He was the BBC’s North America editor, living in Washington DC for eight years before returning to a shockingly changed UK. He discusses social media, antisemitism, centrist dads and the sudden embrace of conspiracy theories
‘It took a while to adjust to being on the outside’ … Jon Sopel, co-host of The News Agents podcast, in London last week.‘It took a while to adjust to being on the outside’ … Jon Sopel, co-host of The News Agents podcast, in London last week.
Is it not rather a leap to suggest that could happen here? “It could have been very different – if Trump had been a little better organised, if there was more discipline, if three or four people hadn’t done the right thing. You realise that so much of our democracy relies on people behaving decently and properly.” In the UK, he adds, “Boris Johnson had no interest in behaving properly or decently. He was eventually muscled out, but there could have been people who wanted to indulge him more.
“It was,” says Sopel. “Obviously, when you’re in the middle of it and you’re being brought up there, it just seemed normal.” It had been set up in 1914 to turn new Jewish immigrants into, writes Sopel, “upstanding British citizens and patriots”. Perhaps it’s no wonder that six decades after he left the place, Sopel is still thinking about what it means to be British. “I think it’s a pride in the country. It’s about long, complicated history.
He worries about the rise of anger and intolerance, and the rise of the Reform party. “ are now in second place in 90 Labour seats … a lot of their grassroots support are even further to the right. You’ve got a Tory leadership contest where the party members are way to the right, much closer to Reform. So is the Tory party going to become a far-right, anti-immigrant party?”Sopel finished his book before the riots in the summer.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Huw Edwards given suspended sentence after admitting accessing indecent images of childrenFormer BBC presenter obliged to attend a programme designed to stop him offending again
Read more »
Former BBC anchor Huw Edwards gets suspended sentence for indecent images of children on phoneHe was lead anchor on the nighttime news for two decades and led the coverage of the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II in 2022 as well as election coverage.
Read more »
Former BBC presenter Huw Edwards avoids jail over making indecent images of childrenThe former long-time face of the BBC's flagship news program, who announced Queen Elizabeth's death on air in 2022, is given a suspended sentence at a London court on Monday after admitting to making indecent images of children.
Read more »
Ex-BBC presenter Huw Edwards avoids jail over indecent child images7NEWS brings you the latest local news from Australia and around the world. Stay up to date with all of the breaking sport, politics, entertainment, finance, weather and business headlines. Today's news, live updates & all the latest breaking stories from 7NEWS.
Read more »
Huw Edwards given suspended sentence for accessing indecent images of childrenFormer BBC newsreader admitted offences involving photographs of children as young as seven
Read more »
Former BBC Presenter Huw Edwards Avoids Jail for Child Abuse Image OffencesHuw Edwards, a prominent British TV presenter known for announcing Queen Elizabeth II's death, has been spared jail time after admitting to charges of possessing indecent images of children. He received a six-month suspended sentence and must undergo rehabilitation programs.
Read more »