9/ This elite consensus often ignored public opinion. While 67% of Britons opposed the 2003 Iraq War, Tony Blair committed troops based primarily on maintaining the “special relationship” with America – prioritising elite Atlanticism over democratic accountability.
10/ Media ownership concentrated in Atlanticist hands shaped British public discourse, consistently presenting American interests as aligned with British ones, despite growing inequality and deindustrialisation affecting working-class communities. Elite reporting focused on Washington’s politics.
11/ The physical American presence in Britain – military bases like RAF Lakenheath with nearly 5,000 US personnel – created two realities: some economic benefits for local communities but also constant reminders of Britain’s subordinate security status.
May 5, 2025 08:00