Category: Chips on Shoulders

Theresa was right

TV debates between political party leaders are meeja ambushes. The organisers, including the so-called impartial BBC, make the most of the opportunity to rig the audiences and ask questions from the ‘when did you stop beating your wife’ school of interviewing. The aim is to evoke scandalous replies, crowd pleasing and maximum embarrassment for the debaters.

Theresa is not a street-fighter. Maybe 200 years ago (had women participated)she would have acquired such skills for the hustings or remained in the shadows. Bojo is, but he cannot be trusted to behave. So should a PM be pilloried for refusing to take part? Not in my book – horses for courses, I say.

The election result will turn on other issues. The size of the turn-out, especially among the youngest voters; the actions of former UKIP supporters; the strength of feeling about security and defence; the reliability of the leadership. So stick to your guns, MS May – it’s one of your strengths.

Theresa’s blind spot

‘Right, Gran. I’m takin’ a year off to look after you
– bring us a cuppa tea will you?’ (Mac in the Mail)

The Onslow* generation will welcome the idea, mine will not. I’ll ask the clan next time I’m over there but I can’t see it catching on, even among Ms May’s homogeneous ‘workers’. What is she thinking?

*you may need to research this

Please explain

At my advanced age, I reserve the right to shout, ‘Silly B*ggers!’, when I spot conspicuous consumption. It’s not puritanism or Uriah Heapishness on my part – I like a treat with the best of them – I just think they are deluded and daft.

This time it is the wedding of the sister of the wife of a Prince. The family is clearly extended and we hope not overstretched. They must be impressing somebody – but I suspect it’s only themselves.

http://www.standard.co.uk/lifestyle/london-life/pippa-middleton-s-wedding-is-expected-to-cost-250000-a3535806.html

Shooting from the lip

A nice phrase from the Beeb today, asking if it’s snobbishness that makes us hate Don the One. http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-39849073

So I’ve asked myself the question. Do I react against him because he can hardly string three words together? And when he does, the words often fly in the face of the facts? Yes and yes.

No, I don’t expect heads of state to be academic icons, intellectual leaders; but I do expect them to have some grasp of their language, some awareness of the key issues facing them and some respect (yes, respect) for their peers’ qualities as heads of state. A quick jibe and a quick u-turn won’t do.

What’s your take on the soon-to-be-lame Donald duck?

Believe it or not

Stephen Fry, asked what he would say if he were confronted by God, replied:

“How dare you create a world in which there is such misery that is not our fault? It’s not right. “It’s utterly, utterly evil.

“Why should I respect a capricious, mean-minded, stupid God who creates a world which is so full of injustice and pain?”

It is hardly a new challenge to Christians of course, but the intelligent if controversial Mr Fry made the mistake of uttering it publicly in 2015……in the Republic of Ireland. Surprisingly (or not) the Defamation laws there include blasphemy – and his remarks could now fall foul of them, risking a fine of 25,000 euros.

Good God, you say! But he doesn’t. Isn’t that his right?

No overall control

What a telling label! It describes perfectly the plight of the self-acclaimed winners in Scotland, the SNP. And it masks the reality that the Tories have taken one huge stride towards rendering them powerless in June. Overall the SNP lost one council and 7 seats, hardly a triumph; and with Labour losing 4 councils and 133 seats, even more councils require coalitions to control their agendas. So keep digging, Nicola; that hole is acquiring catastrophic proportions.

Clutching at straws

northern-ireland-customs-post-390x285Before German unification, the EU agreed a ‘GDR clause’, allowing easy access in the event of liberation. And now could N. Ireland be offered a similar deal when Brexit bites? Apparently the diplomatic community thinks so.

Just a couple of details to consider though. The province is fiercely British and unlikely to vote for integration with Eire; and Eire would be taking responsibilty for the N.I. economy – which is hardly high on their wish-list.

Recent reports however suggest that many EU leaders might be starting to see the folly of aggressive negotiations with London, perhaps under the influence of big business which will demand a seamless transition to the new order, and the growing threat from Beleavers in other EU states. Will they agree a strategy when they get together this weekend?