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I have been to two lectures by David Starkey in the past 10 years. He has been the patron of the Friends Of Sheffield Manor Lodge - the local history group that looks after the semi-ruined Manor Castle & Lodge north of Sheffield centre (where Mary Queen Of Scots was held for years) on the edge of the Manor council estate. He does an annual free lecture that is a fundraiser for the group.
Both times he has been entertaining, provocative, pompous and very pleased with himself - but always aware of his audience too, and careful not to really antagonise. He did revel in his identity - camp, monarchist, Tory, intellectual and public figure - the opposite of most of the audience, refusing to conform to what he (falsely) presented as a monolithic liberal culture amongst his fellow historians. He was also anti-Brexit and described Henry 8th as the first Brexiteer for his break with Rome. A pantomime villain most of the time.
This time he has forgotten to put on the act, and let his real views come through unedited. Ironic that he speared himself on a right wing Brexit site. He was dumped as patron of the Friends of Manor Lodge early this afternoon.