In today's newspaper roundup, selected articles highlight the future of Britain after Brexit, the struggle over historical memory in France, and the importance of gymnastics for maintaining health as you age.
Starting with The Guardian, and an article by writer Esther Adley in which she says that the issue of Britain’s exit from the European Union, known as (Brexit), has returned to the British political agenda, after years of many politicians avoiding delving into it, despite the divisions and unrest that followed the 2016 referendum.
The author points out that former Prime Minister David Cameron had warned the British, days before the referendum, against believing that they could change their minds after years, stressing that “this is a decision that will last a lifetime.”
However, subsequent developments reopened the debate, especially after Andy Burnham called for a review of his country’s relationship with Europe, stressing that “adhering to the status quo is not good enough for Britain,” and pointing to the possibility of re-joining the European Union.
Adley explains that behind this shift are urgent economic considerations, in light of European discussions about the possibility of Britain benefiting from protective “Made in Europe” legislation, and the implications that this may have on British industry. But she wonders whether public opinion is really ready to discuss a Brexit retreat.
In this context, the author relies on opinion polls that showed that half of Britons support a return to the European Union, compared to 28 percent who oppose it, while about 60 percent believe that the decision to exit was wrong.
A More in Common poll in June, marking a decade since the referendum, also showed that only 11 out of 632 constituencies would have voted Leave if the referendum had been repeated, and even 52 per cent of voters in the Clacton constituency, represented by Nigel Farage, supported a return.
The article quotes political science professor at the University of Manchester, Rob Ford, explaining this shift by several factors, most notably demographic change, the entry of young voters leaning toward Europe, the death of some Leave supporters, as well as the disappointment of a portion of voters who changed their positions. Ford says that these changes, although gradual, accumulated over a decade and created a noticeable transformation.
On the other hand, Adley points to fears within the Labor Party about reigniting divisions, especially in constituencies that voted to leave. The article quotes former Labor MP Karl Turner as saying that his voters expected their lives to improve, but many faced rising costs and declining opportunities, which made them more willing to consider the benefits of returning to the union.
Sarah Hobolt, a professor at the London School of Economics, also believes that re-presenting the issue may rally Labor supporters, at a time when the Conservative Party is witnessing division over it. But Luke Traill, director of More in Common, warns that support for Return in the polls does not guarantee its continuity during an actual referendum campaign, as Britons feel tired of crises and divisions.
The author concludes, based on Ford's warnings, that reopening the Brexit file may once again divert attention from other structural problems in British society, after this file dominated the political debate for years and hindered addressing broader economic and social issues.
On the pages of The Telegraph, Muriel Zaga says that France is witnessing a renewed struggle over its historical narrative, in light of the division between the progressive and conservative trends regarding how to present the French past, a struggle that takes dramatic and cultural forms, but carries within it political dimensions related to the country’s future.
The author begins her article by referring to Saint-Denis Cathedral, located in the suburbs of Paris, which contains the tombs of French kings and queens, and was the scene of one of the most shocking incidents during the reign of terror that followed the revolution of 1789. In 1793, the National Convention ordered the opening of the royal tombs and the remains to be thrown into mass graves, before covering them with quicklime.
The article quotes French historian Jules Michelet as describing this incident as “a murder of the monarchy even in the past and in its graves.”
Zaga explains that the city has returned to the forefront of historical debate after the Regional Council of Seine-Saint-Denis announced a program of performances scheduled to be organized in 2027, which includes a re-enactment of the desecration of the royal tombs in front of the cathedral. The announcement angered the French right, which considered it an inappropriate celebration of one of the darkest pages of the country's history.
The author points out that the French historian Patrick Boucheron, one of the main coordinators of the program, had previously participated in the committee that designed the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games in Paris, which included a scene of headless figures representing Marie Antoinette, which sparked criticism for what was described as a disdain for history.
On the other hand, Zaga reviews the experience of the historic “Le Puy du Fou” park in the Fondé region, which was founded by businessman and politician Philippe de Villiers in 1978, and attracts about three million visitors annually. The park presents huge displays that evoke historical figures, including King Clovis, Cardinal Richelieu, and Louis
The writer points out that critics of the park accuse de Villiers of falsifying history and presenting a narrative that glorifies France when it was a Catholic monarchy, considering that he embodies the extreme right seeking to monopolize national memory. However, Zaga acknowledges the park's entertainment appeal, noting that the quality of decorations, costumes and the magnitude of the displays attract visitors beyond political considerations.
The author believes that the Saint-Denis shows were designed to be a response to the narrative presented by the park, while the visit of Pope Leo
Zaga concludes by noting that this historical conflict coincides with social unrest in poor areas such as Saint-Denis, which witnessed student protests that began due to the lack of funding allocated to schools and universities.
With the presidential elections approaching, the author raises the question about which party will benefit politically from these unrest: the hard-left “Proud France” party, or the right-wing Marine Le Pen party that opposes it? It concludes that the accumulated historical and political divisions herald elections characterized by intense confrontation and a very exciting political scene.
The Independent newspaper article reviews the importance of gymnastics exercises as a means of building physical fitness and maintaining health as one ages, stressing that learning movement and body control is not limited to professional athletes or a specific age group, but rather can be started at any stage of life.
The article points out that the main difference between people who enjoy fitness and health, and those who seek to achieve them, lies in knowing how to exercise and take advantage of any available place or time.
Hence, gymnastics coach Barney Linsen is quoted as saying that the most important thing that can be acquired is the ability to transform the body itself into a gym, considering that learning gymnastics represents one of the best ways to achieve this.
Linsen explains that gymnastics helps develop strength, motor coordination, and physical efficiency, which enhances self-confidence and encourages regular exercise.
He also points out that working toward tangible goals, such as doing push-ups, pull-ups, and handstands, may be more motivating than focusing exclusively on reducing your waist circumference, while health, flexibility, and physical ability become additional outcomes of this training.
Speaking about the benefits of gymnastics, the article points out that people who maintain their fitness in their seventies, eighties, and nineties often share the same way of moving; They have good physical posture, a balanced gait, and strong limbs.
Linsen is quoted as saying, “The comprehensive umbrella of gymnastics is movement using body weight,” explaining that these exercises not only develop strength and range of motion, but also create neurological adaptations that help a person control his body and apply these skills in other activities.
At the conclusion of the article, Linsen stresses the need to start with the basics, such as squats and push-ups, and then gradually move to more advanced skills.
