• Disrupting Power Since 2015
  • Donate
  • Login
Thursday, May 15, 2025
  • Login
  • Register
Canary
MEDIA THAT DISRUPTS
  • News
    • UK
    • Global
    • Analysis
    • Trending
  • Editorial
  • Features
    • Features
    • Environment
    • Lifestyle
    • Health
    • Money
    • Science
    • Business
    • Tech
    • Travel
    • Sport & Gaming
  • Media
    • Video
    • Cartoons
  • Opinion
No Result
View All Result
MANAGE SUBSCRIPTION
SUPPORT
  • News
    • UK
    • Global
    • Analysis
    • Trending
  • Editorial
  • Features
    • Features
    • Environment
    • Lifestyle
    • Health
    • Money
    • Science
    • Business
    • Tech
    • Travel
    • Sport & Gaming
  • Media
    • Video
    • Cartoons
  • Opinion
No Result
View All Result
Canary
No Result
View All Result

The Tories just got a ‘thank you’ note from the last person you’d want one from

Thomas Wintle by Thomas Wintle
13 November 2018
in UK
Reading Time: 3 mins read
170 2
A A
0
Home UK
319
SHARES
2.5k
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orbán has sent Conservative MEPs a letter thanking them for voting against the censure of his far-right government.

And while the Tories are usually happy to share the little gratitude they receive, they probably didn’t want this particular ‘thank you’ note to go public.

The worst kind of ‘thank you’

Yahoo Finance broke the story on Monday 24 September. It discovered that Tory MEPs had received the same letter Orbán sent to Nicolas Bay of France’s far-right National Front (now ‘National Rally‘), thanking him for support in the European parliament:

https://twitter.com/LEJ88/status/1044147623752605696

The parliament was voting on whether Orbán’s party Fidesz was at “clear risk of a serious breach of the EU founding values”. MEPs approved a proposal to push ahead with sanctions against his government by 448 votes to 197.

Orbán later wrote to all those who supported him:

I would like to express my gratitude for your participation and contribution at the plenary debate and during the vote on the report on the situation in Hungary…

I appreciate the support you’ve shown towards national sovereignty and solidarity during the vote.

Those thanks extended to the huge majority of Conservative MEPs that backed him.

Love letter upset

Twitter was quick to hit out at the Conservatives for apparently standing in “solidarity” with a government accused of promoting Islamophobia, antisemitism, and cutting back press freedom:

https://twitter.com/PonderfulUK/status/1044179706151612418

Orban ultra right wing white supremacist Hungarian government thanked the UK conservative Tory for their support, needless to say Tories are now classified as ultra nationalists, what a bloody shame for the UK https://t.co/AcO8q0B8Rz

— Kiki🇰🇷 🇲🇽 🇪🇺🇨🇵🇪🇸 저는 키키 입니다 (@CeeckhoutKiki) September 24, 2018

Labour MEP Paul Brennan, meanwhile, wondered if he would also be receiving a note for opposing Orbán’s government:

I hope he’s sent me one expressing his disappointment in me and my Labour colleagues for voting with the @TheProgressives for action to be taken against the authoritarian moves of the Orbán government in Hungary. I’d like to frame it & hang it in my office @labourpress

— Paul Brannen 🇺🇦 (@PaulBrannenNE) September 24, 2018

But so far, it looks like the Hungarian leader has only written to his friends.

Tory cynicism

For many on Twitter, the letter highlighted the British government’s glaring hypocrisy on antisemitism.

Apparently, people don’t like it when Tories accuse their opponents of failing to tackle racism while receiving far-right thank you notes:

https://twitter.com/shaunksmith85/status/1044189236671467520

https://twitter.com/eileenbgibson/status/1044197354247770112

Others pointed to the fact that the letter might have had something to do with a post-Brexit trade deal:

https://twitter.com/TheLeftWingUK/status/1044214157162278912

That Hungary-UK trade Deal can't be far off…😹🇪🇺 #ERG are working on it right now

— vonhitchofen.bsky.social (@VonHitchofen) September 24, 2018

Where’s the mainstream media?

Twitter users also called attention to the unbalanced media focus on Labour’s antisemitism row as the Tories cosy up to an alleged antisemite.

And some were sceptical that anything would change this time around:

This is going to be massively all over the media. Marr, Peston, Newsnight, Channel 4, sky news, Guardian, Times, Telegraph. They’ll all be on to this. Deffo. https://t.co/YKbrHoAL33

— Michael Rosen 💙💙🎓🎓 (@MichaelRosenYes) September 24, 2018

https://twitter.com/SirRavix4horn/status/1044198561716604928

https://twitter.com/cnlester/status/1044179286343782400

https://twitter.com/daysofspeed/status/1044174988906057729

Double standards

The BBC is still asking Jeremy Corbyn if he’s an antisemite. This is while Tory MEPs are receiving fan mail from Viktor Orbán, one of Europe’s most dangerous far-right leaders. And no matter how antisemitic and racist Orbán’s campaigns are, Conservatives including Michael Gove are still refusing to condemn him outright.

