What the rest of the world thinks of the UK’s political saga

The world is looking on at this week’s drama in Westminster with a mixture of shock, confusion and hilarity.

European, Asian, American and African newspapers described current events at the mother of all Parliaments as a ‘mess’, ‘in disarray’ and even ‘criminally negligent’.

Prime Minister Theresa May has been labelled as ‘mad’, ‘in turmoil’ and being ‘on shaky ground’ as commentators and media outlets prepare to report on today’s vote of confidence.

Tim Stanley’s This Brexit mess borders on criminal negligence piece in the Sydney Morning Herald did not hold back concerning PM Theresa May.

He said: ‘It’s mad, quite mad, and the maddest-looking person of all is the Prime Minister, who told the House of Commons on Monday that while she is “clear” that this deal is super, she will now seek “clarity” on precisely what’s in it.

‘I give up. As my old friend keeps saying: “I think the world is being run by a skeleton staff of idiots.”‘

‘May abruptly decided on Monday to delay a key parliamentary vote on her Brexit deal after repeated warnings she faced a rout.

‘What makes it so much worse is that this was predictable. We’ve been saying for months that this moment would come – and now, at five minutes to midnight, the country can see exactly what Theresa May has refused to confront for two years.’

The New York Times wrote an entire piece about Labour MP Lloyd Russell-Moyle grabbing the ceremonial mace in the House of Commons on Monday night.

Using the MP’s failed bid to remove the ceremonial mace as a metaphor for the current state of British politics, Alan Yuhos, from the New York Times said:  ‘At the exit, a white-haired woman emerged to grab the scepter from the offending member of Parliament, Lloyd Russell-Moyle.

‘He gave it up without a fight, and she ended the brief rebellion in Parliament, an abortive heist that reflected the current chaos in Britain’s government, where confusion about policy, authority and a mace has in recent days reigned.

‘On several occasions, Britons angry with their government have brandished the mace and dismayed their peers.’

 

In The Irish Times Fintan O’Toole likened Brexit to the punk revolution of the 1976 in a piece called Never Mind The Bollocks, Here’s Brexit.

He said: ‘The UK’s decision to leave the EU is like living through the anarchy of punk all over again.

‘The English generation that was shaped by punk thus absorbed more than a renewed and radically re-energised idea of heroic failure.’

He added: ‘It was familiarised with what would otherwise be an outlandish contradiction – the fusion of freedom with self-inflicted pain. Wild revolt is one side of the coin but the other is pleasurable confinement, restriction, bondage.

‘There is in this complex structure of feeling both a breaking free and a submission to being tied up.’

German newspaper De Bild declared: ‘It’s getting tight for Theresa May’ and she was in ‘dire political distress’.

The PM was described as ‘biting on granite’ as she asked European leaders for more Brexit concessions and they mocked her ‘failing exit strategy’ after she could not open her car door as Chancellor Angela Merkel waited for her.

French newspaper La Monde described today’s vote of confidence in Theresa May as the PM being ‘on the hot seat of her own party’.

The paper reported: ‘Many times announced in vain, the hour of truth approaches for Theresa May.’

The Jamaica Gleaner described Theresa May’s government ‘being on shaky ground’ and Brexit being in ‘turmoil’.

And India’s Hindustan Times reported: ‘Britain’s position is even more confused than ever.’

The Cape Times in South Africa described the prospect of a ‘neverendum’ if a second referendum is sanctioned.

Guy Falcounbridge wrote: ‘Opponents of the idea of a second referendum say it would not solve anything even if voters chose to stay in the EU.

‘Supporters of Brexit would then demand a third, decisive referendum to resolve the question that has haunted the United Kingdom since it lost its empire: Should it go it alone or partner with the European project?’

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