The University and the City of Cambridge found out the hard way what happens when you leave it to other people to do the ‘politics’ back in the mid 2010s. Will history repeat itself?
Image – Trials of Democracy, with events coming up on Sat 04 Oct and Sun 05 Oct 2025
In the middle of the Liberal Democrats Conference 2025, TeamNigel launched a classic ‘spoiler’ policy announcement that had the BBC Political Correspondents running to Brexit Towers. Given the toxic politics being imported from Stateside, I was reminded of the message from USA For Africa.
“We are the world, we are the children. We are the ones who make a brighter day. So let’s start giving.“
Now watch this really random group of famous figures brought together by the Norwegian TV show Gylne Tider mime it through below.
Above – We Are The World mimed by people you recognise but did not know were connected.
“Leaving the EU will create significant challenges for universities. Although this is not an outcome that we wished or campaigned for, we respect the decision of the UK electorate.”
Universities UK following the EU Referendum in 2016
I filmed this vlogpost the morning after the referendum result on 24 June 2016 – highlighting a number of insights from the results. (How does it sound today?)
And recall the sense of shock in Cambridge at this event held at The Guildhall in August 2016, chaired by Cambridge MP Daniel Zeichner.
See also the speeches by:
- South Cambridgeshire MP Heidi Allen in July 2016
- Former Cambridge MP Julian Huppert in September 2016
- …and Dr Huppert again in Jan 2017
“What’s the existential threat this time?”
Recall the last one pulled the UK out of the EU – the results of which nearly a decade later we are still struggling with. Furthermore the anti-EU movement seems to have grown and morphed into something far more intimidating than what it was before the 2015 general election.
Now recall ‘I don’t do politics’ from the early 2000s
What do you do if you suddenly find that politics very much ‘does’ you?
This time around, TeamNigel is threatening anyone with the status of indefinite leave to remain with the removal of that status, and potential deportation. To which Downing Street’s initial reaction wasn’t against the principle of the policy, but on the practicalities.
“Asked what the Prime Minister’s response was to the proposal, a spokesperson for Keir Starmer would say only that he thought it was “unworkable”, “unrealistic” and “unfunded”.”
Above – Adam Bienkov in Byline Times 22 Sept 2025 saying that Starmer’s response to TeamNigel’s outrageous policy was to say that the latter had got their sums wrong
To which my instinctive response to Downing’ Street’s announcement was:
***Grow a f–king backbone!!!***
Above – David Low’s satirical piece lampooning Foreign Secretary Anthony Eden in October 1937 as he entered a meeting about the Spanish Civil War. I said that the PM should consider similar whenever interviewed about TeamNigel. The irony of the lady wearing a union flag waistcoat is not lost in today’s context.
It was left to the backbenchers to make the case for Labour
Above – Sarah Owen MP (Labour – Luton North) on Bluesky.
Sir Ed Davey calls out the BBC to its face.
“”Pressed again, Sir Ed added: “”I do think we’ve seen some poor practice in parts of the BBC.”
See the video here and the report here. It was a woeful interview by Chris Mason who in my view acts more like the BBC’s Chief TeamNigel Correspondent
“What would happen to Cambridge – and the country if TeamNigel ever got into a position to bring in such a toxic action?”
That ultimately depends on how the city – and country chooses to respond in such a situation. But put it this way:
- We’re talking about the close friends and relatives of millions of people – how many of them will simply sit back and take it?
- Could a government of any political colour command the loyalty of the enforcement personnel to undertake such actions? (See Series 3 Episode 5 with Charles Dance acting the part of Lord Mountbatten, dramatising a coup plot against the Labour Government of Harold Wilson in the late 1960s)
- The economic disruption caused by the removal of such a large percentage of the workforce would surely drag the country into a great depression
- The tourism industry would collapse in the face of media footage similar to what we’ve seen in the US with tourists and citizens being violently and unlawfully detained.
Far better to strengthen democracy and our democratic & civic institutions than to respond so late on in the day when the costs of recovery would be far, far higher.
Hence I come back to this familiar point:
“Given that most of us know at least one person who would be directly affected by TeamNigel’s policy, one for non-politics types: what one small one-off action or small behaviour change would you be willing to undertake in response to his new threat, & to reassure those close to you? (Start small. But start.)”
In the first instance I suggest starting passively – gathering knowledge rather than running outside and demanding a revolution now or something…
- Sign up to updates from your local councils
- Subscribe to a political or current affairs magazine (or make a note/book some time out to read the copies in public libraries)
- Set reminders to listen to podcasts, and listen to some speeches or debates from events online that cover issues that you’re interested in. (Grace Blakeley here is particularly powerful on both content and delivery, and also written up here: No one is coming to save us).
- Join a local community or campaign group that is working on improving your local area (as opposed to say an international fund-raising charity)
- Read the noticeboards in your supermarket, local shops, community centres – become more aware of what’s happening around you.
While I’m not telling people to jump straight into party politics – not least because I’ve never been a member of a political party and nor would I want to be in one, clearly that is an option for some judging by recent news from The local Greens at least. (See https://votecompass.uk/ if you want to get a feel for which parties are closest to your views and values on political matrix)
Food for thought?
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