In a rare moment of unity, the British deputies have voted, Tuesday, October 29, the holding of early elections on December 12, in order to break the deadlock of Brexit, which has paralyzed the United Kingdom for more than three years. That day, the House of Commons experienced another moment of unity, a little more confidential: more than 70 women, elected from all sides, co-signed an open letter condemning the media attacks against Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex .
The letter on House of Commons letterhead was published on Holly Lynch's Twitter accountLabor MP for Halifax and addressed to the Duchess of Sussex. Among the signatories of this letter are Jess Phillips, Yvette Cooper, Diane Abbott and Tulip Siddiq of the Labor Party; Tracey Crouch, Gillian Keegan and ex-tory Antoinette Sandbach, Conservative MPs; Wera Hobhouse, Angela Smith and Layla Moran, Liberal Democrats.
Women MPs from Duffiness of Sussia, Duffiness of S … https://t.co/5iuGt9pKKC
Unanimous, they mainly criticize the reports published in the tabloids: "As women parliamentarians (…), we wanted to express our solidarity (…) taking a stand against the often unpleasant and misleading nature of published articles. (…) Some articles and headlines have violated your privacy and have sought to denigrate you for no good reason. (…) What is even more disturbing is that some of these articles contain innuendos with colonialist and outdated overtones. "
A couple exposing their flaws
In recent years, critics of Meghan, described as "Spendthrift" or "Capricious", have multiplied, as have comments of a racist nature. In November 2016, for example, Rachel Johnson, the sister of current Prime Minister Boris Johnson, wrote in Mail on Sunday than "Meghan would bring a rich and exotic DNA" to the royal family. In May, Danny Baker, a BBC radio presenter, was fired after a tweet about the birth of the royal couple's son with a black-and-white photograph of an elegantly dressed couple, the woman holding in her hand a chimpanzee in suit and hat. Accused of racism, he then cleared the message and apologized.
"Although we participate in public life in a very different way than you do, we understand the abuse and intimidation that you are experiencing, which is now commonly used as a means to denigrate women in public office, to to prevent them from devoting themselves to their work "add the deputies in their letter.
The publication of this letter follows the broadcast, on October 20, of a documentary from the ITV channel in which Meghan recognizes that the past year has been " difficult " because of the pressure of the media. The image she gives is far from the radiant image of her marriage to Prince Harry in St. George's Chapel at Windsor Castle on May 19, 2018.
"I'm okay … I'm okay … it's a very real thing to be going through behind the scenes." Meghan re … https://t.co/0xc1WLUIoV
"When I met the man who was going to be my husband, my friends were really happy because I was happy, but my British friends said," I'm sure he's great, but you should not be make (Marry) because the British tabloids will destroy your life "», she also told ITV.
Prince Harry, he says in this documentary that he will not let himself "Intimidate by the media to play a game that killed his mother" and that he intends to protect his wife and their son, Archie. In early October, he launched a major legal offensive against the British tabloids for alleged hackers. Meghan has also lodged a complaint against Mail on Sunday, accused of having published in February one of his letters to his father, Thomas Markle, to whom she has distanced herself and who does not miss an opportunity to pour out in the media.
New sharp criticisms
In the statement accompanying Meghan's complaint, Harry denounced the press campaign "Ruthless" his wife, accusing the newspapers of " bullying ". In November 2016, from the beginning of his relationship with the African-American actress, he had already stepped up to the plate by way of an unusual tone, denouncing "Denigration in" one "of a national newspaper", as well as "The sexism and racism of social networks".
After the ITV documentary broadcast, tens of thousands of tweets were posted with the keyword #WeLoveYouMeghan (#MeghanOnTaime). But by relying on the difficulties of public life while traveling in Africa, where living conditions can be particularly complicated, and while the UK is torn on the Brexit, the royal couple is attracted by new sharp reviews of the tabloids. "If the royal life is so unbearable and intolerable, maybe (the prince) should give up his duties, commented Jan Moir in the Daily Mail. They must learn that respect is deserved and not required. Such documentaries worsen more than they serve their cause. "
The women who support the Duchess of Sussex call on journalists: "We expect national media to have the integrity to know when the publication of an article is in the national interest and when it seeks to demolish a woman for no apparent reason. " And they remind you that they will use "The means to (their) disposition " to make sure that the press accepts the "Right to privacy" from Meghan and "Show respect".
In 2011, the tabloid News of the World the key was under the door, carried away by a scandal of illegal eavesdropping and Murdoch father and son, owners of the title, were heard by a parliamentary commission.
