Iain Duncan Smith compared Brexit to the Reformation and the takedowns were historic
Arch Brexiter, Iain Duncan Smith is one of those politicians they wheel out when an awful policy needs defending, having championed the “bedroom tax” and cuts to welfare benefits, whilst coming out against taxing bankers’ bonuses. Naturally, he’s the perfect spokesperson for the idea of Brexit at any cost, which he promoted in a recent Telegraph column.
This is the heading they went with.
It sums up this section of the article.
“I am not alone as seeing this moment in a similar light to the Reformation.
That first break with Rome was the making of this country.
Freed from the shackles of what had become a corrupt organisation, the concept of our island nation emerged, supreme and self-governing.
From that moment, our buccaneering global nature was given free rein with astonishing results as the UK grew to influence the rest of the world.”
It practically has Elgar playing in the background; we wouldn’t be surprised to learn that he slowly raised a Union Jack as he read the final proof. Of course, as is so often the case when MPs make bold pronouncements, there were some issues with his analogy, and historian Simon Schama was on hand to point them out.
why do these dunces abuse history in the name of their simple- minded prejudices. 1) the Reformation was a pan European phenomenon, 2) it created a religious civil war in Britain that lasted 2 centuries https://t.co/vr7AMsnUas
— Simon Schama (@simon_schama) August 3, 2019
Whilst his fellow historian, Greg jenner, had a more heartfelt reaction.
Stop the world, I want to get off 😫 pic.twitter.com/cSzqPsPkEr
— Greg Jenner (@greg_jenner) August 3, 2019
The inevitable barrage of takedowns followed.
1.
My favourite part of the Reformation was when Henry VIII had a barge rowed up and down the country on which he’d painted the message that leaving the Roman Catholic Church would save England £9,746 7s 6d a week, which would instead be spent on plague medicine. https://t.co/PhOcjVfFpP
— Beau (@DrBeauBeaumont) August 3, 2019
2.
A headline almost certain to reassure the people of Ireland that the UK hasn't lost its mind and completely soiled itself again. pic.twitter.com/uQToo2r6Mn
— David (@PermaConfused) August 3, 2019
3.
The Reformation was particularly awesome if you enjoyed heretics being burned alive, hanged and decapitated, or torture, persecution, religious mania, and war.
Hardly raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens. Frankly, not even bright copper kettles and warm woollen mittens pic.twitter.com/B7eH7Q6mHM
— NeilMackay (@NeilMackay) August 3, 2019
4.
Duncan Smith is a Catholic. The English reformation made his faith illegal for 300 years and led to the murder, torture and abuse of his fellow believers. A stupid man, with no grasp of history. pic.twitter.com/83SmVXig5k
— Otto English (@Otto_English) August 3, 2019
5.
Dear IDS. What you know of souls of any kind (with the exception perhaps of Dover) could be kept behind a gnat’s foreskin & there would still be room for a steamroller. Now please do fuck off.
— Mike Harding #FBPE (@HardingMike) August 3, 2019
6.
Unsurprised to see IDS open this with the metaphor of him basking in the morning sun like a lizard. If only all the government’s reptiles were this honest.
Also, he’s just a bit thick, isn’t he? https://t.co/QCuXYUqdUS
— Dr Fern Riddell (@FernRiddell) August 3, 2019
7.
The Reformation created a series of religious wars across Europe between Protestants and Catholics that lasted for two centuries – including the English Civil War. pic.twitter.com/6bt80fwD4G
— James Melville (@JamesMelville) August 3, 2019
8.
I've been saying this is about ancient religious hatreds from the start. pic.twitter.com/94ZGFT9qVf
— Karl Sharro (@KarlreMarks) August 3, 2019
Author and LBC presenter, James O’Brien, may have put his finger on the precise reason the article was written in the first place.
Being too stupid to understand how stupid you are is uniquely emboldening. https://t.co/zL0VEoO6Si
— James O'Brien (@mrjamesob) August 3, 2019
