Nesrine Malik and Brexit as Culture

 The Guardian is trying to relate actual news with the Conservatives. Front page has analysis of Truss tax proposals in numbers. But I have realised this is not the way to cope when policy is seen as culture. The tax cuts benefit a particular set of voters but they now also believe in tax cuts as part of a mix of rhetoric. I may overestimate this but it makes some sense of things. Yesterday Sunak in Sun wrote about "Starry Eyed Boosterism" and this is the best term yet to describe Truss economics.

Nesrine Malik in Guardian writes about culture wars as a way for Conservatives to hide from reality such as Brexit, housing or the economy. Brexit consequences are real but I want to explore Brexit just as culture. It could be off topic to compare the claims made in 2016 with reality now. there never was an evidence case. The culture continues. This is where Sunak is failing to get support. He voted Leave but he appears to be a "bean counter" like Cameron and the IMF worthies with Project Fear.

Express today has "Positive" Truss with claim that the best days are ahead for Britain. Editorial mentions "naysayers at the Treasury".

It is uncertain how the culture wars continue outside UK media. Actual newspaper sales continue to decline.

UK and alternative facts #PartyGate #OxfordMidSummer

Daily Mail has a story based on quotes from Nadine Dorries on "witchhunt" and "kangaroo court". This is about the Commons and establishing facts around Partygate. Since Brexit it seems the newspapers have behaved as if they can set the agenda. Was it always so? Brexit was a success and a rationale. Hostility to Brexit is offered as an explanation on why there is a hearing. Nothing in Mail on what the substance might be. ( Also nothing on Pincher. Has he resigned? Will there be an election? Is there any story about this in a newspaper?

Newspapers can develop a unique take in the absence of television independence. Two tweets are interesting.

Maitlis and Sopel no longer work for the BBC. How would they report this if they did? How will BBC report Parliament?

( I am still thinking about the drama around #OxfordMidSummer but straight facts seem enough. this could be worked into dialogue later. Maybe drama is a phase between aspects of reality clarity or so it seems )

Starry Eyed Boosterism #starryeyedboosterism Sunak has a name for it.

This is a test, finding a word for something. My theory is that for Conservative members Brexit has become a culture issue, not based on economic reality. Also this may have been the case from the start. The economic case for Brexit made in 2016 was about a vision not a model. I will look back later to check examples.

The current contest between Truss and Sunak is making this clear. Sunak supported Leave but is now seen as a "bean counter" . This means that he tries to explain policy with some analysis and reference to economics research. In 2016 Gove spoke against "experts" such as Bank of England or IMF. They are also "bean counters" .

Truss recently has claimed that the recession predicted by the Bank of England is not inevitable. She has faith in tax cuts to boost the UK , presumably very quickly. Sunak in Sun today writes ( p2 ) "We need clear-eyed realism not starry-eyed boosterism." My guess is that the Conservative members like the starry-eyed boosterism they have enjoyed ftom Johnson and will be happy to continue with Truss. But at least Sunak has a word for it. #starryeyedboosterism finds not much yet on Twitter but the tag explains a lot of history and something may continue. 

Also in Sun page 8 - Rich 10% richer , low earners pay up just 1% as inflation spikes. Trevor Cavanagh page 10 expects biggest Great Britain crash since 1929... pehaps as many as 12m people in rea pocerty, according to "one seasoned economic analyst". "These are not people on the fringes but those - like Sun readers - at the core of society".

If this is what they read in the Sun what to make of #starryeyedboosterism going forward?