always danger immediately after imprisoned former President Park
pleasant, especially when it reunification because the Geun-Hye was a part, has a strong anti-
comes to the economy. Jennifer economic situations between the North Korean and pro-American stance.
worries that Korea may too two Germanys was very different. Lee Jae-Hyun, a 20-year-old student from
face a recession and the young “South Korea may not be Paju (a city on the 38thparallel just south of the
would have to pay the price. able to afford it, especially as location of April’s inter-Korean talks) believes
“If we look at German inequality is growing” she says. it is in the interests of the Korean right-wing
reunification, we While Germany experienced to keep conflict with North Korea active.
can see the a short-term economic slump, “North Korea is often used for arousing so
W e s t Germany’s economy has now many political tensions. Right-wing people have
become the envy of many. But one been using them as a political weapon. Right-wing
generation had to pay the price. people want to fight. They have more influence
Dr Gray explains that by being aggressive to North Korea” he says.
South Korea’s media has However, the current Liberal administration’s
recently become more engagement with the North — and the change
conservative, with right-wing of leadership in two of Korea’s top national
newspapers increasing their broadcasters — may show the discussion is
influence on television. changing. Yet how the government can persuade
their young voters that Korea is better as one
remains unclear.
48 politifix.co.uk
FUNNYFIX

Weird Rules from


Weird Leaders
We’re used to hearing crazy stories from North Korea, but
you don’t have to be a totalitarian state to enforce some
pretty strange laws. We take a look at some of the oddest
rules and reasons across the Asian continent.

Turkmenistan Myanmar

S M
hrouded in secrecy, the country of yanmar has had to deal with
Turkmenistan is not one that appears on the controversial governments ever since
news much. President Berdimuhamedow it gained independence in 1948. The
appears to be more forward thinking than country has been plagued by human
his predecessor, but the country is still heavily rights controversies, including allegations of
regulated. In January, President Berdimuhamedow genocide and the use of child soldiers. Back in 1970
decided that, as he considers white to be lucky, General Ne Win made a change to the laws of the
all black cars should be banned from the streets road. As a British colony, the population drove right
of the capital city, Ashgabat. Black and darker hand drive cars on the left side of the road. In a
coloured cars were seized by the police, only being somewhat sudden change, Ne Win reversed this so
released under the guarantee that the owner would that both the roads and driving position were on the
repaint the vehicle into a pale colour, preferably right. A quirk of this means that buses unload their
white or silver. The President has also allegedly passengers into the middle of the road. The reason
banned sports cars and personalised number for this is not clear. One suggestion is that General
plates, as well as banning women from driving Ne Win had a dream that the country was leaning too
under the belief that they cause more accidents. far to the left politically and needed to be rectified.

Japan Nepal

T
he land of the rising sun has always done

N
things differently. The nickname goes back
epal is better known for its geography than
centuries,when the Japanese emperor sent a
its politics. Gigantic, snowy mountains, as
letter to China ‘from the place where the sun
ancient as the world itself. But the home
rises, to the place where the sun sets.’ It set off millennia
of Mount Everest, the world’s tallest peak,
of feuds between the two countries. Now, in 2018,
has pretty ancient politics too: it is one of the few
the emperor remains as a figurehead, but in all other
countries to still be led by a Communist Party. The
senses, Japan is one of the most modern countries in
Marxist-Leninist government have outlawed not
the world- with, of course, its own way of doing things.
just begging, but swearing. Sex scenes in films are
During the 2008 recession a ‘Venting Place’ was set up
against the law, too. Perhaps most absurdly, if you are
in Tokyo where for money, you could let out your anger
deemed to have ‘overly’ decorated your house, you are
by destroying crockery. Somewhat more sinister, Japan
a criminal. And if you decide to leave your meagrely
have also imposed a maximum waistline of 85cm if
decorated home to get married, you cannot invite
you are a man, 90cm if you are a woman. For such an
more than 51 guests. If more than this arbitrary number
absurd law, it has its benefits: Japan is the thinnest
attend your wedding, you will go to jail. Simple, really.
industrialized nation, and healthcare costs have been cut.

politifix.co.uk 49
HISTORYFIX

Playing With History:


Changing Russia’s Climate
The geography of Russia is radically changing due to global warming and
the Arctic ice melting. These factors are reshaping modern day Russia, but
what would happen if these conditions were applied 200 years ago?

