Margaret Atwood – the author of feminist novel The Handmaid’s Tale – has delivered a stark warning to Britain amid the political turmoil of Brexit.
Atwood was being interviewed by the BBC to promote her new book The Testaments.
The sequel to the Handmaid’s Tale is released this week. In the original book, released twelve years ago contains a powerful quote about the temporary suspension of the constitution.
Author Damian Barr recently went viral after tweeting the quote, inferring a connection with the news that prime minister Boris Johnson was to suspend parliament.
Leaving this here. #handmaidstale https://t.co/ECD2bOWALT— Damian Barr (@Damian Barr) 1567017345
Given the accusations that Johnson is acting like a dictator by shutting down parliament to avoid scrutiny, Atwood was asked her thoughts on the situation. She said:
Are we back at the time of Charles the 1st vs parliament? Are we back at the time when a King was claiming absolute divine authority and sidelining anybody elected by people?
Is it going to be King Boris the 1st against parliamentarians? Are they going to start meeting in fields?
When asked what she’d say to British people who’ve turned against parliament because of the Brexit delays, she responded:
If you don’t need parliament, you’re cooked. Because you’ll have a dictatorship… If that’s what you want – go ahead. You won’t like it.
'Is it going to be King Boris the First versus the Parliamentarians?' Author of The Handmaid's Tale… https://t.co/2xKh488ZGG— BBC Radio 5 Live (@BBC Radio 5 Live) 1568196456
On Twitter people reacted strongly to Atwood’s words.
@bbc5live @ferrifrump @MargaretAtwood @Emmabarnett @BBCSounds Well said Margaret.— Sue Meyers (@Sue Meyers) 1568202836
@bbc5live @ferrifrump @MargaretAtwood @Emmabarnett @BBCSounds Brexit has become a cult ideology and no logical argument is allowed.— Paul Bradley 🔶 🇮🇪🇧🇪🇪🇺#FBPE (@Paul Bradley 🔶 🇮🇪🇧🇪🇪🇺#FBPE) 1568202140
@bbc5live @BBCPolitics @MargaretAtwood @Emmabarnett @BBCSounds That told em— Basic Element (@Basic Element) 1568198680