Our Patch AUTUMN 2017
while I’m more into researching and
explaining political concepts. He has a
journalist’s ability to analyse.”
Jason is similarly complimentary of
Paul’s strengths. “I used to read Paul’s
blogs and thought he had a perspective
that no one else had; I really enjoy
debating things with him,” he said.
“We combined our expertise. I was
able to get hold of people to interview,
but he was ahead of me in the
writing process.”
Key to the recipe was editor Olivia
Beattie at publishing firm Biteback,
who not only verified every fact and
cross-checked each reference but also
seamlessly blended the 18 chapters
(nine for Paul, nine for
Jason) into a coherent
entity. No aspect of
the referendum, or of
50 years of Britain’s
at-times strained
relationship with
Europe, is off-limits
The moment Paul
in this engrossing and
Goldsmith (left)
thought-provoking
and Jason
Farrell agreed
book.
to collaborate
Its conclusion is
that a combination
of historical events, Britain’s island
mentality, forceful personalities such
as Nigel Farage, a feeling of alienation
among sections of the population, a
high turnout… and scores of other
small but significant factors conspired
to produce a result that left the opinion
pollsters with egg on their face, and the
UK without a prime minister.
The result is an even-handed,
balanced book which
manages to convey the
tension of the vote without
the hysteria
Other books have focused on the
referendum campaign itself, but How To
Lose A Referendum takes the reader on a
journey through time from the Second
World War to demonstrate where the
Leave lobby’s seeds of doubt were sown
two generations ago. Neither Pa ul nor
Jason makes any public declaration
of how either voted individually
(Jason because he needs to maintain a
journalistic neutrality), but the result is
an even-handed, balanced book which
manages to convey the tension of the
vote without the hysteria.
The pair worked to a February
28 deadline, and delivered on time,
after regularly swapping half-written
passages to be ‘red-and-greened’ by the
other. “Red meant delete, green meant
something needed adding,” said Paul.
Latymer Upper School head David
Goodhew was supportive of his politics
teacher’s project, which has also meant
the Hammersmith school’s students
are among the best-informed in the
land about the background to Britain’s
relationship with continental Europe.
Central figures in the referendum
debate such as Jacob Rees-Mogg and
Daniel Hannan have visited the school
to talk to students, while the youngsters
also staged their own mock referendum
to actively discuss the issues.
“I don’t think
I realised what an
achievement this
book was until people
started telling us after
it was published,” Paul
admitted. “What was
really special for me
was being able to do it
with someone else. I
have to admit I shed a
tear when I got the first
copy through.”
Paul is conscious – and concerned
– about the effect the referendum has
had on the country. “I've found that
the effect on families has been really
horrible; parents not talking to their
children and so on,” he said. “People
have been ostracised from friendship
groups, and some people will no longer
admit how they voted; it’s very sad.”
One of his hopes is that the book will
contribute to a greater understanding
of, and sympathy for, opposing
standpoints.
For Jason, who lives at the
Gunnersbury end of Chiswick, the
conduct of the referendum campaign
still holds the key to the outcome.
“The Remain camp placed too
much faith in ‘project fear’, while
not doing enough to sell the benefits
of EU membership,” he said, adding
that Barack Obama’s comments
about Britain ending up at the back
of the queue if it opted for Leave had
squandered a potentially
valuable asset for the
Remain cause.
How To Lose
A Referendum,
by Jason Farrell and
Paul Goldsmith, is
published by Biteback
at £20
Clare Balding
Chiswick Book Festival
W
riter and broadcaster Clare
Balding has been unveiled
as one of the headline
speakers at the Chiswick
Book Festival. Clare, who lives in
Chiswick with her broadcaster spouse
Alice Arnold, will take to the podium
at St Michael & All Angels on Friday 15
September, to talk about her horse-
themed children’s books.
Her latest volume, The Racehorse
Who Disappeared, is to be published
by Puffin Books in October – a follow-
up to her bestselling debut novel,
The Racehorse Who Wouldn’t Gallop.
I have been so surprised and
touched by the response
Inspired by the true story of the kidnap
and disappearance of Derby-winning
horse Shergar, the new book continues
the equine adventures of Charlie Bass.
“I have been so surprised and
touched by the response of those who
have read The Racehorse Who Wouldn’t
Gallop,” admitted Clare, 46. “Having
met thousands of them in schools
and literary festivals, I can now fully
appreciate that young readers engage
thoroughly and passionately with the
books they read.
“They suggest plot lines, recount
their favourite bits, feel really attached
to the characters and, I hope, feel
inspired to write their own stories.”
She will have a chance to meet and
chat to more fans at the book festival,
which runs from 14-18 September, and
is the ninth in the popular book festival
series in Chiswick.
Clare, a sports broadcaster of the
year, was recently revealed to be a
relatively underpaid BBC talent, despite
being one of the hardest-working stars,
presenting horse racing, the Olympics,
Wimbledon, Sport Relief, the Boat
Race and a shoal of other programmes
including her own chat show.