T
hroughout history, on average his nutritionist goons to destroy hundreds
every 33 years someone tries of tons of food that had been imported
to invade Russia and fails from the EU. Sacks of bacon were thrown
spectacularly. But what would into furnaces, truckloads of tomatoes,
happen if we changed Russia’s climate cheese and other foods were thrown into
200 years ago to today’s temperatures? car crushers. Following this, Russia imposed
How different would the world be a one year import ban on EU agricultural
today if Russia had a warmer climate? products and other goods. The fact is
Russia is the biggest country in the that Russia does not have the agricultural
world. Terrifyingly large, it spans over capacity to feed its population: that is why
11 time zones, with 35 official languages Russia is not buying apples, but apple trees.
across the country (Russian being the There are other factors in play as well,
official language at the national level). such as the Northern Sea Route, which
Apart from its respectable size, the big bear stretches along the Russian coast through
is a prisoner of its own geography as the the Arctic sea ice. Parts are free of ice for just
“agricultural growing season is short and two months a year, but in August 2017, as
it struggles to adequately distribute what is the transits through the route were rapidly
grown around the eleven time zones which decreasing, the first ship crossed the route
Moscow governs” writes Tim Marshal in his without the use of ice-breakers. This could
best-selling book ‘Prisoners of Geography’. lead to further access into Asia, cutting the
Most of the population is located to dramatically long journey several times.
its west and, in spite of its size, Russia In 1812 Napoleon marched towards
has a population of about 144 million, the frozen tundra of Russia, but the journey
fewer people than Nigeria or Pakistan. to Moscow was treacherous and unforgiving.
A report in 2009, by the Joint Global His army was constantly battered by raiders
Change Research Institute and Battelle and warned out by the snow. After capturing
Memorial Institute, predicted the impact an abandoned Moscow with all its resources
of climate change in Russia by 2030, stripped away, the Napoleonic army was
outlining four radical changes the world’s starving as there were no supply lines. They
largest nation will face. The first two are retreated in the winter: there was no grass
surprisingly positive: a reduction in Russian for their horses to feed, and they died off.
energy demand, due to milder seasons Hitler invaded Russia during WWII,
that require less heating and an increase but Operation Barbarossa made the
in water availability at the hydroelectric same mistakes as Napoleon. The German
power producing Siberian rivers. The blitzkrieg forces stormed through Russia,
third point somewhat counteracts this gaining more territory, but the longer they
positivity: it says there will be increasing went in, the larger their supply lines needed
water shortages for the southern parts of to be; something which simply wasn’t
European Russia, which already suffers feasible. Furthermore, the German tanks
from socioeconomic and political stresses. suffered heavy losses as they kept breaking
One of the most important changes for down due to the extreme cold, as their army
Russia will be in the seasons: longer growing was not equipped for winter warfare and
seasons and changing precipitation patterns didn’t have sufficient food and medicines.
will make it easier to utilise the land for They were hoping to feed off the land
agriculture. It could change the face of Siberia, but they learned that Russian agriculture
and even greater Russia, from a cold desolate was in desperate need of mechanization
land to a booming agricultural society. (it didn’t help that the Soviets burned
Agriculture is more important to any crops that could feed the Germans).
Russia than one might realize. A few years In-between Napoleon and Hitler, the
ago, Putin attempted to declare war on Russians faced off against the Japanese
cheese. It was total carnage, in which ordered in 1904-05. The Empire of Japan, uneasy

50 politifix.co.uk
HISTORYFIX

RUSSIAN ‘FUN’ FACTS

33
Spoken Languages

11
Timezones

14
Border countries

160
Different ethnic groups
live in Russia

144,966,689
Population of Russia

200,429,293
Population of Pakistan

with Russian plans for Asian expansion, amounts of land, increasing its population
launched a surprise attack against the
Russian fleet at Port Arthur in Manchuria,
and spreading it across the country,
leading to the creation of new towns
6–8 million
modern day China. The Russians sent and industries. Hitler’s and Napoleon’s The number of dead
their Baltic Fleet but on their journey invasions could have been more feasible as
they accidentally fired on a British ship. it would be easier to establish supply routes, from the famine of
Following the incident, access to the Suez faster movement of troops and vehicles 1932–33
Canal was denied and the Baltic fleet had and better fighting conditions. After all,
to sail along the coast of Africa to reach Russia has to defend a massive 2,000 mile

800,000
China, taking one of the longest journeys long border in Europe. A decrease of the
on the planet. In the meantime they sent the Arctic ice would have made the Northern
army from Moscow on the Trans Siberian Trade Route into a major shipping lane
railroad, which hadn’t been completed yet. to Asia leading to the development of Approximately the
By the time the battered Russian navy new ports. This in turn, would have made
arrived they were attacked by the Japanese Russia’s involvement in Asia all the deeper. number of working-age
fleet and lost most of their ships in a colossal They would have been able to deploy people lost per year due
defeat. Their army met the same fate. their navy faster through that route, and
If Russia had a warmer climate it with a milder climate the railway could have to low birth-rates
would have been able to fully utilise the vast been completed by then.

politifix.co.uk 51
POLITIFIX

I’ll Xi there for you:


China’s new Mao
W
hile Xi has secured a lifetime shocking is the temporary ban on the letter counter Indian and American interference.
presidency this year, China ‘N’ on the site as users used the letter to This is an example of Xi showing that
has kept growing and is set refer to the removal of term limits. Any economics is not China’s only strength.
to have a GDP larger than hint of online criticism of Xi is not allowed
the combined Eurozone countries by next in the world’s most populous nation.
year. This economic success helps keeps the
The world stage
Chinese public on board and entrenches As America under Trump’s
China and Xi’s place on the world stage China’s plan for the world leadership looks inwards, China appears
The ruling Chinese Communist Like Xi’s political thought, the One to be embracing its role as a world leader.
Party has taken a collective approach Belt One Road (OBOR) initiative was also Examples of this leadership include China’s
to leadership since the leadership of written into the constitution. The project’s continued commitment to the Paris climate
Mao. With the approval of indefinite official goal is to increase connectivity and change deal as the US abandons it, as well
leadership for Xi, this policy seems to collaboration between Eurasian nation as creating new multilateral trade deals
have ended and power is now saturated. states. The “belt” refers to the “Silk Road without the US. Not only does this give the
The party’s constitution now contains Economic Belt” which is the term to explain country a louder voice, it gives Xi a positive
the phrase “Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism” the road and rail links which China say image to present to his nation. The sense of
thus giving his philosophy a brand which will connect them to Rotterdam. Similarly, nationalism and pride in the country that
is hard to remove. Aside from this, there the “road” refers to the planned “Maritime follows means there is a decreased chance
are other factors at play which help Xi to Silk Road” which would connect China to of any dissatisfaction with the government.
solidify his position as an immortal leader. other Asian economies and then Europe.
Alongside this project sits the China-based
Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank,
2022 Olympics
No room for criticism which currently has 64 member nations, set Soft power has not come as easily to
China’s answer to Twitter, Weibo up to support the funding of infrastructure in China as it has to other East Asian nations.
(meaning micro-blog), has 600 million the Asia-Pacific region. Significantly Japan, There is little doubt that China will invest
active users and is particularly popular who has controlled the Asian Development heavily in showcasing the best technology
amongst Chinese youth. Much like youth Bank since 1996, is not a member. and cultural assets which they have to offer.
in the west, memes have become an Why is all this relevant? Through these It is yet to be seen if Xi will place
increasingly popular way for China’s young plans, Xi has strengthened relationships himself in the spotlight in 2022, in the same
people to share thoughts and reflect on the with nations such as Pakistan and Turkey. way Japanese Prime Minister Abe did at the
world around them. Comparisons between As these nations become reliant upon closing ceremony in Rio. If he does, he could
Xi and Winnie the Pooh are common, China, the influence of the United States become a worldwide personality. That said,
leading the site to often block images of could diminish. China and Pakistan have he could also create an instant worldwide
the popular character. Perhaps even more also agreed to increase military ties to meme.

