Truss versus the truth

JOEL DAVIES | OPINION AND DEBATE EDITOR

OnSunday 5th February 2023, the Sunday Times shocked the British political sphere by featuring an interview with former prime minister Liz Truss, claiming that she had been brought down by a “powerful economic establishment” that was positioned against her premiership and her ideology. This came as a shock to much of the UK, which is still grappling with the economic fallout of the 40 days Liz Truss spent in Downing Street, during which she managed to catastrophically damage currency rates, send mortgage rates spiralling, and give the opposition Labour Party their highest polling numbers in years.

Truss is seemingly trying to salvage her reputation as a politician after her time in office, which left her and many of her senior cabinet members disgraced or publicly humiliated. However, by spinning the narrative that a shadowy, dogmatic establishment force brought down her government, Truss is taking a page straight from the authoritarian playbook. This kind of political tactic has been used for centuries, from Cold War paranoia, to Britain’s recent trend to blaming the “bureaucrats in Brussels” for its economic shortcomings. The narrative of a “deep state” force, and a “liberal establishment” trying to take down alternative policy is especially prevalent during the populist wave most of the world is riding, epitomised most strikingly by Donald Trump.

These theories, as with many inane conspiracy theories, seem to have been experiencing a resurgence in the digital age. Fast moving information with little possibility of fact-checking creates a perfect environment for falsehood to flourish, and these kinds of conspiratorial claims that are impossible to prove or disprove thrive thanks to this. In many spaces online, outright lies have become indistinguishable from the truth, and worrying trends are emerging regarding what even constitutes “the truth” in our modern age.

Unfortunately, these kinds of outlandish conspiracies have much more sinister roots than it may appear. Claims of an ideological hegemony at the top of the world, a deep state, an illuminati, and various other tropes often rely on antisemitic stereotypes to reinforce their claims. The dangers of this are clearly exhibited in Hungary, where prime minister Viktor Orbán has repeatedly peddled what Politico has termed “unpunished antiSemitism”. This is mainly through his repeated characterisation of billionaire George Soros as a powerful political actor in opposition to Orbán’s populist positions, and the demonisation of Jewish groups in his political campaigns. The idea of a small, established group of individuals holding back Hungary’s economic potential for their own self-interest is very reminiscent of the claims Truss makes in her essay. This is not to say that Liz Truss was being antisemitic in her claims, far from it, but it is important to recognise the very real dangers of stoking up this type of inane rhetoric, especially since it has historically been used to persecute specific minority groups.

The audacity of the claims Truss makes, combined with the very limited timeframe since she left office, leave it clear that the British public will not recognise this as truth. To successfully convince the country of her claims would be an incredible feat of gaslighting on a national level. However, this is a worrying trend: for a former British prime minister to take such careless actions, toying with the truth to salvage her own reputation. There is hope, of course, that as a society we will become more resilient to these types of media manipulations, and hope that the UK will remember that rather than being brought down a shadowy, all-powerful nemesis, Liz Truss faced her biggest loss opposite a lettuce.

Struggling to get back into reading?

NAJYAH RAHMAN | CONTENT WRITER

If you ever wonder why you may read far less now than you did in primary school, you are not alone. Often, we reminisce about the adventures that kept us reading for hours into the night, and the need to move straight to the next. So, why is it so hard to read that way now, when it was once so easy?

Life brings so many pressures, especially when you are a student, but reading for enjoyment should not be one of them! Here are a few suggestions that could help you get through that ‘to be-read’ list:

1) Try something new

When you first decided to read more, did you reach straight for a paperback? There are many different options out there, aside from the standard physical novel. Comic books, for example, are a great way to get back into reading. Try them and see how quickly you become immersed in a universe propelled by the combined force of words and image. Audiobooks are a great companion for those without time to sit and read (plus you can literally speed them up). Magazines can provide bursts of inspiration, and newspapers are excellent for keeping informed. Whichever fits you, they all qualify as reading.

2) Do not be afraid to quit

Quite simply, if you are not enjoying a book, put it down. If you are having to force yourself to do get through a book, you will not want to read in your spare time. When you put down a book you do not like, you are a step closer to discovering ones you do. You may feel obliged to read what is popular, but they are not for everyone. You will enjoy reading much more when you listen to your own mind.

3) Revisit old favourites

A lot of people have “comfort films”, but what about comfort books? Rereading a book, or even just a passage, has the benefit of you already knowing that you will enjoy it. Like an old friend, they feel comforting and safe. The excitement of reliving those fun moments is a greatly known cure for reading slumps. Plus, there is always a chance of uncovering fresh perspectives that you missed the first time around.

Ultimately, reading for pleasure is a great habit to build and maintain. The advantages are plentiful, and undeniable. If reading more is a goal for you, then you truly are doing yourself a huge favour. Remember, it is a huge accomplishment if you can pick up a book at all, and a great step forward. On a final note, if you are ever in need of a few recommendations, why not check out our brilliantly honest and thoughtful literary reviews?

Happy reading!