Confused at Manchester

I thought the intro to Brown's speech - using a soundtrack of Higher and Higher - was bizarre. It reminded me of two things: a Darts match entrance and Jocky Wilson, the Scots player immortalised by Dexys as background to their TV performance of Jackie Wilson Said.

Gordon the Spider

I was accompanied to Liverpool City Centre to see the attempts by French scientists to take the spider that invaded us in our year of culture, by the senior member of Mother and Child Quiz Team (3 weeks without a win) and what should happen? Gordon ' I support another Rovers' Brown should turn up. Your intrepid photographer was totally taken in by the serious-looking people outside St George's Hall with wires extending outside their ears. I thought they were either looking for a dodgy guy on a grassy knoll, or being told the answers in countdown.

I noticed a few people with elongated lenses but I just thought they were pleased to see me. I went on a 10 minute sojourn to glimpse the spider being put on a truck. Upon my return I realised the real reason for this multi-million pound extravaganza: get Eric The Fish away from the P.M.

I came back, only to be informed by the leader of the once-unbeatable Mother and Child Quiz Team that Gordon had been and gone. 'Did you say anything to him?', I ventured.
'I asked him what he was going to do about the arachnid problem', she may have replied.

Anyway, I hope to put some photos up on here and Flickr as the story unfolds.

FLICKR FOTOS HERE

Of course, there are moaners on parade too. Step forward the self-appointed party poopers of the Taxpayers' Alliance, who seem to get quoted in newspapers more often these days. In the Mail article referred to in the previous post, they end the story with this piece of gloom,

• The TaxPayers' Alliance has called the artwork an 'outrageous waste of taxpayers' money'.
  

  Spokesman Matthew Sinclair said: 'Who on Earth would want their hard-earned cash spent on a mechanical spider? It's bonkers.'

Not as bonkers as you lot, mate. It may be a load of hydraulics but the T.A. are a load of bollocks.
This is the same group (about 3 of them) that says of a proposed windfall tax on the profits of the energy companies:

• A windfall tax is the last thing Britain needs during these tough economic times.

• A windfall tax would also be a huge risk to families struggling under the credit crunch because utility companies would be under a lot of pressure to pass the cost of the tax straight on to consumers.

Great logic! Don't prod the spider or it may bite you; if it does it's your own fault.

The Taxpayers' Alliance, like Migrationwatch is becoming the source of rentaquotes in the right-wing press, but more disconcertingly, in other papers too. The idea is simple: nobody likes paying tax and these experts hope to tap into concerns about central and local Government waste. So who are these self-appointed experts?

• Andrew Allum, Founding Chair
  
  From 1998 to 2002 Andrew served as a Conservative member of Westminster City Council. He left the party in 2003, having lost faith that it represented his brand of free market, individualist and compassionate politics.
  
  Matthew Elliot, Chief Executive
  In November 2007, Matthew was presented with the Conservative Way Forward ‘One of Us’ award by William Hague
  
  Florence Heath
  Florence led the student Conservative association at Imperial College for two years as well as the Europe-wide European Young Conservatives, and served on the committees of the local Conservative associations, Conservative Friends of Gibraltar and the cross-party Youth for a Free Europe.
  
  Matthew Sinclair (quoted on the Spider story)
  He has been actively involved in politics since joining the LSE Conservative Association in his first year at university. This has included fighting the anti-capitalist movement in the Student’s Union and helping out in the election campaign of the Letchworth Conservatives in 2007.
  
  Mark Wallace
  
  Before joining the TaxPayers’ Alliance, Mark was the Campaign Manager of The Freedom Association (a union-bashing organisation favoured by Thatcher). Mark has written for a variety of publications, including Freedom Today magazine, ConservativeHome.com,
  

• The Freedom Association was founded by Guinness Book of Records compiler, Norris McWhirter, whose campaigns for freedom gave medals to athletes who boycotted the 1980 Moscow Olympics, and defended sportsmen who went to South Africa during apartheid. So no bias towards the right there!

Will newspaper editors please insert a caveat when including the views of think-tanks and pressure groups. As Milton Friedman, Thatcher's hero (almost) said, 'There's no such thing as a free fill-up.'

