BY BEN KERRIGAN
The pressure is on to influence the British public one way or the other on the topic of Eu.
Only recently, the BBC were accused of taking a biased stance when Andrew Marr seemed to get personal and aggressive with the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson. Marr, a reputable political journalist, pursued a stringent and seemingly acrimonious interrogation of The Mayor on his show, leaving Johnson looking somewhat intimidated and overwhelmed in the confrontational interview which looked more like a show of vengeance and allegiance to the pro Europe group than it did of a journalistic showpiece.
It was indeed a spectacle for the viewing public in which Marr expectedly had the Upper hand, whilst Johnson looked victimized but admirably humble. Whilst conceding that Marr had sovereignty over the show, Johnson managed to jovially add ”unlike the UK”.
DIVISIVE
The issue of the referendum set for this summer, is the most divisive topic in decades to face the great British public.
Various organisations are doing all they can to garner as much support as possible in order to secure the result they want. The Sun’s position is clear: they want ‘out’, and picture better conditions for the country outside Europe, mainly because of the restrictions imposed on our Sovereignty by the Human Rights Act, 1998. The issue of uncontrolled immigration is also a biting concern for voters shared by The Sun Newspaper, who are clear on their view that any effect on trade will only be in the short term. Other experts beg to differ in this respect.
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DEBATE
A national debate on this issue is inevitable soon and The Eye of Media.com will be heavily involved too. Our editor, Gabriel Princewill, has made clear that we as an online publication, will have no united policy on The EU, allowing each writer to express their genuinely held position in order to encourage a healthy and needed debate on this hugely important topic which can define the future of our country. We applaud him for this. My position personally is that Britain is better in than it is out, though I am aware some writers share a different view. Our Gabriel says he is yet to thoroughly examine all the arguments for and against this hot issue, conveniently electing to sit on the fence until he weighs things up properly. However, time is short, and a structured set of arguments based on facts and intelligent reasoning must be heard as we approach this historical referendum on Europe.
The Queen undoubtedly has a strong opinion on this; one whose free expression is heavily restricted by her constitutional obligations not to get involved in political matters. A separate issue relates to the curious question of whether the head of The Monarch ought to be entitled to voice her views on important matters like the EU. An understandable danger naturally accompanying such recommendation is the huge detriment that could naturally expose her views to heavy criticism by opposing camps, if those views were public; thereby undermining the traditional sacred position she occupies at the apex of the Monarchy. It must be a difficult thing to hold strong views which cannot be expressed on any national matter for the sake of conformity to constitutional values. An interesting three months lies ahead of us.
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