A Conservative politician genuinely just called for ‘extreme EU supporters’ to be tried for treason

Tory MEP David Bannerman and EU supporters in London
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A Conservative MEP is facing a massive backlash after calling for “those undermining the UK through extreme EU loyalty” to be tried for treason.

MEP David Bannerman claimed that the Treason Act of 1372 should be brought up to date in a tweet on 25 July. Whilst doing so, he compared ardent Remainers to terrorists.

‘Extreme EU loyalty’

Sharing a picture of the Telegraph‘s front page, the MEP claimed the treason act should include those attempting to “undermine” the British state. This included the act of “extreme EU loyalty”.

MEP David Bannerman deleted tweet

The Conservative MEP is a committed supporter of Brexit, but his latest comments still came as a shock to many.

Bannerman said of the proposed updates to the act:

This means extreme jihadis. It also means those undermining the U.K. through extreme EU loyalty.

Read on...

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The MEP sent the original tweet out around 9am on 25 July, but he deleted it within the hour. That said, he didn’t exactly sugar-coat its replacement:

Reaction

There was a furious reaction online to the Conservative MEP’s calls. Users claimed that Bannerman was seeking to prosecute political dissent:

People also brought Bannerman’s judgement into question:

Responding, the MEP was quick to dismiss his complainants as silly:

But he wasn’t getting off the hook that easily:

https://twitter.com/Guy_Ward/status/1022057676023517184

Dangerous precedent

The Canary contacted the Conservative MEP’s delegation but a spokesperson declined to comment. Speaking to BuzzFeed about the tweet, however, Bannerman said:

I think it [the Treason Act] should extend to those undermining UK interests through extreme undemocratic loyalty to other states including the EU superstate once we’ve left, but this does not of course apply to normal democratic support for the EU.

Elected politicians using words such as these set a dangerous precedent during such divisive times. The use of language is very important, and accusing sections of society of “treason” cannot be the way forward.

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Featured image via Euro Realist Newsletter – Wikimedia and Ilovetheeu-Wikimedia

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