Roy Greenslade convincing on Trump and UK newspapers

Today Roy Greenslade comments on the way that some UK newspapers have supported Donald Trump during his recent visit.  Greenslade suggests this "can be traced to Boris Johnson’s claim five weeks ago that Trump could handle Brexit better than May". My impression is that the change is also part of the consequences of May taking a firmer line on the consequences of Brexit. The newspapers have had to face up to complexity and some loss of momentum. Trump has provided some energy over 48 hours that is not yet much examined, at least in the news world.

Newspapers are already switching to a betrayal story about Brexit to explain the lack of delivery. Sunday Express front page for example. Connecting to Trump  style as a solution may appeal as a story. I have dropped the #tag #BlameTheresatheAppeaser as #Betrayal and #May finds enough now on twitter to track what is happening.

On the opinion pages, Matthew d'Ancona considers the current problems for Theresa May and concludes with an alarming possibility.

Never underestimate the populist right, especially when being assisted by US and Russian sympathisers. Its principal protagonists have curated the “Brexit betrayal myth”: the claim that the British volk has been let down by a craven elite of multiculturalists and theatre-goers. Some of their number argue that Ukip should be revived under Nigel Farage. But the more dangerous plan is to colonise the battered Tory movement in the years to come – like a facehugger from Alien – flooding local associations with like-minded members, and turning the party of Disraeli, Macmillan and Churchill into a Trumpite nationalist force.

Some Conservatives may want to keep some distance from UKIP but there was some overlap in themes as reported by newspapers during the referendum. See another blog Fleet Street in Europe and Cyberspace. Blog started before referendum so there are some links there.

I think it much more possible that UK newspapers that have promoted Brexit will now include Trump and supporters, maybe Boris maybe Farage. Roy Greenslade comments-

The Little Englander philosophy of the Brexit-backing press dovetails with build-the-wall, protectionist Trumpism.
In spite of the waning circulation of the national press, the populism it shares with its new poster boy, Trump, is on the rise: and it’s no exaggeration to suggest their philosophy amounts to a very real danger to democracy.

The press circulation is not only waning but concentrated with an older demographic. The BBC and other broadcast media tend to accept the news agenda from print and this may continue whatever happens to circulation. The Guardian should be supported in the print world as long as it lasts. Online there may be a wider range of styles. The Guardian believes in proper journalists and rarely credits a tweet with much sense. But there could be some connection around this sort of thing.