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XI (ABOVE) HAS OFTEN BEEN COMPARED TO MAO ZEDONG


(TOP) WHO LEAD CHINA FOR OVER 25 YEARS UNTIL HIS
DEATH IN 1976.

52 politifix.co.uk
HISTORYFIX

What’s in a name?

Descendants of history’s most iconic figures talk


legacies, influences and the power of a name.
Words: Daniel Hopkins

T
he great French poet Nicolas Boileau-Despréaux once 1901 to 1909. One of the most influential and popular presidents
wrote: “If your descent is from heroic sires, show in of all time, Roosevelt was a charismatic politician who won
your life a remnant of their fires.” Of course, it may the Nobel Peace Prize in 1906 and is now immortalised on
be rather difficult to contain such fiery legacies when Mount Rushmore alongside Presidents Washington, Jefferson
your forefathers were more akin to infernos, ripping through and Lincoln. President Roosevelt’s son, Theodore Junior,
the landscape of the world and changing the course of history. was also a politician, holding various offices during his life.
And those who leave their mark on history are often politicians. Another member of the extended Roosevelt family is Franklin
Their actions and decisions can leave an imprint, affecting not just Delano Roosevelt (FDR). The longest-serving U.S. president, who
the people of their country but, every single person on the planet. We led the country from 1933 to 1945, helped it recover from the
build statues and monuments to honour them and depict their lives in Great Depression and led it into the Second World War. Franklin’s
films, books and TV shows. But how do descendants of such powerful wife, Eleanor, was a human rights activist whose achievements
people live their lives? How much power does an ancestor wield? led to President Truman calling her “the First Lady of the World”.
Theodore Roosevelt V is very much aware of the influence “It’s a great privilege and honour to be related to a
his family has had over American and world history. The hedge family with such a meaningful legacy, but it’s important to
fund co-founder’s great-great-grandfather, Theodore Roosevelt, always keep one’s ancestors in context,” Theodore V says.
was the 26th President of the United States, who served from “On the one hand, that relationship provides me with

54 politifix.co.uk
HISTORYFIX

a sense of place and security and the causes that their family members “My aunt Rosemary, who had intellectual
unlike so many others, I’ve never felt started. Anthony Kennedy Shriver is and developmental disabilities, was also one
uncomfortable with my place in America. the founder, chairman and CEO of Best of my biggest inspirations. She was one of
“However, it’s also important for me Buddies International. Best Buddies is an my best friends and moved me to achieve
to not become beholden to my ancestor’s organization dedicated to “establishing greatness without uttering a single word.
legacies, either with a false sense of a global volunteer movement that “I have always admired my family’s
accomplishment – due to their successes –
or confined to living up to a historical ideal.”
Mr Roosevelt feels like he shouldn’t be
defined by his ancestor’s legacies, but the
descendant of another great 20th century
“Being a Prime Minister’s son is terrible. You have
leader doesn’t quite feel the same way. very little chance of being as good as your father.”
John Attlee, 3rd Earl Attlee, is a
Conservative peer who sits in the House
of Lords. With a hereditary title passed
down from his father, Lord Attlee joined
the Lords in 1992 upon his father’s death. creates opportunities for one-to-one passion and commitment to serving
Lord Attlee’s grandfather, Clement friendships, integrated employment and others and improving the lives of people
Attlee, was a Labour Prime Minister leadership development for people with with disabilities, but I certainly strive
between 1945 and 1951. Leading the intellectual and developmental disabilities”. to be the best father, the best husband,
first majority Labour government, he Mr Shriver comes from not just an and the best person that I can be, all
oversaw the rebuilding of Britain in the influential family, but a political dynasty. His while building a legacy of my own.”
post-war period, helped form the NHS uncle was John F. Kennedy, the Democratic Anthony has embraced his connection
and granted independence to India. President from 1961 until his assassination to his family throughout his life, allowing it
“Being a grandson is great as in 1963. Two of his other uncles were United to nurture and form his path. Lord Attlee
you can bask in reflected glory, but States senators: Robert and Ted. Robert has done likewise, believing he has lived
no one expects you to be as good as was assassinated in 1968 while seeking the up to his name and family legacy. However,
your grandfather,” Lord Attlee says. Democratic nomination for presidency Theodore V has changed his stance several
“It’s being a Prime Minister’s son while Ted served for nearly 50 years until times on how he views his place in the
that is terrible. You have very little his death in 2009. Many other members ancestral jigsaw.
chance of being as good as your father, of the extended Kennedy
and if you do manage to do well it is family are also politicians at
because of your father’s influence.” various levels within the U.S.
However with a surname as well- His mother, Eunice
known in the Westminster bubble as Kennedy-Shriver, was
Attlee, it may seem something of a burden. sister to John, Robert
“When coupled with a seat in the and Ted, while his father,
House of Lords, the surname has made Sargent Shriver, was
me feel like I have a lot to live up to. the U.S. Ambassador to
But, he adds: “I think I have done so.” France under Lyndon B.
Whereas Lord Attlee has been able Johnson. Eunice set up the
to vote on issues affecting his country, Mr Special Olympics, a sports
Roosevelt currently works for Redwood organisation for children
Grove Capital, which invests in public and adults with intellectual
equities in the current era of climate change. disabilities, providing training
Unlike previous Roosevelts, Theodore V and competitions to 5.7
has not yet attempted to enter into politics. million athletes and sports
“I’m fairly politically active and partners in 172 countries.
have thought about running for office, Anthony firmly believes President John
but I would only run if there were a set the Kennedy-Shriver family has helped F Kennedy
of problems in my district or state that I push him into what he does today, with would have
felt uniquely qualified to solve,” he says. the work and precedents set by his relatives been Anthony Kennedy Shriver’s uncle.
“In addition, I would need to feel I encouraging him to set up Best Buddies.
could raise the requisite money to run “My family has always been strong “The weight of my family’s history
without becoming beholden to special proponents of helping individuals has ebbed and flowed depending
interest groups that were juxtaposed with intellectual disabilities, who for on my phase of life. As a teenager, I
to my constituents’ best interests. years were shut away and powerless. pro actively tried to distance myself
“To date that has not happened.” We have always strived to change from my family’s history” he says.

