This tweet, can our good UK members help me understand it please?

[steve2470]

Link to tweet

Thank you in advance!

Steve

[TubbersUK]

1. As understand it, the UK is following an EU directive on this matter

It's a popular move but one which the Tory govt would probably never have initiated off its own bat.

Theresa May does not, of course, credit the EU in her announcement.

This is just one example of many.

[steve2470]

2. yes

Have the UK governments routinely, as the tweeter says, routinely bashed the EU and taken credit for EU ideas?

[TubbersUK]

3. Indeed

Demonizing the EU while ignoring or taking credit for the positives is a longstanding tactic of the Tory right and other Europhobes.

[T_i_B]

4. All domestic politicians credit themselves rather than the EU.....

....for anything positive the EU does. Not just the Tories.

And scapegoating the EU is not confined to right wing Tories. As can be seen from the likes of Dennis Skinner.

[TubbersUK]

5. Yes, I cited 'other Europhobes' as shorthand for his ilk n/t

[Denzil_DC]

7. It's actually even worse than that.

UK governments, especially in recent years, have made a habit of criticizing the EU for EU rules and legislation the UK was responsible for supporting, or even championing!

See this reproduction of a Twitter thread from Steve Analyst (@EmporersNewC) for a vast number of examples

American tells bizarre story of how Britain went from leading the EU to leaving it in epic Twitter plea to rethink Brexit

https://politicalscrapbook.net/2017/07/american-tells-bizarre-story-of-how-britain-went-from-leading-the-eu-to-leaving-it-in-one-epic-twitter-plea-to-rethink-brexit/

[steve2470]

8. thank you! nt

[TubbersUK]

10. Good read n/t

[TubbersUK]

6. A further example

This guy is a Brexiteer

Link to tweet

Ross Thomson MP
✔
@RossThomson_MP
Great news that as of today @Conservatives have banned hidden charges for simply paying with your credit or debit card. This will help millions of people avoid rip-off fees when spending their hard-earned money.

11:54 AM - Jan 13, 2018

[T_i_B]

9. He's also an MP

And many MP's are quite happy to unthinkingly spout party propaganda on social media, even if it's patently nonsense. My own Tory MP is a prime example, and many Labour MP's during the Blair era were also guilty of this sort of thing.