Former Liverpool and England defender Jamie Carragher has made a rare political intervention, delivering a stark assessment of the UK's political climate and pinpointing Brexit as a major source of national division.
From Punditry to Politics
The 47-year-old football pundit, who retired in 2013, is a familiar voice on English and European football. However, during an appearance on LBC radio, he shifted focus to the country's political situation, following in the footsteps of his colleague Gary Neville, who recently sparked controversy with his own political commentary.
Carragher was responding to a significant study which found that eight in ten Britons believe the nation is divided. He expressed his agreement with this sentiment, stating, "I don't think there's any doubt that it does feel (divided), and I don't know if it goes back to Brexit."
Brexit: A 'Big Mistake' for Britain
When questioned about the roots of this division and public anger, Carragher repeatedly reflected on the 2016 referendum. He acknowledged that while his Sky Sports colleague Gary Neville is "more politically activated," he felt compelled to get involved during the Brexit debate.
"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," Carragher stated unequivocally.
He described the current national mood as one filled with "a lot of anger" and a sense of being "divisive," adding, "I don't remember it ever being like this."
Backing Labour and Closer EU Ties
Carragher also used the platform to defend the much-criticised Labour government and voice his support for their efforts to rebuild relations with Europe. He confirmed his longstanding party allegiance, saying, "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."
He specifically praised the government's approach to Europe, stating, "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."
His comments come just weeks after Gary Neville faced significant backlash for a social media video in which he criticised "angry, middle-aged white men" for creating division, specifically mentioning the display of Union Jack and St George's cross flags. The fallout for Neville was severe, including:
- Being dubbed a "traitor" by critics.
- X-rated chants from England fans during a match.
- A pitch invasion protest at a Salford City match, where individuals wearing 'Gary Neville is a traitor' hoodies planted a flag.
- The far-right group Britain First claiming responsibility for the stunt.
- Three men were later arrested in connection with the pitch invasion.
The political forays of these high-profile football figures highlight the increasingly blurred lines between sport and politics in modern Britain, reflecting the deep-seated divisions they have both now publicly condemned.