W
society’s negative perception of them. “In my twenties I revisited it, as I tried
hen it comes to embracing “From a young age, service to others was to find my way professionally and as I’ve
a family legacy, the ways instilled in me and I knew that I wanted to become a father myself, I’ve wrestled with
in which descendants dedicate my life to doing this work. Starting how to teach my children to conceptualize
do so varies greatly. with our family matriarch Rose Kennedy, their relationships to T.R., F.D.R. and Eleanor.
Although Clement Attlee was a Labour to my uncle John, who founded the first “There are certainly times where it has
Prime Minister, Lord John Attlee President’s Committee on Disabilities and felt difficult, but on the whole I’m proud of
defected to the Conservatives in the passed legislation that greatly improved my family’s impact on the world, and enjoy
1990s. He says that he is “clearly a Tory” the lives of people with disabilities, to my having a slightly more prominent platform to
and that his grandfather would not mother, who was the founder and driving speak about issues that are important to me.
think much of the Labour party today. force of the Special Olympics; they have “In general, it’s a pleasure to be
However, some choose to champion all influenced the work that I do today. connected to such tremendous people.”

politifix.co.uk 55
56 politifix.co.uk
TECHFIX

y . . .
h e r e ’s m
W

Andreas Koumoudis explores the future of transport

W
hen we saw Blade not to blow up while flying, so interesting public transport
Runner 2049 we all what is a more realistic mode of concept, which would use
loved Agent K’s car, transportation? The Uber self- electromagnets to levitate the
even though it was a driving car is a brilliant example passenger capsule and travel
Peugeot.We loved it because it flew. of how we will all have our own inside a vacuum tube structure
Flying cars have dominated personal driver (who might on up to 700 miles per hour. It
science-fiction since the invention occasion kill a person, as it sadly would use a fraction of the power
of the regular car, and they have did with Elaine Herzberg in required to run trains, and would
earned their place in everyone’s Arizona). Uber are also working be closer to the cost of trucking.
wish list. But are they really on autonomous flying cars, so But the question arises: what
the future of transportation? that there will be no place to kind of world are we going to wake
On the doorstep of WWII, in hide when Skynet takes over. The up tomorrow? By the time any of
1939, the World’s Fair was launched idea of booking a flying car from these science-fiction technologies
in New York, presenting visions of your phone is too irresistible. are invented, vigorously tested
the ‘World of Tomorrow’. During When it comes to innovation, and then mass-produced, there is
that expo, our ancestors were Elon Musk stands out. One of his a chance that we won’t have the
promised by Hughes Industries corporations, named ‘the Boring resources we need to play with
that we would be “rocketing Company’, has made 20,000 our new gadgets, assuming there
into the future” on a jetpack. flamethrowers and is attempting is still a habitable environment.
Nearly 80 years have to dig tunnels underneath Los It is a possibility that in
passed and now .we are in the Angeles to reinvent public the future we go ‘low tech’, to
future. So, where’s my jetpack? transport, which is still in the the point where millennials are
The dream was that people development phase. Called living in farming communes and
would strap on their jetpack ‘the Loop’, this is a personalized traveling around on horseback.
and fly to work, or drop the mass transit system that would Have no fear, though, because
kids off at school. But reality carry 16 people per pod and we will be able to buy accessories
can be harsh for dreamers. travel at 150 miles per hour. for our horses through Amazon,
The jetpack is out of the Speaking of loops, Virgin’s which will conveniently deliver
question until we figure out how Hyperloop One is another packages with trained pigeons.

politifix.co.uk 57
SECTIONHEADER
TECHFIX

America’s renewed attempts


to militarise space don’t bode well
for the planet. Navya Hebbar explores
what is really behind this century’s space race

F
or a long time, astrophysicists it is unclear if anything could stop China and 102 other countries, signed
have recognised that in order to President Peanut and his Congress if the Outer Space Treaty in 1969 to
access and use space, they had to they decide to put his plan into action. ban space warfare. Sort of. Here’s
hold back any activity that would But the Americans are not the only a mouthful: This treaty is formally
jeopardize peace outside our planet. ones. In 2007,China opened the world’s known as the Treaty on Principles
Enter Donald Trump, making eyes to a war in space when they shot at Governing the Activities of States in
a very absurd claim, similar to the their own satellite to bring it down. Ever the Exploration and Use of Outer Space,
other ridiculous claims he’s made since, the Chinese, along with Russia and and though it specifies that no country
in his last year and 116 odd days as the U.S., have deployed various tests can claim sovereignty over anything in
the US President. This March, he said in space, prompting speculation that space, it is very vague about passive
that they were seriously thinking all the major actors possess such anti- use of tactical warfare. If all this sounds
about a “space force”, claiming satellite weapon (ASAT) proficiency. a bit extreme, take a minute to think
space to be a war-fighting domain, While such a conflict might not have of all the things that require satellite
“just like the land, air and sea.” the same impact as any other encounter communication on a daily basis.
Now here is the scary bit. Trump’s we’ve seen thus far, using such The ‘checking in’ feature on
latest budget request is actually weapons could have repercussions that Facebook, for example. Snapchat and
pushing for a sum of $12.5 billion transcend beyond human casualties. Instagram. ATMs. All sorts of online
for military space efforts. This is Of the five global treaties specific banking. Google Maps. Uber Eats. The
outside all the super secret stuff they to space, only one deals with conflict. internet. Commercial civil aviation.
already carry out. And, as it stands, America, along with the UK, Russia, That holiday to Thailand. Weather

