Amendment to ensure a Pro-Brexit air on British Campuses
By Priscilla Obilana | Apr 4 2017
Following the triggering of Article 50, ministers in Britain have expressed their intentions to promote a pro-Brexit view among young people.To address the concerns of young people about Brexit, the solution decided on was to shine a spotlight on the positive possibilities it could lead to. A Westminster source via the Times said “Ministers have been disappointed by some of the lacklustre communications from universities since we triggered Article 50”.To achieve this, a late amendment to the Higher Education and Research Bill (that is still in the process of being passed, having had its third reading at the House of Lords on the 4th of April) was developed.The amendment calls for a limit to the discourse around the losses which could arise from Brexit, such as the potential loss in Erasmus programmes. The professional opinions of professors would be obliged to teach and promote the opinions of the ministers by focusing on the opportunities that could arise out of Brexit. Rather than focus on the potential loss of the European Research Council, British Ministers would like undergrads to be taught the possibility of a free trade agreement with countries like New Zealand.Additionally, the amendment includes the requirement that British culture should be furthered on campus. The amendment suggests that Pro-Brexit rallies should be held on campus with suggested attractions including dance performances, pop concerts. It also suggests that a “mandatory number” of pro-Brexit speakers be invited on campuses.Suggested speakers include Milo Yiannopoulos, who visited UCD last year and was recently fired from his position at Breitbart in America due to his views on child abuse.It is hoped that by hosting these cultural events they would urge patriotism, stimulating a more nationalist air around students. To ultimately result in a “national unity”.