Beard Or No Beard?

“Baby if you telephone Maybe I can meet you in the morning Call me if you’re on your own And maybe I can meet you in the morning” The Magic Numbers, “Morning’s Eleven”, 2006 Since the election is now all done and dusted and a certain unsteady regularity has returned to our lives, I must [...]

Where Do We Go From Here?

“A Liberal Democrat Conservative government that we have negotiated. This is the first coalition government in Britain for sixty-five years. It will be an administration united behind three key principles. Freedom, fairness and responsibility.” David Cameron, 12th May, 2010 Erm…. right. Okay, then. That was an interesting development in the history of British politics. Amongst [...]

Take Me To Your Leader

“One day my dad said, “Find someone new” I had to tell my Jimmy we’re through (whatcha mean when ya say that ya better go find somebody new?) He stood there and asked me why But all I could do was cry I’m sorry I hurt you (the leader of the pack)” The Shangri-Las, “Leader [...]

Wave Goodbye, Say Hello, Gordon

“Oh Billy Brown had lived an ordinary life. Two kids, a dog, and a cautionary wife. While it was all going according to plan Then Billy Brown fell in love with another man.” Mika, “Billy Brown”, 2008 Just when I think I want to start writing an entire blog post without getting political, Gordon Brown [...]

Electoral Reform – Vote For Me

“Everybody’s talking at me Can’t hear a word they’re saying Only the echoes of my mind I won’t let you leave my love behind” Nilsson, “Everybody’s Talkin’”, 1969 As the talk continues about whether the LibDems will get in to bed with the Tories, one issue has come to the forefront of popular debate: Electoral [...]

We’re All Minorities Now

“I was happy in the haze of a drunken hour, But heaven knows I’m miserable now, I was looking for a job, and then I found a job, And heaven knows I’m miserable now.” The Smiths, “Heaven Knows I’m Miserable Now”, 1984 And there you have it. The election resulted in a hung parliament and [...]

Election Night – Live Blogging

7:02pm Okay so final update to this live blogging event and here’s where we stand. Conservative = 306, Labour = 258, LibDem = 57 (it was a remarkably accurate exit poll in the end) and it is genuinely fascinating that all three parties seem to be disappointed with the result. Gordon Brown stays on as [...]

Action This Day

“Action this day action this night Oh you’ve got the power you’ve got the power You’ve got the power to love to live You can’t say it ain’t right” Queen, “Action This Day”, 1982 So, in two-and-a-bit day’s time the country goes to polls in our five-yearly shot at seeing democracy in action. I think [...]

Done Debating

“You know, you made a vow, not to leave one another, never Well, ya never miss you water till your well runs dry Come one, baby, give our love a try, let’s stick together” Bryan Ferry, “Let’s Stick Together”, 1976 I just sat down and watch the third and final Leader’s Debate. Today’s list doubles [...]

Gillian Duffy: A Bigotted Woman (Or Not)

“I’d move to Rockferry, tomorrow, And I’d build my house, baby, with sorrow, I’d leave my shadow, to fall behind, And I wouldn’t write to you ‘cos I’m not that kind.” Duffy, “Rockferry”, 2008 Well, here’s a story for everyone to get their teeth stuck in to. Gordon Brown meets a disgruntled Labour supporter; following [...]