This is a powerful video from Novara: Tom McTague, author of Between The Waves, in conversation with Aaron Bastani.
The book plots the rise of how Britain left the EU in 2016. The story doesn’t start with Douglas Carswell jumping ship to UKIP in Clacton.
McTague explains with tremendous historical detail how the Brexit Wars can be traced back as far as Enoch Powell. He draws a direct comparison to Nigel Farage.
There’s so much detail to take in here. McTague is a great guest who clearly knows his subject matter.
There’s intriguing tales of Westminster drinking clubs and how the elite and The Establishment network amongst themselves.
At just under two hours long, it’s not exactly social scrolling friendly. But that’s the whole point. This is a serious subject that deserves a long form analysis. Bastani lets McTague tell the narrative with only a little prodding.
It reminded me very much of David Sanders' Losing an Empire, Finding a Role, a staple read for any first year social science undergrad at Essex University back in the early 90’s.
Hey kids! Here’s the course leader. Oh - and you’ll need to buy his book in the University Bookshop if you want to progress…
Thirty five years on, and we’re still no closer to finding that role.