European Institute hosts Annette Dittert for 2024 Sir Julian Priestley Memorial Lecture

On Tuesday 7^th May, the UCL European Institute had the pleasure of hosting European Movement UK’s annual Sir Julian Priestley Memorial Lecture. This year the Lecture was delivered by Annette Dittert, London bureau chief and senior correspondent of the German public broadcaster ARD, on the topic ‘Britain’s Future Relationship with the EU: A German Perspective’. It was the first time the Lecture was hosted at UCL, and we were delighted to welcome guests from across the university, European Movement UK, and beyond.

Following an introduction from the Chair of the European Movement UK, Mike Galsworthy, Ms Dittert excised on the novelties of British politics which have led the country to its current relationship with the European Union. Ms Dittert firstly emphasised the unique win-or-lose mentality that pervades British politics and hinders co-operation, due to its perception as something that only the ‘losing side’ do. The British establishments’ response to Brexit has been a case-in-point, Ms Dittert argued, as Brexiteers were deemed to have won despite a 52%-48% vote split - so much so that any serious opposition or compromise with pro-EU viewpoints was generally dismissed.

Part of what fuels such lack of co-operation is the hierarchical structure of British politics, deriving from the deeply entrenched class system. Ms Dittert selected the current nature of the House of Lords, with its peers including some hereditary and some selected by ruling governments, as but one of many examples of a class-based political system that does not accurately represent the will of the people.

Despite Britain’s relationship with the EU being so uniquely shaped by its engrained class and cultural nuances, Ms Dittert nevertheless concluded with optimism that the current geopolitical situation lends itself to a closer EU-UK relationship. With a centre-left Labour government on the horizon in the UK alongside a growing right-wing populist threat in Europe and the prospect of second Trump presidency in the US, it would ultimately benefit the current EU administration to strengthen its ties with the UK.

Following the Lecture, UCL student and Chairwoman of the EISPS Society Ioana Turcan gave an insightful first response, proceeded by a lively audience Q&A that continued during a drinks reception in the Japanese Garden.