58 politifix.co.uk
TECHFIX

warnings. Disaster warnings. Space out the certainty that Russia has
historian Lisa Rand Ruth says that we commenced programmes in bid
forget about these things because we to recuperate its Cold War-esque
seldom see how they work, and because capability. While there is no chance
we haven’t yet faced a catastrophe. that this impending conflict is
“They aren’t like power grids that can going to look like Star Wars, Emirates
be fixed in a matter of hours either. If experts believe that the in 2006
you lose a satellite, it will take a few world still needs to and 2011
months to get it back up running,” she prepare itself. that was relaying
says “ and if you lose a constellation of While messages against the then
satellites, you are in very deep trouble.” there is a ruling Muammar Gaddafi regime.
Given that we are dependent on very low Egypt blocked satellite signals from
space for just about everything, Lisa c h a n c e Qatar-based news group Al Jazeera
emphasises how truly alarming the that this in 2013 when it faced political rallies.
notion of a space war is. Theoretically, impending conflict is going to look Ukraine uses electronic warfare
she explains, these space-based like the Star Wars, experts believe to jam broadcasts from Russia,
weapons could singularly paralyse that the world still needs to prepare especially propaganda in support
the global economy by crashing itself. With the tensions comes a sound of separatists backed by Moscow.
stock markets. They could also create warning from Grego, at the Union of Intelsat was forced to shut
endless space junk which could Concerned Scientists in Cambridge down an Asian satellite transponder
damage spacecraft and potentially Massachusetts. At a recent news in 2007 after it was hijacked by
wipe out a couple hundred satellites. conference he cautioned, “If you ever Sri Lanka’s rebel Tamil Tigers, who
Exactly like in the movie Gravity. expect to use space again, you don’t replaced the feed with their own stream
start blowing things up in space.” of propaganda. Insurgents or remnants
What’s next? you ask. The answer of Iraq’s former regime jammed
Space as a would be: nobody knows. But all is
not doom and gloom. International
commercial SATCOM links used by the
US military on at least five
tactical weapon military and law experts have started occasions during the
invasion of the country in 2003.
coalition

T
to come together to create a manual
for understanding and preventing In 2011, US intelligence agencies
his scenario arises from how
space warfare. Based at the Australian reported that jihadists in Pakistan had
heavily reliant upon space
University of Adelaide, and named the started testing a Global Positioning
we have become – GPS, the
Woomera Manual on the International System (GPS) jamming capability that
internet and communication.
Law of Military Space Operations, was probably an offshoot of an Al Qaeda
All these things that we rely upon
the guide should be ready by 2020. terror group research project. The
have become space-based assets and
The manual strives to prevent Middle East-based insurgents are keen
if we are not able to access them, our
warfare by setting parameters as to to interfere with satellite signals and
day to day life would suffer drastically.
how things unfold in space. infrared tags that are used by US drone
What is more is that nation states
operators to pinpoint missile targets.
are not dealing with the fact that
These scenario arise from the
we now have people like Elon Musk
sending things into space. There Transgressions fact that we have become heavily
reliant upon space – GPS, the internet,
aren’t any international stipulations
for cubesats or civilian use of space. around the world communication. All these things
that we rely upon have become

I
Most of it seems to operate
space-based assets and if we are not
on the rule of commons and, as ran and North Korea, which can able to access them, our day to day
Lisa puts it, some sort of unspoken already disrupt commercial satellite life would be drastically changed.
convention. And nobody has yet signals, are the countries most What is more is that nation states
figured out how to stop rogue actors likely to jump to the next level are not dealing with the fact that
from engaging in conflict, either. once they have the technical ability. we now have people like Elon Musk
The Secure World Foundation India, Pakistan, Israel, Japan, the sending things into space. There aren’t
(SWF) and Center for Strategic and United Kingdom and Sweden either any international stipulations for
International Studies (CSIS) vhave have missiles that could be adapted for cubesats or civilian use of space. Most
issued a warning in their recent studies space applications or have developed of it seems to operate on the rule of
asserting that there is an increasing risk ways of manoeuvring satellites for commons. Nothing to stop rogue actors
that electronic warfare and counter- potential use in warfare. from engaging in conflict either.
space technologies could and would be Other states have taken hard aim
deployed by at satellites. Libya jammed satellite Make sure to tune in to our podcast
extremist groups. transmissions from a communications where we discuss all things space and
It also pointed company based in the United Arab dangerous at politifix.co.uk/podcast

politifix.co.uk 59
60 politifix.co.uk
HISTORYFIX

Songs that changed the world: Nina


Simone and the civil rights movement
This month Jamie Firby looks at the legacy of the late jazz legend turned civil rights activist