Fiona Phillips: Words of Wisdom Volume 28

Fiona shows why she didn't take the job with Gordon

I knew things were not going to turn out so well for Gordon Brown when it was announced/leaked in November of last year that on top of adding such lifelong staunch socialists as Digby Jones to his dog's dinner of a kitchen cabinet, he head-hunted the gushing name-dropper of the GMTV sofa, Fiona 'previously expressed an interest in politics' Phillips.

Ms. P has a weekly column in The Daily Mirror where she tells us -in addition to her hilarious children anecdotes - how wonderful every guest she has had on her show is 'in real life' particularly as she wants them back again to flog their latest record/'auto'biography/diet video/Quantum Physics discovery.

To make matters worse, Gordon was spurned like a Coronation Street bride, as FP felt her talents remained in the journalistic sphere.

Reminding us of this yesterday, she informed us:

• Privileged. That's what I am. Or at least I was on Tuesday when I was among an audience fortunate enough to watch James Morrison perform his new single (I was so mesmerised I can't remember what it was called).

It's a pretty poor day when a journo can't be arsed to do any research and find out the name of the song. or ask her mate James or the office cat at the Mirror. But no, that would spoil the sentence, rather.

There's still hope, of course, Fiona: former GMTV settee-sitter, Esther McVey is likely to be the next Tory MP for Wirral West.

My, my, my Britannia: The Value of Nothing

I did not want to post this today because I felt it inappropriate to give publicity to the barking mad patriots on Holocaust Memorial Day; a time when intolerance is one of the matters to be remembered.


The Daily Mail (in its online version at least) gave little or no mention to this commemoration. Perhaps the fact that the Muslim Association of Britain had reversed its boycott this year, there was no mileage in the story. Such an omission merely gives strength to the argument that the Mail continues to march along an anti-semitic, anti-immigrant, anti-gypsy and anti-liberal track.
In my main post, I have inserted a Youtube performance of Christy Moore singing Yellow Triangle based on the poem by Martin Niemoller. The words seem apposite given the Mail's slant on life. I looked out for mention of Holocaust Memorial Day in the Mail but came there none. Then I looked for comments to warm the soul, but again, came there none.

One of the interesting aspects of subjecting oneself to daily perusal of ill-informed comments on the DM site, is that whilst there are people with too much time on their hands (pots, kettles I know) who regularly post the same old garbage (step forward John, Tendring; Jacqui Weems, Olderbird, Karen ex-pat, USA) some stories attract larger amounts of comments. Sometimes, it is not what is commented on, but what isn't commented on. For instance, if an immigrant is assaulted (and unusually it makes the paper) there is likely to be no comments.

Yet, on HMD, the Mail is leading a campaign to fight the fascism of............changing the 50p design! How many people could possibly be interested in this? Five, Seven, the inhabitants of Barking? At this time there are 342 comments. So what's this Brown chappie up to now to cause so much distress to the intellectual readers? Still have the will to live? Then, read on....

Brown banishes 300-year-old tradition by removing Britannia from our 50p coin

By Jove, as Ken Dodd would say, he's really gone and done it now! Let's explore more.

(Whilst researching this I noticed that the article had also been pasted onto Stormfront's site (I won't link to the neanderthals of white supremacy but to give a flavour - one Mensa member said, "Just had a bet with my missus that we,ll have a black streak in the union flag within five years if Labour stay in . Any takers ?"
Nice. Cannot even find the apostrophe key on his keyboard!
The title is based on the fact that Stoke City sing Delilah by Tom Jones! and play at the Britannia Stadium. I envisage site hits from BNP and Stoke City supporters)

• The move is a personal embarrassment to Mr Brown, because at the time he made the decision, he was emphasising his sense of "Britishness" as part of efforts to appear a fitting occupant of Downing Street.

Notice that 'Britishness' means (to a Mail reader) anything non-foreign, yet here they are rallying to the cause of a Roman symbol from 2000 years ago which took about 1700 years to appear on coins. This is the standard hypocrisy of Mail Land residents: despise everything foreign yet holiday, reside, buy goods from abroad.

