22 Supporting and opposing people or views

A

B

In these television interviews, Members of Parliament (MPs) are defending their positions.

Interviewer Recently you seem to have come out against1 those in your party who want stronger anti-terrorist laws. Why?

MP I haven’t changed my position at all, and I stick by what I’ve always said. Those who side with2 the terrorists or support them in any way must be opposed. But we need a mature debate about the causes of terrorism.

1 stated publicly that you opposed an issue (opposite: come out in favour of) 2 support a person or group in an argument

3 agreed to something that you were against before, because of persuasion or threats 4 (formal) accept someone else’s opinion because they know more or are more important 5 accept a plan or an idea

6 support or begin to support a particular set of ideas or a particular political party 7 start to support a diff erent, oft en opposing, person or group 8 support 9 opposing a person or group in an argument

Interviewer You said you were determined to introduce higher fuel charges, but aft er the opposition from the trucking companies you seem to have caved in3. Why?

MP We are a listening party and we always defer to4 expert opinion. We were advised that higher charges would have a negative economic eff ect in the long term, so we have decided to go with5 that advice.

Interviewer You seem to be leaning increasingly towards6 more conservative policies. Is there any truth in the rumour that you are about to cross over7 to the Conservative Party?

MP No. The values I stand for8 are liberal values, but I see no point in siding against9 the Conservative Party on those issues where I agree with them.

Note the phrasal verbs for supporting and opposing people or views in these newspaper extracts.

17-year-old boy claims he was egged on1 by his friends to steal cars.

1 encouraged to do something, oft en something that is wrong, stupid or dangerous

2 received encouraging shouts

3 believes that something is very eff ective and that it will always work well

4 not allow something, or not allow someone to do something (always in the negative)

5 supported and made more successful

6 (informal) defended or fought for something important

Cheered on2 by her supporters, Sadie Hinds beat the world record.

Mrs Gilmore, who celebrated her 104th birthday, when asked what her secret was, said she swears by3 a glass of hot milk with a little sugar every night before bed.

Mr West said the club would not hear of4 letting children attend the event.

e peace campaign was buoyed up5 recently by a donation of €1,000,000.

He was someone who always stuck up for6 the rights of the poor and the homeless.

22.1

22.2

22.3

22.4

Look at A opposite. Complete these statements from a political manifesto.

This party

for equality for all. We do not hesitate to out strongly against any case of injustice. We by our principles at all times and never in to threats or pressure from the opposition. We with the underdog and do not wealthy and powerful. to those who are

Look at B opposite. Put the words in the correct order to make sentences.

1 runners / The / cheered / line / on / the / were / as / they / spectators / for / the / by / finishing / headed 2 rely / sister / Tim / You / to / on / stick / little / can / his / for / up 3 grandfather / by / My / garlic / a / of / raw / himself / as / way / from / colds / protecting / swears / catching 4 bungee / My / have / mother / would / tried / we / never / hadn’t / her / jumping / on / egged / if 5 all-night / to / wanted / to / go / mother / party / an / it / her / wouldn’t / but / of / She / hear 6 of / discovery / the / years / British / gas / the / North / The / up / buoyed / in / economy /

Sea / some / for

Which word from the opposite page could fit into all the sentences in each set? Note any new meanings of the word which you come across.

1 If a politician doesn’t by what he has said, he will lose the voters’ trust. Don’t forget to a stamp on each of your postcards. It is not always easy to up for what you believe in if others are attacking you. 2 I cannot believe that you would with the government on the issue of the war. Peter was warned not to against the minister if he wanted to have a successful career in politics. You will find a lot of interesting phrasal verbs on the left -hand of the page.

3 Please come and me on in the tennis match. Josie is a bit miserable, so we really should go round and try to A went up as the prince entered the stadium. 4 Harry Carr’s investment should help to up the company. her up.

We always try to each other up before giving important presentations. You must try to sail the yacht round that red .

Are these sentences correct? If not, correct them.

1 My preferred course of action would be to get with what Ivan has recommended. 2 He began his political life as a Conservative but crossed across to the Labour Party when he realised that he would be more likely to get a seat in Parliament that way. 3 Many people start to lean more towards right-wing ideas as they become middle-aged. 4 Either side with the prime minister or against him – don’t abstain from voting. 5 I shall have to defer on your superior knowledge of the situation. 6 My mother promises by a daily spoonful of honey to keep healthy all year long. 7 Josh is not usually naughty himself but he is quick to egg others off . 8 The headteacher said she would not hear of pupils coming to school with hair dyed a bright colour.