I
f Aretha Franklin was America’s devote her energies towards shaping it. world she was born into meant it would not be
black princess, then Nina In the mid-60s, in a rush of “fury, the success she dreamed of. Her politics, like
Simone was its conscience. hatred and determination” Mississippi her personality, were confused, admirable
She would not shut up, sit Goddam was released as a response and extreme. Her legacy should not come
down and sing about love. And she would to the murder of Medgar Evers and through either of these, but the inspiration
definitely not stop talking about race. In fact, the Baptist Church bombing which she gives to a generation of black musicians
when it came to race, she would talk louder. killed four young black girls. It was the who, unlike her, can live their dreams. She is
“Me and my people are just about sound of an artist losing her patience. also a reminder that the job is far from over.
due,” she crooned, with a strange From this spawned a number of “I see Nina,” is sung on Tank and the
concoction of anger and jauntiness. The protest songs and marches. Forget the Bangas’ debut genre-splitting album. “Miss
southern states reacted with anger of Müller yoghurt advert, the line “I’ve Nina Simone … musically [was] my relative”
their own: the song that line came from, got my brains, got my ears/ I’ve got says lo-fi rapper Noname. Both of these
Mississippi Goddam, was boycotted by my eyes, got my nose/ and my mouth, songs were released in the last year, providing
swathes of southern stores and stations. I’ve got my smile” means nothing until proof for what we already knew to be true.
It didn’t matter, though. History you’ve seen it sung by a group of black In 2018, an era where racial protest
tunes no longer make people bat an eyelid,
Nina Simone is still a beacon people look
“Forget about the Bible belt, the age of God – Nina to. “Stars”, she once sang, “they come and
was bringing in the age of God-dam.” go.” This may indeed be true, but her own is
eternal. Remember it not for its confusion,
its danger, its cracks or its faults – remember
was on her side and she knew it. “This students, full of hope, led by Nina Simone. it for how bright it burned.
is a show tune, but the show hasn’t been If you were a fly on the wall at Nina
written for it yet,” she said. Forget about Simone’s house during this time, you would
the Bible belt, the age of God – Nina hear a lot of things. The fizzing of lemonade, Our expert says…
was bringing in the age of God-dam. debates – less putting the world to rights
Perhaps for Nina it was easier than Dr Richard Elliot, Senior Lecturer in
than putting the rights into the world – and,
somebody like Aretha Franklin to turn Music at Newcastle University and
of course, music. Buzzing in the background,
away from the riches and adoring fans author of Nina Simone.
like faint white noise, you might hear
that pop music offered, because it was – unfortunately – the beginnings of
a world she never wanted to be part of. something a little more sinister; extremism. “Nina Simone’s lasting political
That’s right. It is one of the great Simone, for a time, lived next to a legacy is as an artist who was willing
paradoxes of music history that Nina figure which inch-for-inch matched her to be vocal about the politics of
Simone – the woman with the voice sweet magic, her controversy, her iconic status. freedom. She brought it all into
like honey, sharp like a rusty nail – never That figure was Malcolm X. The two families her music, her concerts and her
wanted to be a singer. For her, you see, it was would drink together, play music together, interviews.
always the piano. A darkened room, alone discuss politics together. And so it should She was a unique chronicler of what
with Bach, or Mozart, or Wagner – it didn’t be of no surprise, given that they shared would these days be called the
really matter, as long as there was a piano. a garden fence, that Malcolm X and Nina intersectional politics of race and
She dreamed of being the first black Simone shared some of the same politics. gender. As an activist, she felt her art
classical pianist to play the Carnegie “I am not non-violent,” she allegedly had to reflect the times she lived in.
Hall, but the state of America rendered told Martin Luther King. “Are you ready Ultimately, she was someone who
that impossible. She was black, and to kill, if necessary?” She asked a group of enabled others to come together
black people played jazz, not classical. protesters. The creator of the civil rights physically and intellectually. She
Changing her name from Eunice movement’s beautiful soundtrack was now ignited, and continues to ignite,
Waymon to Nina Simone – to avoid the aggravating it. This was, perhaps, the low activist imaginations.”
shame of playing the ‘devils music’ – she point in a career mired by controversy.
began to play nightclubs. This is how the But it should not damage her reputation; Five of Nina Simone’s best:
career of one of jazz’s greatest musicians Simone never wanted the stardom that
began: the little girl with classical dreams was thrust upon her, and it destroyed her.
1. Mississippi Goddam
forced into becoming the queen of a style she Lonely and full of resentment, she spent
2. I Wish I Knew How It Would
had total command over, but little love for. years in Liberia and then Europe, suffering
Feel to Be Free
For a majority of her career, Simone from breakdowns and playing some of the
3. Backlash Blues
openly admitted that jazz was nothing more most beautiful concerts ever recorded.
4. Why? (The King of Love is
than a vehicle to continue studying classical Her story is a tragic one. She felt things
Dead)
music. Shaped by the racialised politics of so keenly, expressed them with such vigour,
5. Ain’t Got No / I Got Life
20th century America, Nina Simone would that she was destined for success – but the

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ARTSFIX

Titanic The Musical is almost as


crass as it sounds
The tragic story of Titanic’s doomed maiden voyage doesn’t suit the format
of the musical. The result is a show that doesn’t seem sure of itself.
Words: Andrew Burdett

