‘Where is the Prime Minister’s Vision of this Green, Pleasant and Multicultural Land?’
Sonia Purnell on how Keir Starmer's Government is failing to push back against anti-British propaganda on the right
“How do you cope with those Nigerian gangs roaming round your cities?” asked the immaculately presented American woman across the dinner table, her giant diamond earrings glinting in the evening sunlight. “What about all those no-go areas you have? I used to visit England a lot but now I don’t dare.”
I admit to having been initially baffled by what on earth she could mean. I hastily muttered in reply “please don’t believe everyone you hear on Fox News”, while trying to work it out.
It was only after a few frantic moments that I concluded that she must have been confused due to reports of the Pakistani-heritage grooming gangs in Rochdale, which have been repeatedly broadcast in the US and elsewhere.
“That was horrendous but isolated,” I offered. “Our cities are mostly very safe. There are no no-go areas.”
But the impression of the UK as a lawless and failed state riven by racial hatred had taken a deep hold. She was not open to persuasion otherwise.
This exchange took place at a recent glittering dinner in a wealthy American enclave where I had been promoting my book, Kingmaker. I was the guest of a group of friendly and philanthropic Americans whose joint net worth ran into the billions. They were charming to me personally, came from both sides of the political divide, and we were enjoying a beautifully balmy evening.
But they made it very clear that it was unlikely in the extreme that any of them would be following President Donald Trump and Vice-President JD Vance in choosing to spend time in the UK (respectively in Scotland and in the Cotswolds) this summer, whatever their political persuasion.
The man on my left – who had founded a household name company and was clearly whip-smart as well as widely-travelled – joined in by adding: “And of course your food is famously bad!”
In the absence of anyone better qualified, I felt compelled to counter with, “actually things have changed a lot and we have a booming culinary scene, especially but not exclusively in London”. He laughed in response. The anti-Britain propaganda is clearly working.
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