A Treasury spokesman said: "As people will see when the new Mint run is issued, the chosen designs represent the best traditions of British coinage and are totally in line with the Government's desire to celebrate our British heritage, including our historic national and heraldic emblems.

"The traditional Britannia design and other traditional designs will return in future mint runs.

So there we have the usual spolier to the headline; not that our usual suspects read more than the headline. Witness the amount of comments about the Queen not being informed. Not to mention the barmy logic of criticising Brown for being unelected whilst worshiping a hereditary head of state and talking of democracy without the slightest understanding of the British Constitution. Ho hum.

Also, by stating that the design will return, this seems to call into question the suitability of the use of the word banish unless it is meant in the Napoleonic sense. Further on the story uses the phrase, abolition of Britannia. Can't have it both ways. Pastor Niemoller's words are ingrained on me; perhaps they may (with a little re-working) help us here.

First they came for the ex-pats:

Refuse to accept the 'revised' (devalued) 50p coin in your change...insist on using only the 50p with Britannia.

Is there nothing this government won't destroy.

Is there no way of protesting about this - or is it a case of 'we know what's best'....Pity they didn't lose the discs containing this 'improved' design.

- Anne Smith, Lot-et-Garonne, France

Then they came for the racists:

The Nu Labor Socialist Dictatorship has nearly destroyed this country completely, so I guess they might as well take all traces of Britishness out of our coins too! Soon the indigenous white people will be put in concentration camps so our homes can be vacated for the immigrants!

- David Browning, Bolton, Lancashire, England

How deranged and twisted do you have to be to equate a non-permanent change of design on a low denomination coin to a Socialist dictatorship and Nazism. Given the day on which this was posted, this makes the comment even more emetic. What's the betting our Notlob friend is a BNP knuckle-scraper?

Why am I not surprised? What will they replace it with, A Gypsy Caravan?

- Ian, Whitby, England

Then they came for the stupid:

Get rid of Brown now. What right does a Scot or any one person have to alter our English currency?

- B.C., Steyning, West Sussex

So the 50p is not legal tender in Scotland then? B.C. perhaps indicative of the last time this person had a rational thought worth sharing with someone other than their budgie.

I have sat here 10 minutes but still cannot find the words that describe (or you could print) what I think of this unelected idiot of a PM he makes me feel ashamed that I have Scottish ancestors in fact for the first time in my life (67years) I feel ashamed to be English when abroad.

- David., Rushden. U.K.

The Nu-Lab communists destroyed our culture, and replaced it with a multicultural nightmare, where half the people don't even speak English! So I guess they might as well destroy our coins also!

- Ingrid Ribe, Essex, England

Then they came for the downright irritating, usual suspects:

Brown is an unelected PM and therefore anything he approves HAS TO BE illegal. Get rid of the man Britain, please get rid of him - he and his fools are destroying my once Great Country.

- Karen, ex pat USA

McBean-The-Unelected's project to destroy this country will be complete when President Bliar's face replaces our Monarch's on coins and paper money.

- Lickyalips, Richmond, Surrey

"People fight for symbols, for flags, because they represent in a small way the big things that matter to us".

But not Gordon Mc Bean apparently. Each action and decision he takes confirms that he is a traitor. Get him out.

- Peter Pan, Great Britain


As we can see the most important matter on this significant day is a trivial non-story cloaked in the usual Mail smoke-and-mirrors quotes. I'd like to be in the queue when the idiot from France tries to demand a real 50p coin in change. Of course, as we all know, the 50p is regularly altered and Britannia is replaced by a commemorative feature (see here)

I noticed that a giant of the academic world on the racist Stormfront site found it funny that his friend asked for a replacement for the £2 coin commemorating the abolition of slavery. Kinda gives a true sense of where the DM's heart lies. Cunningly, it allows its members to fire the bullets, but it supplies the arms. Not all Mail readers are extreme; some just buy it for the TV and crossword.

However, in closing for the prosecution, I submit that the Mail allows its commenters to provide the finishing touches to the make-up of its public face. As we know that they filter comments made to suit their agenda, they have to take full responsibility for the general views seen on Planet Mail.

