Inciting violence: The influence of UK political party campaigns and British tabloids on the motivation and responses of readers during the EU referendum: A contribution to Hate Crime?

Abstract

This thesis seeks to contribute towards existing academic research on hate speech, with a specific focus on the reporting by British tabloids and the rhetoric of UK political party campaigns, in the lead up to the European Union Referendum. The main theme of this study centres on whether their extensive reporting and negative rhetoric surrounding immigration and migrants, influenced the motivation and responses of readers to carry out racial violence. By negatively portraying migrants, it is argued that the British tabloids and UK political parties stirred up racial hatred and consequently contributed to hate crime. This thesis considers the question from a conceptual perspective and engages with newspaper articles published in the lead up to the EU referendum. The rhetoric of some UK political party campaigns during the EU referendum is also examined. Additionally, this study documents the concerns raised by leading academics regarding the suggested ‘hate speech’ that was articulated by the British tabloids and UK political parties in the lead up to the EU referendum vote. Official UK data on recorded hate crime is also considered, highlighting whether any specific ‘spike’ in hate crime occurred in the lead up to the EU referendum vote.
A key point of this study argues that during the EU referendum racial hatred was ‘stirred up’ through harmful political party rhetoric and the negative depiction of migrants by the British tabloids. In order to give a balanced perspective consideration was given to what the law states regarding hate speech alongside a person’s right to freedom of expression. This thesis further contributes to existing research on whether current UK legislation relating to hate speech is sufficient to limit hate action; especially as no prosecutions have been brought against any British tabloid or UK political party with regards to their questionable conduct during the EU referendum. Concluding, this study highlights that whilst current UK legislation regarding hate crime appears to be sufficient to limit incitement to violence, the interpretation of hate crime in action is currently an issue.