“Make them listen!” Those three words come straight from the heart of one of the Brexit Party’s star candidates, Annunziata Rees-Mogg, and they brought thunderous applause at a Brexit Party rally in Lincoln, United Kingdom, last week.
It was an acknowledgment that they feel her outrage too, as do millions of “leave” voters around the country.
Rees-Mogg’s sudden, stabbing overflow of powerful emotion came after she had calmly stated, “We believe our voices count, we believe our views count, and most importantly, we should know our votes count.”
Annunziata’s interesting name derives from the angel Gabriel’s announcement to Mary that she would give birth to Jesus. Rees-Mogg may only be helping give birth to a political party, but there is something almost biblical about a nation peacefully and patiently trying to get its independence back.
The Brexit Party was only registered at the beginning of this year, and it first started campaigning as a party in April, once it became clear that Britain would have to take part in the EU elections.
Its founder, Nigel Farage, compares it to a “jack-in-a-box,” popping out of nowhere to become the favorite to win the Brussels ballot. One poll gives it 34% of the vote, while Labour is on 21% and the Conservatives are in fourth place with 11%.
If this is accurate, then Farage’s new party will carry more votes than Britain’s two main parties combined. These numbers should also end any talk of a second referendum.
As for policies, the Brexit Party only has one so far, and it’s called democracy. Its manifesto is, “If you want Britain to exit the EU, then vote for us.“ It’s so simple that it terrifies other politicians.
In 1940, the Conservatives reluctantly turned to Winston Churchill to bail them out of the mess they were in with Hitler. In his first speech to Parliament after becoming prime minister he declared, “You ask what is our policy? I will say it is to wage war.”
The Brexit Party is not waging war but rather democracy — waging it against politicians who no longer heed the public vote.
Farage doesn’t even want a deal with the EU, for he knows that it will come with strings attached and a huge bill for taxpayers.
Annunzia Rees-Mogg’s brother, Jacob, is a Conservative with one of the most brilliant minds in Parliament. He criticizes Prime Minister Theresa May’s deal for turning Britain into a vassal state.
International Trade Secretary Dr. Liam Fox has warned May that if she agrees to Labour’s calls for Britain to remain in the EU Customs Union, “We would be in the unique position in our trading history of being traded.” We would ourselves become a commodity, and the EU would be allowed to offer other nations access to us without our involvement.
Just like Churchill, Farage is returning from political obscurity to answer a call — not a call from reluctant Conservatives but from the British public. For these Tories have been trying to block his path ever since he began his own battle for Britain to leave the EU.
They began by trying to ridicule him and then, allegedly, moved to darker methods to prevent him becoming an MP in the 2015 election. Accusations still persist of Tories illegally overspending their electoral budget limit and even of ballot boxes going missing for six hours during the count.
The then-Deputy Prime Minister, Nick Clegg, wrongly thought that he could defeat Farage in two nationally televised debates, but he lost convincingly. Later, David Cameron agreed to the Brexit referendum, but only because he was convinced “Remainers” would win and it would finally put an end to Farage’s appeal. He was wrong then, too.
Brexit is proving to be a more potent force than anyone reckoned for. With Conservatives and Labour declining, the Brexit Party could even become a dominant force in British politics as well. Could Farage one day become the first Brexit Party prime minister?
Andrew Davies is a U.K.-based video producer and scriptwriter.