A
s titles go, Titanic – The Musical
is up there with Jerry Springer:
The Opera in provoking the
inevitable question: what
were they thinking? Certainly, on the
surface, both seem to have plucked
subjects from beyond the pale, and
dumped them into the most unlikely
of formats: the Broadway production.
But that is to forget that the Springer
‘Opera’, which debuted in 2001, always had
the benefit of self-knowing. Its name was part
of the gag; far from being a refined classical
oeuvre, it was, at best, the crudest of musicals.
By centring the performance on a trashy
reality television format, it had the scope
to send itself up accordingly. Tap-dancing
Ku Klux Klan devotees? Risible. Jesus in a
nappy? Riotous. The title character getting
shot at the end of the first half? Hilarious.
Yes, the messed-up lives of the real
Jerry Springer’s subjects (and those of its
UK counterpart show, Jeremy Kyle) exist
in ‘real life’. But such people, blighted by
petty theft and questionable paternities,
always seem wildly detached from distant
television audiences. Their lives are like
those depicted in soap opera plotlines,
making it easy to satirically concoct stage-
show characters with a passing semblance.
By contrast, the characters in the
Titanic musical, currently sailing around
the country on its latest UK tour, are
based on genuine passengers. “It was a
guiding inspiration for me,” reads a proud Writers usually rely on love to wonder if there was not some more fulfilling
programme note by Maury Yeston, the provide escapist swoon in storylines ending that could have been attempted.
lyricist, “that every name in the play be based (witness Rose and Jack in James Cameron’s All of which puts me at odds with
on a true person who was aboard the ship, in blockbuster film on the same subject, which the critics, who adored Titanic’s initial
order to do honour to those souls who sailed coincidentally also debuted in 1997). It Broadway run. The production swept the
with her.” It is noble (and indeed rare) for is therefore rather disappointing that the board at the 1997 Tony Awards, winning
creatives to strive for this level of historical most memorable romance is that between all five gongs for which it was nominated.
accuracy, though it arguably comes at the telegraphist Harold Bride (Oliver Marshall) These included Best Musical and Best Score,
unwelcome cost of thwarting artistic licence. and his Marconi wireless machine. meaning my views on the original writing
And that “honour” justification Good musicals leave you singing all must be out-of-step with popular opinion.
potentially belies the truth: this is a the way home; the only phrase I could But to me, the show – or at least, this
commercial enterprise, not a charitable remember from this one was “Dit dit-dah- production of it – just seemed too unsure
museum artefact. Audiences have paid dit dah-dit”, the chorus of Bride’s, erm, of itself. Perhaps sufficient time has now
good money to be entranced by a tragedy ditty, about Morse radio transmission. passed, more than a century on from that
of Shakespearean proportions – albeit with By its nature, Titanic – The Musical fateful night, for the historical events to serve
a lilting soundtrack, no doubt available on cannot finish with a fairytale happy ending, merely as a background to a manufactured
CD at the interval for a good price. Here, the however much one wills the captain (Philip storyline. It could possibly get away with
characters are never quite fully fleshed; their Rham) to take heed of the early iceberg the razzle-dazzle required by the best glitzy
holes perhaps owing to incomplete research. warnings. How, then, to conclude? With musicals. If not, though, then the medium is
As such, it’s hard to fully buy into the horror the same trick deployed in the last scene not right to depict these dreadful true events.
of their sorry demise: only the social- of Journey’s End, the criterion of war plays: Twenty years on from the show’s
climbing Alice Beane (Claire Machin) drop a vast backdrop bearing the names première, it is a wonder that Titanic remains
makes much impression throughout. of the fallen. It seems a bit obvious, and I buoyant.

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FEATUREFIX

A game of
two halves
Jamie Firby explains why we shouldn’t rush to criticise
Pep Guardiola for bringing politics into the beautiful game.

P
“ eople of Catalonia, at last we have perhaps it is just a symbol of democracy,
here.” These were the words of a of people’s right to not be put in prison for
21-year-old Pep Guardiola, standing their politics. It should not matter either way.
at the home of Catalonian politics, In England those lines are still there,
as he raised the European Cup to the city in although they are less clear – in some cases
which he was born. The choice of words was they have been attempted to be smudged out.

T
no accident. Guardiola was echoing those of
Josep Tarradellas, the Catalonian leader exiled ake two of our great footballing giants:
to France for nearly 40 years, in the very spot he Manchester United and Liverpool FC.
had spoken in when he returned to Spain in 1977. The teams command respect and hatred
It had been a tense match. Johan Cruyff ’s all across the nation and for each other
Barcelona took 112 minutes to score against hold nothing but loathing. Let’s take a look at where
Italian Sampdoria. With this, Guardiola was this hatred comes from. Historically, Manchester
making a statement that goes far beyond is an industrial city, Liverpool a port. Manchester
football. It was a political message, in a had the factories, Liverpool provided them with
political place. From the words to the trophy, the materials. Until, that is, workers in Manchester
it was an explosion of Catalonian pride. had enough of being ripped off by their westerly
Fast forward a few decades and little has neighbours and a canal was built, connecting
changed. Barcelona is a city divided along political those factories all the way to the Irish Sea.
lines, as well as footballing ones. FC Barcelona Naturally, the dockers weren’t
is an expression of Catalonia’s unique identity, particularly happy about this. Anger flared
its desire to be something other than ‘Spanish’. – from both sides – and found its way to the
The city’s other team, Espanyol, by contrast, are football terraces, where it remains today.
traditionally more compliant to central Spain All across the nation these tensions take
– so much so that their fans often follow the different forms, from the Hollywood heights of the
capital’s Real Madrid as much as their own team. premier league to the muddy lows of non-league
Rifts such as this are present all across Europe. football. There is regional pride at Newcastle
North of Barcelona, Athletic Bilbao only accept United, community spirit at AFC Wimbledon and
players born in the Basque country and many the all-vegan Forest Green Rovers. The greatest
people support them as a national team, refusing manifestation is, of course, the national team.
to identify with the Spanish team. In Glasgow the Football is expression. If you take the politics
protestants lie one side of the river, with Rangers, out of the football, all that is left is a bunch of
and the Catholic Celtic on the other. It is a city split sweaty men on a field with little to fight for.
along a religious, political and footballing chasm. And this is what we should remember
And yet, in this country, the place where when we are told politics should not be in
football was born, we are told there is “no football, or when we look down upon rowdy
place for political symbols in football.” Those fans at a train station. It provides an outlet.
are the words of Martin Glenn, the chief If a factory worker in Manchester is angry
executive of the FA, whose job it is to lead the about tariffs imposed by dockers in Liverpool
people’s game, the sport throughout which then ordinary parliamentary politics will do
we express our greatest outburst of anger, of little to ease his anger. Instead, he will take it
rivalries, of love. No politics can be allowed. out on the terraces. He will hurl abuse towards
He was, of course, speaking about our the team from elsewhere, and love towards his
hero from the start of the story: Guardiola, own. Perhaps he won’t even fully understand
now bald, residing in rainy Manchester. His the loyalty he has towards one city and the
crime: wearing a yellow ribbon, supporting the hatred towards another, but that is no matter.
imprisoned Catalonian politicians. Perhaps It is part of his culture. It is his voice. It is the
it is a symbol of Catalonian nationalism, only voice he’s got.

politifix.co.uk 65
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“WHAT AM I DOING
HERE?”
“I wish they played me on “This World Cup, I’m
the left wing!” showing faith in the youth”

POLITIFIX
WORLD CUP
PREVIEW

“PISS OFF, GORDON” “I CAN PLAY!”

