Aaron Grech February 9th, 2019 - 12:30 AM
The ever eclectic Radiohead frontman Thom Yorke has been well-known for making political statements for the past two decades, and this time he has targeted UK Prime Minister Theresa May and the Tory led parliament for their handling of Brexit. In a screenshot posted on the singer’s twitter account, the singer compares their moves and policies to “the early days of the Third Reich.”
Yorke’s dissatisfaction with May’s government stands from the turmoil the policy and the entire process has caused many foreign nationals living in the UK. An EU passport allowed many of these foreign nationals to travel freely between the UK and continental Europe, and also allowed many foreign EU nationals to work in the UK.
In addition, May’s tenure as home secretary before her appointment as Prime Minister has also been controversial. The Tory’s policy of austerity has caused many, including Yorke to criticize that government, as social programs continue to be cut while homelessness and poverty have increased in the UK.
Yet the visa status of many of these nationals will be threatened due to Brexit. In addition May has been trying to appeal to many hardline Brexit supporters, who often engage in xenophobic rhetoric, which Yorke is adamantly against.
— Thom Yorke (@thomyorke) February 8, 2019
The UK is set to leave the European Union (EU) on March 29, yet May and her cabinet have repeatedly failed to present a proper UK exit plan to the EU. In addition, May’s prior Brexit plans have been shot down repeatedly in parliament, with the nation’s opposition and Labour party leader Jeremy Corbyn even calling for a vote of no confidence against May.
A vote of no confidence would have one of two possible outcomes, if it passes, which at the moment is unlikely. Under the first choice May would have to resign, however a new prime minister from her party may be selected. Under a worse case scenario, as what happened in 2017, parliament will be dissolved (in 2017 it occurred, once again, over Brexit,) a general election may be called to select a new parliament.
Unlike the United States, which elects its president and congress separately, a victory for a general election in the UK is determined by how many members of parliament are voted in from a certain party. The majority party then chooses that leader as its prime minister, and appoints their cabinet.
This geopolitical crisis has already taken its toll on many in the British political sphere, just a couple of months ago May faced a vote of no-confidence from her own party. Upon the passage of the Brexit referendum in 2016, former UK Prime Minister David Cameron resigned.
This isn’t the first time Yorke has spoken regarding his political beliefs. As an advent vegetarian, and environmentalist he has been involved with many progressive organizations to protect animals and the environment.
Last October he released a song to protect the Southern Oceans, particularly those around Antarctica. This track was entitled “Hands of the Antarctic.
Photo Credit: Raymond Flotat
