Nick Cohen Nick Cohen

Richard Madeley, Brexit and the new conspiracism

A lot of people are saying that you are having an affair. I don’t know if they’re right. It’s not for me to say. I just told your husband that a lot of people are saying that.

A lot of people are saying that you are a child abuser. You want me to check? Look at the court records and the sex offender register? Nah. No need. I just need to say that a lot of people are saying you are a child abuser. Why would they say it if there wasn’t something to say? You say they’re wrong. Really? A lot of people will say, well, you would say that, wouldn’t you?

A lot of people are saying that Brexit isn’t Brexit unless it is the most extreme form of Brexit imaginable. No less an authority than Richard Madeley, of the ITV breakfast show Good Morning Britain, explained to Remain activist Femi Oluwole that if we left the EU but stayed in or close to the Customs Union we wouldn’t have left the EU, even though we would have done just that.

Madeley didn’t wholly commit himself to a nonsensical position.

Get Britain's best politics newsletters

Register to get The Spectator's insight and opinion straight to your inbox. You can then read two free articles each week.

Already a subscriber? Log in

Comments

Join the debate for just $5 for 3 months

Be part of the conversation with other Spectator readers by getting your first three months for $5.

Already a subscriber? Log in