A Review of James O’Brien’s ‘How They Broke Britain’
Meticulous research, blended with sharp wit to provide a compelling account of systemic failures that shaped Britains political decline. ★★★★☆ 4.5/5
Some books are designed to detach people from reality and immerse themselves in a world of fiction, much like Nigel Farage! James O’Brien does nothing of the sort— he leaves you utterly seething.
How They Broke Britain offers a forensic examination of the individuals and institutions that have systemically driven the nation’s socio-political landscape into the abyss.
The premise of review, here, should not be the fact that the LBC presenter doesn’t provide any solutions to the mess those who broke Britain created (as outlined by the Guardian), nor should it be about his writing style. On the contrary, it is imperative we examine the central argument— that the preservation of privilege, incompetence, or both, have entrenched the British isles in an embarrassing echo chamber of self-sabotage.
A Deeply Researched and Valid Account
Perhaps the books greatest strength lies in the depth of O’Brien’s research; he underpins every accusation and character critique with a plethora of authenticated citations. He holds individuals responsible, while unveiling a comprehensive understanding of their background and motivations.
For instance, his analysis of Nigel Farage delves into uncomfortable truths about Farage’s past, including his Hitler Youth chants during university and associations with the BNP. O’Brien meticulously traces how Farage has spent his career deflecting and distancing himself from such incidents, skillfully maintaining his political position while casting others aside without hesitation. Each claim is rigorously sourced, creating a damning portrait of a man willing to exploit populist sentiments for personal gain.
This approach extends to other figures, with O’Brien’s careful layering of evidence ensuring that each character assassination is both credible and illuminating. Rather than relying on hyperbole or conjecture, he connects their past actions, affiliations, and public statements to the wider consequences of their policies, leaving readers with an undeniable sense of how these individuals contributed to Britain’s decline. The research-driven nature of his critiques elevates the book, transforming it from a polemics into a compelling and authoritative account of systemic failure.
Mentioned in How They Broke Britain, O’Brien made Farage look rather silly on a mornings notice.
The Relationship Between Privilege and Misinformation
His strong focus on misinformation that is perpetuated throughout working class communities by secret funders masquerading as ‘think tanks‘ and the right-wing media is consistently woven through each chapter
David Cameron and Boris Johnson’s handling of Brexit is a prime example, utilised in the book, of how the political elite are cheerled by outlets like the Daily Mail, The Sun, the Spectator, Guido Forkes, The Telegraph, or GB News, in order to talk their arguments into reality. Cameron called the referendum in an age where the tabloids were obsessed with the EU and blaming migrants on economic issues, all to settle an egotistical, Etonian ’argument‘ with the man who administered a calamitous deal, Boris Johnson.
These actor’s have since reinforced James O’briens argument by reinserting themselves within the political conversation with ease, popping up on podcasts, publishing books and spouting nonsense about the “successes of Brexit“ in their respective columns in… The Daily Mail.
A Personal Critique
While How They Broke Britain is a triumph in many ways, everything is partial to critique. O’Brien criticises Jeremy Corbyn for his leadership, particularly his handling of Brexit and the Labour Party’s internal divisions. O’Brien argues that Corbyn’s “constructive ambiguity” on Brexit alienated both Remain and Leave voters, inadvertently benefiting the Tories. However, this critique overlooks the larger issue: social democrats, by not fully embracing left-wing principles, risk empowering the right.
Corbyn’s approach to Brexit was pragmatic, seeking to balance the divided views within his party and the electorate. His ambiguity was designed to prevent further fragmentation, recognising that a clear Remain position would alienate vital Leave constituencies (The Guardian, 2019). Corbyn’s policies—ending austerity, public ownership, and taxing the wealthy—represented a direct challenge to the neoliberal consensus that had dominated both Conservative and New Labour governments (BBC News, 2019). O’Brien denounced this by using the words of Tony Blair, a neoliberal: you will never win an election being radical.
However, O’Brien fails to consider the internal sabotage Corbyn faced from centrist Labour MPs, many of whom were more aligned with the Tories than Corbyn’s left-wing vision. This significantly weakened Labour’s unity (BBC, 2019). Additionally, O’Brien’s consistent criticism of Corbyn could be seen as adopting the right-wing media narrative that depicted him as unelectable and a danger to the country’s stability, a portrayal central to the media’s hostile stance against him throughout his leadership (The Independent, 2020).
On the issue of antisemitism, O’Brien overlooks the context of Labour’s internal struggles. Corbyn condemned antisemitism, but the issue was exploited politically, with some within the party and the media using it to discredit him (The Guardian, 2019). His stance on antisemitism was often misrepresented, making it difficult for him to combat the accusations while addressing genuine concerns— not to mention the report found that there was an antisemitism issue across parliament, not just the Labour Party.
O’Brien’s past support for Boris Johnson in 2008 further complicates his critique, highlighting how social democrats sometimes compromise and, in doing so, inadvertently empower the right. My message to the author is, join the Marxists, James— embrace it and hopefully you won’t have to write a second book!
Jacob Barclay-Evans
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