Former Liverpool defender and prominent football pundit Jamie Carragher has made a rare political intervention, expressing deep concern about the United Kingdom's divided state and singling out Brexit as a significant error.
Carragher's Political Analysis on LBC
The 47-year-old Sky Sports analyst appeared on LBC radio on Friday, where he was questioned about a major study revealing that eight in ten Britons believe the nation feels divided. Carragher acknowledged the palpable sense of anger and division, suggesting its origins might trace back to the 2016 EU referendum.
'Gary is more politically activated than probably I am,' Carragher said, referencing his colleague Gary Neville's recent controversial comments. 'But I don't think there's any doubt that it does feel (divided), and I don't know if it goes back to Brexit.'
He elaborated that the issue isn't confined to the current Labour government but has been brewing for years, citing the previous Conservative government's handling of issues like small boat crossings. 'It just feels like there is a lot of anger in the country and it does feel divisive. I don't remember it ever being like this,' he stated.
Brexit Labelled a 'Big Mistake'
When host Tom Swarbrick suggested the division stemmed from public anger, Carragher again pointed to the Brexit vote as a pivotal moment for the national mood.
'Yeah and that's (the anger) understandable but I don't think that's to do with whether it is Labour or Conservative,' he explained. 'That was the one time when I did probably get fully involved in politics and, yeah, I thought that was a big mistake, Brexit, and that viewpoint has probably been proven correct.'
The exchange concluded with Swarbrick quipping that between Neville handling the small boats issue and Carragher dealing with Brexit, 'we might be onto something,' to which Carragher smiled and replied, 'Then we'll be alright.'
Backing Labour and Closer EU Ties
Carragher also used the platform to defend the embattled Labour government and express his support for their efforts to rebuild relations with Europe. He confirmed his longstanding allegiance to the party, stating he will always vote Labour.
'I will be supportive of anybody who leads the Labour Party because where I come from we vote Labour and that will always be the case,' the former defender said. 'I do like the fact that the Labour government are trying to... push us closer to the EU and have ties with the EU, whether for employment and young people going abroad to work and vice versa. I do think that is a better version of that.'
The Context of Gary Neville's Controversy
Carragher's political commentary comes just weeks after his fellow pundit Gary Neville faced significant backlash for his own remarks. Neville had posted a video criticising what he described as 'disgusting' division, which he claimed was 'mainly created by angry, middle-aged white men'.
The fallout was severe. Neville was dubbed a 'traitor' by some, targeted with x-rated chants by England fans, and became the focus of a far-right protest at a Salford City match, a club he co-owns.
During the game against Oldham, three pitch invaders wearing 'Gary Neville is a traitor' hoodies were apprehended by stewards. The far-right group Britain First later claimed responsibility for the stunt, saying they had 'teamed up with local Salford patriots'. All three men were subsequently arrested.
This incident underscores the intensely charged political atmosphere that public figures like Carragher and Neville are now navigating, moving from sports analysis into the fraught arena of national debate.