The Real Vote Volume 2

Well, at least Dave Cameron will keep his job for another couple of years. He should be raising a glass or two to Gordon. Press speculation has been the prime mover of this story for weeks, but Gordon and team are guilty of errors too. I always thought it was an outside chance that there would be an election called; even Littlejohn predicted that he wouldn't take the risk. There were arguments to be had for going early but they were outweighed by the following:

1. The cautious Brown has waited 10 years for his destiny. Why jeopardise this by seeking an early mandate?


2. The constant calls for an election by opponents on the basis of his unopposed accession and coronation were historically dishonest. Major did not go to the nation after Thatcher was unceremoniously stabbed in the back; Callaghan clung on from 1976 until his Commons majority vanished.


3. Furthermore, our system (rightly or wrongly) is not a Presidential one. We elect individual MPs from parties that in turn select a leader. Subject to the Queen's (largely formal) prerogative, the leader of the party with the greatest number of seats is (usually) asked to form a Government.


4. Although nobody knows what is round the country (some economic problems seem likely) an extension gives GB the chance to show his political acumen in running the country, in the same way as he was instrumental in running the economy during the Blair tenure. Cameron looks weak here. His lack of experience (he doesn't show sign of ever having shaved!) should count against him.


5. It may be apocryphal but Labour does not like to fight winter elections. It was always felt that the core vote would not get out. Now that party allegiances have broken down somewhat this may be less of a problem. However, perception is important. Party activists do not like to canvass on dark nights as fewer people answer the door. in our hi-tec world, tub thumping and door stepping may be less crucial, but perception is again the key here.


6. After the Brown Bounce we had the baffling Cameron Comeback in the polls. This will not last. Brown is an experienced campaigner. He may lack the pulpit prose of his predecessor but he outdoes DC in terms of conviction. Just what does DC stand for? It changes with the wind. Quite how the Inheritance Tax issue has become important is a mystery. Johann Hari quite rightly pointed out on BBC News 24 today that it affects only 6% of the population. How has the other 94% suddenly become the great dispossessed. Labour's failure here has been to go onto the back foot instead of turning the argument on its head.

Indeed, prospective Tory candidate Debi Jones (ex-shrill shouty person from Radio Merseyside) said it was the biggest issue for people she spoke to! I intend to cover the Inheritance tax non-issue later. The thought of her and her mate Esther McVey being MPs in this area is enough to make me pack my bags (and take a holiday!). McVey, one of the trustees of the Fund Kate.... I mean Find Madeleine McCann appeal, is candidate in Wirral West and would be certain to win if an election were called now.

Anyway, as poor Mail readers have been prevented from having a chance to cast their votes, the paper allows them to do it online.

Lazy Littlejohn

The latest Littlejohn column is lazy even by his standards. Throughout the 1980s there were various rentaquote figures wheeled out to wade into the latest outrageous film/book/beat combo. Most of these self-appointed guardians of the public decency had never even seen or heard the offending item. At least mad old Mary Whitehouse sat through countless hours of filth so that we wouldn't need to/be allowed to. It all reminds me of the Father Ted episode where the hapless heroes of the cloth campaign about a film on the island and increase attendance tenfold. Life of Brian? Relax and Mike 'Feasible' Read?

Anyway, Littlejohn joins that motley crew by talking about Gordon Brown whilst admitting,

• I decided not to bother watching New Gordon's first speech to the Labour Conference as Prime Minister.
  Life's too short. Besides, I have to be awake to write this column. If I had to sit through 60 minutes of Gordon's patronising, disingenuous, self-aggrandising garbage, I'm afraid I might lose the will to live.

This is exactly how I feel when reading his wit and wisdom. I am not, though, always awake after reading it.

• For better or worse, most people seem to have accepted the coup which brought Brown to power and are happy to let him play with his new train set for the time being.

Littlejohn knows quite well that it wasn't a coup. Moreover, why didn't he call for Major or Callaghan to call a snap election?

• The only punters who want an election are Labour politicians and political reporters, because it brings a bit of excitement into their otherwise dull lives.

