ABSTRACT
This chapter examines populist conspiracy rhetoric and arguments in three pro-Brexit, Eurosceptic newspapers (the Daily Mail, the Express and the Sun), during the EU referendum debate in 2016. It argues that there were occasions when the Leave argument(s) on EU immigration drew upon populist conspiracy theory in order to make certain premises selectively salient and thus orient audiences towards the conclusion that Britain should exit the EU (a process understood here as ‘framing’). The findings reveal several framing strategies: representing the problems caused by EU immigration in Britain as a crisis of apocalyptic dimensions; laying blame for the crisis on EU and the pro-EU British ‘elites’ to the point of scapegoating them; classifying the pro-EU politicians as ‘liars’ or ‘traitors’ and categorising their actions as schemes to deceive British citizens; casting the EU together with the pro-EU British ‘elites’ in the role of ‘villains’ and perpetrators in stark opposition to ordinary British citizens, portrayed as victims. The presentation of the circumstances of action in this manner was linked to the unacceptable consequences of allowing the situation to continue by remaining in the EU, which permitted the British mid-markets and tabloids to formulate a strong call for Brexit.
