This cartoon by Peter Brookes from The Times relates to UK Prime Minister David Cameron's long-awaited speech on "the future of the EU and the UK's relationship with it", which is now set to take place on Friday.
The cartoon shows a selection of great political leaders, each quoting from famous speeches they are associated with (see below for details). Finally, we have David Cameron, surrounded by the stars from the EU flag, saying 'Er ...'.
EXPLANATION
The cartoonist is reflecting the view that Cameron's "big speech" is bound to be a letdown, since he has now raised expectations so high that he will struggle to meet them. According to Hopi Sen, writing in The Guardian, "We already know everything about Cameron's views on Europe. His speech will just buy him time with the Eurosceptics".
THE GREAT POLITICAL SPEECHES
• Abraham Lincoln — "All men are created equal ..." (from the Gettysburg Address).
• Sir Winston Churchill — "We shall fight them on the beaches ..." (from a speech given to the House of Commons on 4 June 1940).
• President John F. Kennedy — "Ask not what your country can do for you ..." (from his inaugural address on 20 January, 1961).
• Martin Luther King — "I have a dream ..." (from a public speech delivered in Washington on August 28, 1963).
• Ronald Reagan — "Mr Gorbachev, tear down this wall!" (from a speech at the Brandenburg Gate near the Berlin Wall on June 12, 1987).
ALSO SEE
• Clegg warns Cameron on Europe speech (Financial Times)
• David Cameron's Europe speech brought forward (The Telegraph)
