The Reader: Cable should drop such a crude Brexit slogan

Have your say Twitter: @ESTheReader  Email: thereader@standard.co.uk 
Cheeky or crude? Vince Cable with his Brexit slogan
Bloomberg via Getty Images
14 May 2019
WEST END FINAL

Get our award-winning daily news email featuring exclusive stories, opinion and expert analysis

I would like to be emailed about offers, event and updates from Evening Standard. Read our privacy notice.

I WRITE further to your report and editorial comment regarding Sir Vince Cable’s defence of the Liberal Democrats’ use of the expression “Bollocks to Brexit” as part of its European parliamentary election campaign [“Cable defends slogan: ‘It’s honest... it’s what a lot of people think’”, May 9].

Cable would seem to be extremely misinformed if he feels that this will lead to an increase in the Lib-Dems’ share of the vote. The country is polarised in a way that it has not been for many years and insults and name-calling tend only to entrench already deeply held views. He seems to have forgotten that abuse levelled against Brexit supporters prior to the 2014 European election led to a Ukip landslide.

I also doubt that this crass slogan will appeal to young people who may well view the attempts of a 76-year-old to “act cool” as being as cringeworthy as were David Brent’s antics on The Office. Instead, the Lib-Dems’ campaign confirms every self-righteous stereotype of the party.
Keeley-Jasmine Cavendish

EDITOR'S REPLY

Dear Keeley-Jasmine

I agree that using the word “bollocks” hardly sparks the same furore as it did, for example, in 1977 when the Sex Pistols emblazoned it across their album cover.

While they got record store bans, notoriety and a number-one hit, my view is that the Liberal Democrats at best raised a smile, perhaps a chuckle and at worse an eye roll and a sigh.

I disagree that this mild swear word forms part of a canon of offensive Brexit insults and perpetuates the abusive nature of debate.

Much worse has been said — this is a light-hearted, online political stunt. None of the literature with the slogan on was sent to people’s homes so children are very unlikely to have seen it.

The test, of course, will be in nine days’ time when the polls open and whether those who back Remain or having a second referendum see the Liberal Democrats as their natural home.

Kate Proctor, Political Reporter

Rory Stewart gets my vote for PM

I’m not surprised that, as Robert Fox wrote, Rory Stewart MP appeared to suggest the new Tory leader should possess “charm and empathy” [“In politics and life, charm and empathy should trump shouting matches”, May 10].

One of the many valuable lessons Stewart will have learned during his extraordinary time in Iraq and Afghanistan is the need for politeness and respect when carrying out negotiations. It is one of many qualities that put him well in the lead in this so-called race — others being his relative youth and proven willingness to get deeply involved and work hard at the job in hand.

I have been a Labour voter for my entire life, but while I like and respect Jeremy Corbyn I would find it difficult to vote for him as prime minister. I don’t think Labour have the required quality to fill a Cabinet and, frankly, he’s too old.

Stewart would get my vote as well as those of a sizeable number of the currently disenchanted population. It would be nice to have a PM that one could be proud of.
Nigel Savill

Seek root causes of knife crime

It is concerning to hear the cold, hard statistics about London’s knife crime [“Worst year for knife crime ever”, April 25] but while we are prepared to consider it a “disease” why aren’t we discussing key details such as who is likely to be most susceptible or how it is caused and spread?

While stretched police services are no doubt behind the low charge rates for knife crime, in these austere times we cannot expect the Met to solve society’s ills. To overcome this plague we must address root causes.

I support the call upon government to invest time and money into solving this — a greater cause of UK homicide than terrorism.
Elizabeth Lord

Landlords should fund fire cladding

It astonishes me that, as you reported last week, private landlords are apparently to be reimbursed at our expense for the cost of removing unsafe cladding, which in many cases they installed themselves [“Landlords handed £200m and told: Get on with removing ‘Grenfell’ cladding”, May 9].

I suggest that the scaffolding should carry large placards that contain the wording: ‘“You are paying for making this building safe because [insert name here] refuses to pay.”​
Alina Flores

Create a FREE account to continue reading

eros

Registration is a free and easy way to support our journalism.

Join our community where you can: comment on stories; sign up to newsletters; enter competitions and access content on our app.

Your email address

Must be at least 6 characters, include an upper and lower case character and a number

You must be at least 18 years old to create an account

* Required fields

Already have an account? SIGN IN

By clicking Create Account you confirm that your data has been entered correctly and you have read and agree to our Terms of use , Cookie policy and Privacy policy .

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged in