IT STARTED with the High Court announcement that Article 50 would require Parliamentary approval.
The Daily Mail took immediate steps to point out that one of the judges involved in the decision was guilty of being “openly gay” in an anachronistic attempt to discredit him. They were so mercilessly mocked and criticised for it that they changed the headline.
Shortly after, they published their front cover for the following day; a full-page collage of the three judges involved in the decision with the sinister headline “ENEMIES OF THE PEOPLE” stamped across it, plus the promise of a free GIANT map of Britain. Many online were quick to point out that there was something very “fascistic” about it…
Of course, it wouldn’t be the Daily Mail’s first foray into fascism. Lord Rothermere, a good friend to both Hitler and Mussolini, and one of the founders of the paper, originally directed its editorial stance in support of them in the 1930s and actively wrote in support of the Nazi regime.
Closer to home the Mail was also sympathetic to the British Union of Fascists, and featured an article from Rothermere in 1934 titled “Hurrah for the Blackshirts” which praised the organisation.
Rothermere’s great-grandson is the current owner of the Mail.Faced with the opportunity to lay into the paper for its front page, Twitter did not disappoint. It wasn’t long until #EnemiesOfThePeople was trending, with users sharing who they deemed to be the true enemies of the people.
Highlights included:“People who put After Eight wrappers back in the box, thus creating the illusion of a full box” - @cincodemayoMike“People who voted Mrs Brown’s Boys the best comedy of all time.” - @Midgetgems26“People who fumble for their wallet when asked to pay at the checkout, despite waiting there for 10 minutes.” - @Scientits“Ryanair passengers who don’t applaud when the plane lands in Alicante airport” - @TheCobrasConk
And my own modest contribution:“People who don’t awkwardly run forward when you hold the door open for them.” - @stephenpaton134
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