Metaphors of Brexit by Jonathan Charteris-Black

Author:Jonathan Charteris-Black
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9783030287689
Publisher: Springer International Publishing

As an extended metaphor, these images of constraint and entrapment contrast with images of release from confinement:And that open Brexit will unleash this country to go back to its roots as a great global trader not just in goods … 10

Just as he views Brexit as an opportunity for a powerful and energetic Britain to be released from the restraining force of the European Union, so, as a journalist, Boris finds in metaphor a release from the constraints of the literal language of less charismatic politicians. Such ordinary mortals may pay greater attention to detail but lack the bigger mapping possibilities offered by his metaphors. The vigorous intensity and the intuitive moral judgements provided by his metaphors makes them highly quotable.

In October 2016 Boris drafted two versions of an article—with one advocating remaining in the EU and the other leaving; this duplicity has given rise to a view that as a politician he lacks principles and selects policies likely to lead to his own self-advancement. On moving back to London in 1994 he is reported as saying that he was a ‘bit worried (as) I haven’t got any political opinions’. 11 Of course, many individuals struggled over how they would vote in Brexit: there seemed to be arguments both ways and Boris was using parody to straddle these. However, moral intuitions evoke a higher level of emotional engagement and moral questioning had been at the root of Boris’s critique of the EU as a journalist. Many people experienced a stronger emotional attachment to ‘Westminster’ than they did to ‘Brussels’. Whatever he really believed, Boris understood and exploited these emotionally based moral intuitions for his own career advancement—first in journalism and then in politics. His decision to become, at least at one time, the major mainstream politician advocating Leaving the EU was consistent with a persona developed by appeals to emotion rather than to principle. The will to power relies on emotional intuition more than reasoned argument and was more credible in his journalism than in his wavering political stance. Whatever he really thought about EU membership, given the anti-European persona developed through his journalism, he was hoisted on his own petard as he would appear hypocritical if he failed to support Leave.

On Twitter many rejected Boris’s populist arguments on the grounds that he was inherently untrustworthy as a politician:The blond guy on the pic is leading UK towards #Brexit ‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬ to defend the working class against Brussels’ elite, right? (11 retweets) (Picture of Boris dressed for Bullingdon club dinner) 12

Every time Boris Boris says “Take back control”, I just hear it as “Give control to me.” No thank you, Boris. I don’t trust you. (55 retweets) 13

When Leave claims we will take back control, who’s “WE”? Boris Boris & his water cannon say it’s not you. (13 retweets) 14

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