It’s almost as if the Tories didn’t really have that much interest in standing up to the far right.

Maybe someone should send them a letter about it.

Get Involved!

– Write to your local MEP so you can get the issues that matter on the table.

– Join The Canary, so we can keep holding the powerful to account.

Featured image via YouTube

Share128Tweet80
Previous Post

The DWP is now facing its fifth investigation by the UN

Next Post

Thousands of lives are being devastated by Theresa May’s violent indifference

Next Post
Theresa May and refugees on Lesbos

Thousands of lives are being devastated by Theresa May's violent indifference

A Labour member and the DWP logo

The DWP was savaged in just two minutes at the Labour conference

Patrick Harvie at Holyrood speaking about anti-fracking campaigners

A victory for the Scottish Green Party MSPs and anti-fracking protesters across Scotland

Floods in North Carolina and Donald Trump

There are hidden truths in the Carolina floodwaters that Trump wants to keep hidden

Dan Hodges and a redacted letter

Dan Hodges is at the centre of a scandal over a 'leaked' letter

The British Museum just held an event with the Israeli embassy - and the Met police responded by repressing Palestine protesters
News

British Museum holds event with the Israeli embassy – so Met Police respond by repressing Palestine protesters

by The Canary
14 May 2025
EXPOSED: the public is paying for Keir Starmer's in-laws to live virtually rent-free in London
Analysis

EXPOSED: the public is paying for Keir Starmer’s in-laws to live virtually rent-free in London

by Ed Sykes
14 May 2025
People are coming together on 7 June to oppose Labour's DWP benefit cuts
News

People are coming together on 7 June to oppose Labour’s DWP benefit cuts

by The Canary
14 May 2025
Keir Starmer's 'Island of Strangers' speech: channeling the racist rhetoric of Enoch Powell
Opinion

Is Keir Starmer capable of killing?

by Jamie Driscoll
14 May 2025
As an ACTUAL GENOCIDE continues, its apologists come for Gary Lineker over an emoji
Opinion

As an ACTUAL GENOCIDE continues, its apologists come for Gary Lineker over an emoji

by Ed Sykes
14 May 2025
  • Contact
  • About & FAQ
  • Get our Daily News Email
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy

The Canary
PO Box 71199
LONDON
SE20 9EX

Canary Media Ltd – registered in England. Company registration number 09788095.

For guest posting, contact [email protected]

For other enquiries, contact: [email protected]

The Canary is owned and run by independent journalists and volunteers, NOT offshore billionaires.

You can write for us, or support us by making a regular or one-off donation.

© Canary Media Ltd 2024, all rights reserved | Website by Monster | Hosted by Krystal | Privacy Settings

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password? Sign Up

Create New Account!

Fill the forms below to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
No Result
View All Result
  • News
    • UK
    • Global
    • Analysis
    • Trending
  • Editorial
  • Features
    • Features
    • Environment
    • Lifestyle
    • Health
    • Money
    • Science
    • Business
    • Tech
    • Travel
    • Sport & Gaming
  • Media
    • Video
    • Cartoons
  • Opinion

© 2023 Canary - Worker's co-op.

Before you go, have you seen...?

The British Museum just held an event with the Israeli embassy - and the Met police responded by repressing Palestine protesters
News
The Canary

British Museum holds event with the Israeli embassy – so Met Police respond by repressing Palestine protesters

EXPOSED: the public is paying for Keir Starmer's in-laws to live virtually rent-free in London
Analysis
Ed Sykes

EXPOSED: the public is paying for Keir Starmer’s in-laws to live virtually rent-free in London

People are coming together on 7 June to oppose Labour's DWP benefit cuts
News
The Canary

People are coming together on 7 June to oppose Labour’s DWP benefit cuts

Keir Starmer's 'Island of Strangers' speech: channeling the racist rhetoric of Enoch Powell
Opinion
Jamie Driscoll

Is Keir Starmer capable of killing?

ADVERTISEMENT
Business
Nathan Spears

When digital isn’t enough: why paper still matters in modern business

Tech
Nathan Spears

How Digital Addictions Are Formed in the Shadow of Large Platforms

Lifestyle
Nathan Spears

Recovery in the Sun: How the Canary Islands are Becoming a Wellness Tourism Hub