AN award-winning British journalist, writer and broadcaster discussed European affairs with Liverpool Hope University students during a special webinar this week.
Jon Henley is a Paris-based senior feature writer with The Guardian newspaper and an acclaimed Europe correspondent.
During an enlightening webinar he discussed the UK’s complex relationship with the EU - and lifted the lid on what Europe really makes of the British government.
Henley was speaking with students on Hope’s new Master’s in Contemporary European Affairs - a first-of-its kind offering that takes a forensic look at all the ramifications of Britain’s departure from the European Union, and what this means for the future.
The webinar was organised by Bryce Evans, Professor of Modern World History at Hope.
Professor Evans explained: “In a week in which Brexit and the Northern Ireland Protocol dominated headlines, students studying for the new Masters in Contemporary European Affairs got the chance to discuss the very latest developments with Jon Henley.
“Henley told students that while responses to Brexit varied across EU nation states, the recent revelations about British willingness to break the Northern Ireland Protocol had reinforced a common European opinion that Brexit was an ‘ideological adventure’.
“Although clashes with the EU brought Prime Minister Boris Johnson some domestic political dividends, Henley said, the view from Europe was that these were outweighed by the negative economic consequences of Brexit.
“Students also quizzed the senior journalist on British-French relations and learned that British-French clashes were politically useful for both French President Emmanuel Macron and PM Boris Johnson, with each leader able to use the fact that the other’s political personality embodied, in their respective eyes, the worst of British/French national stereotypes.
“Hopefully the webinar provided some fascinating insight into European affairs and I’m delighted Jon was able to join us for the session.”
Henley also presented the well-received Channel 4 documentary series The Price of Property, which investigated the rising cost of UK property and the future of the property market.
Meanwhile Hope’s Masters degree in Contemporary European Affairs is being run in conjunction with Lille Catholic University, aka ‘La Catho’, in France, in a bid to cement relations between the UK and its continental partners.
Read more about the Masters degree in Contemporary European Affairs here: https://www.hope.ac.uk/postgraduate/postgraduatecourses/contemporaryeuropeanaffairsma/