New Times,
New Thinking.

  1. Politics
22 April 2016

Part-American Boris Johnson attacks “part-Kenyan” Barack Obama’s “ancestral dislike of the British empire”

More foghorn than dogwhistle.

By Media Mole

Just when you were about to forgive the Tories for being quaintly old-school in their racism renaissance, Boris Johnson has barged in with more of a foghorn than a dogwhistle.

Writing in The Sun today about the US President’s intervention in Britain’s EU debate, he has pointed at Obama’s ethnic heritage as a reason not to trust his opinion that the UK should vote Remain. He does this via a story about a bust of Winston Churchill disappearing from the Oval Office:

“Some said it was a snub to Britain. Some said it was a symbol of the part-Kenyan President’s ancestral dislike of the British empire – of which Churchill had been such a fervent defender.”

First, who is “some”? The same imagined voice who gave Johnson the quotes he invented in The Times that got him fired in 1988?

Second, if we’re playing this fun game of I’m More British Than You, can your mole just remind readers that Johnson was born in New York, is a US citizen, and has both Turkish and French ancestry. Would we trust a ruddy frog, as “some” (Johnson) would probably put it, to know what’s best for Britain..?

Select and enter your email address Your weekly guide to the best writing on ideas, politics, books and culture every Saturday. The best way to sign up for The Saturday Read is via saturdayread.substack.com The New Statesman's quick and essential guide to the news and politics of the day. The best way to sign up for Morning Call is via morningcall.substack.com
Visit our privacy Policy for more information about our services, how Progressive Media Investments may use, process and share your personal data, including information on your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications.
THANK YOU

Content from our partners
The Circular Economy: Green growth, jobs and resilience
Water security: is it a government priority?
Defend, deter, protect: the critical capabilities we rely on