Viewers of BBC Newsnight were left baffled at the sight of an arch Brexiteer and anti-immigration Tory vicar.
Although Jesus has understandably not expressed a view on Brexit, many viewers questioned how the vicar’s political views can be squared with his teachings.
A bizarre performance
The vicar, called Lynn, was on Newsnight as part of a public panel to discuss the latest Brexit developments. And she seemed to relish the opportunity to outline her opinions.
She asserted how she supported “100%” the Brexit position of Tory MP Nadhim Zahawi – who is backing Theresa May’s deal. And she said she was a “Conservative, born and bred all my life”:
https://twitter.com/SocialistSki/status/1067226166153699328
Her belief that we should “put faith in the government” and trust in its superior knowledge will trouble many after observing two years of Tory infighting and botched negotiations. As will her suggestion that the public are unable to understand the complexities and should simply trust politicians.
Is it Christian to oppose immigration?
But most surprising was her reaction to a question posed by the host, Emily Maitlis, about the free movement of people within the EU (immigration), as shown below:
https://twitter.com/SocialistSki/status/1067219258848018432
The reaction from the public
In reaction to her comments, many members of the public questioned the compatibility of her beliefs with Christianity. As I myself reacted at the time:
https://twitter.com/SocialistSki/status/1067190076378091520
But as one Twitter user was quick to point out, this wasn’t the vicar’s first appearance on the BBC. It seems that they don’t just recycle the same mainstream pundits, but members of the public too.
https://twitter.com/GeneRuane/status/1067198326595035136
Breaking the teachings of the bible?
But many other users wondered how opposition to the free movement of people squared with holy scripture:
Lynn the Vicar against free movement needs to be reminded of the Gospel of Matthew & the “Flight into Egypt” 👀 Jesus Mary & Joseph had to leave Bethlehem for Egypt due to King Herod planning to “seek out the child to destroy him” #Newsnight #BrexitChaos pic.twitter.com/PVYXA1UIJV
— ℝ𝕒𝕔𝕙𝕖𝕝 (@icklepickle) November 26, 2018
Some even went back to the old testament:
Ah! she didn't get as far as Leviticus 19:33-34 'When a foreigner resides among you in your land, do not mistreat them. The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native-born. Love them as yourself, for you were foreigners in Egypt. I am the LORD your God."
— oldnat (Dave Taylor – Extremist, undermining UK) (@theoldnat) November 26, 2018
Although some people’s bible scholarship might be a little inaccurate….
Didn't Jesus say "it is easier for a camel to fit through the eye of a needle than it is for Forrins to get into my country"
That and "blessed are the money lenders and doubly blessed are the Hedge funds"— Just sleeping till 2020 is gone (@JosephGliddon) November 26, 2018
Others queried whether Tory ideology and policy can be squared with Christianity:
It's her second night on Newsnight, and I am shocked by the fervor she shows for the Tories. "I'm Tory born and bred", "I'll always vote Tory". I think she even said on Monday that she "loves Theresa May".
Maybe she's found a way to combine her faith with austerity and suffering
— Suffolk 🇪🇺 #FBPE #FBPPR #RejoinEU (@TimInSuffolk) November 27, 2018
But perhaps the Twitter account “Tory Jesus” shows us that the merging of Tory and Christian dogma is possible:
— Tory Jesus (@Tory__Jesus) May 15, 2017
https://twitter.com/ToryJesus1/status/1057550571178053632
Others were more emphatic in their opinions:
She ain't no Christian bruv.
— Y Ddraig Goch 🏴🏴🇯🇴 (@MarkHainsworth) November 27, 2018
God help us all
If the hellish, shouty conclusion to the Newsnight debate was anything to go by, then the UK may need more than God to help solve Brexit:
The noisy end of this evening's debate exposed the divisions going forward. Did anyone convince you?#newsnight | @maitlis | @MarcusFysh | @LaylaMoran | @Bill_Esterson | @NickyMorgan01 | @nadhimzahawi pic.twitter.com/BAEH6IWloQ
— BBC Newsnight (@BBCNewsnight) November 26, 2018
Lynn the vicar demonstrated once again the many baffling opinions across the UK that Brexit has revealed.
And the idea of a vicar supporting May shouldn’t surprise anyone. Her government was condemned for causing “misery” and mass poverty in the UK by the UN. She also introduced the “hostile environment” immigration policy. And yes, you guessed it: Theresa May is a vicar’s daughter.
Featured image via YouTube