66 politifix.co.uk
With the World Cup just around the corner, and
international relations turning increasingly
frosty, we decided to preview just how
footballs’ biggest tournament could go down…
14 June 2018
Russia beats Saudi Arabia 2-1 in the tournament’s
opening game. Nothing spectacular happens apart
from a video of Vladimir Putin repeatedly struggling 30 June 2018
to stay in sync with a Mexican wave. The Daily Mail After receiving assurances from the FA that he
bemoans the lack of English players on the field. will retain his job no matter the outcome, Southgate
confronts Putin outside the hotel. A fight ensues, in
18 June 2018 which the England manager is beaten to a pulp and
England comfortably beat Tunisia in their opening thrown on a plane back to London.
group game. Sterling vows to get an entire armoury
of weapons tattooed onto him after scoring a hat- 2 July 2018
trick, calling his current gun tattoo a “lucky charm” in England sack Gareth Southgate.
a post-match interview.

5 July 2018
24 June 2018 FIFA agrees to randomly award one country the
England lose 6-0 to Panama. Jamie Vardy storms World Cup, saying that it is needed to distract from
off the field and punches the tournament mascot. what is surely an impending World War.
Sterling laughs off the game and says “At least we can
do a decent Mexican wave”.
10 July 2018
North Korea is awarded the World Cup.
25 June 2018
Putin bans Mexican waves at all games. He says
that it is in no way linked to the embarrassing video 11 July 2018
and that it merely detracted from the game. Gareth World War Three starts.
Southgate calls Putin a “fruitcake”.
5 January 2079
26 June 2018 The survivors of the nuclear apocalypse emerge
Putin declares war on Gareth Southgate. from their underground bunkers. One photograph is
Determined to make up for his penalty shoot-out all that remains of the previous civilisation.
miss in 1996, Southgate stays behind while every
other team flies home, amid an immense military
mobilisation outside the England team manager’s
hotel.
SECTIONHEADER

Teatime
Ten with
John Bercow
Each issue, we ask a political figure ten light-hearted questions about
what sort of person they are. This time, it’s the turn of the Speaker of
the House of Commons, John Bercow.
1. The thing you hate most about being Speaker...

I wouldn’t say that I hated anything about being Speaker. 6. Most embarrassing political moment?
However, every line of work – even when it is enjoyed
by the employee – has its occasional annoyances. In my It’s not embarrassing as such, but on 2 December last
case, it’s overly long questions or answers in the House year there was a debate on military intervention in Syria.
of Commons, meaning that our movement through the On occasions such as these, I feel that it is both a mark
Order Paper is about as speedy as that of my eldest son’s of respect to my colleagues and to the serious nature of
tortoise, who is not noted for her sprinting. the subject matter that I remain in the chair for the full
proceedings. In the event, this turned into an eleven
2. The thing you love most about being Speaker... hour and twenty-four minute session and I did not leave
the chair once. At the time, a number of my colleagues
This is the other side of the coin to the previous – ever solicitous for my welfare – reminded me that
question in that my answer is: I love everything about such a marathon session was not good for the health,
being Speaker! If you had to ask me to choose, however, if done on a regular basis. The next day several MPs
I would say that chairing proceedings in the Chamber referred to me in the Chamber as being in possession of
is my favourite part of the job. I would do it all day, a “golden bladder” a phrase which, although it inspired
if my staff would allow me, but I do have other duties a somewhat curious mental image, I accepted in the
outside of the Chamber such as chairing meetings and positive spirit in which it was intended.
greeting foreign dignitaries – all of which is extremely
stimulating. 7. If you were a superhero, which politician, past or
present, would be your sidekick? Why?
3. The one film you could watch over and over and
why... If I could be sure that he would not turn against me for
his own ends, Lyndon B. Johnson. Although, I would
I’m a big fan of The Gathering Storm, which is a biopic think that I would be his sidekick rather than that other
about Winston Churchill, just prior to the outbreak way round. I’ve always thought Johnson a fascinating
of the Second World War. Albert Finney is brilliant as character: a mix of hard-headed pragmatism, genuine
Churchill and Vanessa Redgrave is every bit as good courage and, yet, deep personal unnpleasantness. I have
playing Clemmie. I would highly recommend the film to recently read the splendid biography of him by Robert
your readers. Caro – another recommendation for your readers.

4. Funniest political anecdote? 8. The one thing you hate in the world...

I understand from a member of my staff – where he Eggs.


heard it I don’t know – that there used to be annual
regattas down the Thames, with political dignitaries 9. The one thing you love in the world...
boarding from what are known as Speaker’s Steps. The
steps, owing to the tides and that they are difficult to My family.
clean, are somewhat slippery. This dignitary was walking
down the steps, slipped, and put his foot out to try and 10. The one thing people need to know about John
land in a boat that was not yet there - ending up in the Bercow...
River Thames. For unrelated reasons, the tradition of the
regatta stopped shortly thereafter. I’ll answer in the first person if I may, as I’m not a
professional footballer being asked for a post-match
5. Proudest political moment? analysis of my team’s midfield weakness. The one thing
people need to know about me is that I am grateful every
Can I have two? In chronological order I would say : day to have a job that I look forward to getting up to
first, being elected as Member of Parliament for every morning, and a family that I love very much.
Buckingham on 1 May 1997 and, being elected Speaker
by my colleagues on 22 June 2009.
70 politifix.co.uk
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