This would be the same RLJ who said on 3rd May 2007 (covered in my post of 19th September)in his internet chat,

• Pieter: And should we be allowed by right to have an election when Gordon Brown takes over? In other words he should be forced by law to hold an election.


• Richard_Littlejohn Within, say three months - YES

There's nothing lie consistency, is there Richard? What has changed? The Daily Mail are scared that the Tories have no chance of winning. Perhaps the constant undermining of CMD Cameron has something to do with this.

Even by his standards, this offering is poor. It's not even fitting of 'Britain's most outspoken columnist'. However, Team Littlejohn are out in force:

• You are so right again, be at the ready you may only have 4 weeks campaigning left...Mr Prime Minister.- David Challis, Philadelphia, USA



• I agree with you Richard Littlejohn, and I keep thinking if only you would run for PM! Look at the mess the country is in thanks to Tony's cronies, and Gordon Brun is the worst of them! Is the UK even a sovereign nation anymore given that people can just drift in and out unchecked, because we have become borderless? We don't have to attack anyone if we have strong borders and ban those who want to kill us from entering this country.- S.C., Manchester, England



• Littlejohn for PM.- Donald Dehaviland, Fleet Hampshire ,England.



• And again you hit the nail on the head Richard!- C Swingler, Birmingham



• Not only do I agree with every word you said, but I am writing to ask if you will please put yourself forward as the next PM!- Steve Jones, Stockport, UK



• Richard,A motto suggestion, how about Pink Floyd's immortal line:"Hanging on in quite desperation is the English way."- Dave, Sidcup, Kent

I don't think the last letter is from Dave Gilmour but I like the use of Pink Floyd as a national anthem cum motto. I'll even forgive the typo of 'quiet'. Here's an excerpt from an interview between a bored Roger Waters and a German newspaper journalist in 2003.

SZ: There’s a part in the record where it says laconically “hanging on in quiet desperation is the English way.” Do you still make the same diagnosis today?

RW: What I diagnose in England is pure pragmatism and this pragmatism will ruin us. Out of pragmatism all social acquisitions are being risked, acquisitions which we fought for for many years after the war. Out of pragmatism Blair marched along this insane war, it is about cold and materialistic things, nothing else.

SZ: Yet Blair and Bush are known to be very religious.

RW: Which makes it even worse, but that’s not the decisive point. This war was a huge mistake, regardless. We will see that in the future.

SZ: You are very disappointed in Labour.

RW: There’s no Labour Party anymore. There are the Tories and there are the other Tories.The one Tories are called Tories, the others are called New Labour. What ever that is about.

I think maybe that I am jealous of his adulation! Eric The Fish for P.M. You know it makes sense.

Next week I shall talk about RLJ without bothering to read his wafflings!

(top pic coutesty of t'internet....hope the author doesn't mind)

Thatcher Hanging

Brown: I want Lady Thatcher portrait to hang in No 10

By SIMON WALTERS - Daily Mail 15th September 2007

The row surrounding Margaret Thatcher's Downing Street meeting with Gordon Brown has intensified after it was revealed she has accepted his offer to commission a painting of her and for it to go on permanent display in No10.

One of Lady Thatcher's favourite artists, Richard Stone, who has painted the Queen, the Queen Mother and Nancy Reagan, as well as Labour Prime Ministers Harold Wilson and James Callaghan, is expected to be commissioned to work on Lady Thatcher's portrait.

Mr Stone recently completed a giant portrait of 22-stone gorilla Koko, which has gained celebrity status in America since being trained by scientists to "talk".

Madam Margaret

"When England was the whore of the world

Margaret was her madam

That's when they finally put you in the ground

I'll stand on your grave and tramp the dirt down."

Elvis Costello

Gordon Brown is the author of 'Where There's Greed: Margaret Thatcher and the Betrayal of Britain's Future.' (1989)

"Margaret Thatcher is an evil, mad Tory." Eric The Fish (1989)

"I admire the fact that she is a conviction politician. I am a conviction politician like her." Gordon Brown 2007

I stand by my convictions, Gordon. Do you?