Never mind democracy… what have you done to our tellies?
Richo at the British Labour Party Conference…..
The ring of steel descended on Manchester this week. Roads were blocked off, drains checked and sealed and airport strength security to be passed through. The Party was determined. No way was any Labour backbenchers to get near the Prime Minister.
And even though their anti-backstabbing techno gadgets didn’t bring down any planes this week, like they did that time the PM was travelling near Heathrow, they made a much worse spin blunder.
They made the Mancurians tellies all fuzzy. All over town (except probably in that funny building that is the Hilton where the PM no doubt stayed)
So, deprived of week two of Dancing with the Stars, everyone had to actually pay attention to the goings on, which were about as flat as the atmosphere that lay the Liberal Democrats low in Bournemouth. And this lot actually have some power.
Everyone was harking back to the good times of last year, when the PM had triumphantly led the country through not one but two then three crises (floods, terrorists in Glasgow and foot and mouth outbreak respectively).
Alas those glory days are long gone.
In 2008 and Brown in all varieties of shite. He looks terrible. Sort of like playdough that has been left out in the rain for a couple of weeks. Grey and soggy. And he is angry playdough. He is angry that his Premiership has not gone well, that the Conservatives are polling so well, and that people don’t appreciate him. Which they don’t. Backbenchers are getting nervous. There is talk of wipeouts in Scotland and the south-east. Knives are out, backs are being watched.
The leaders speech was the key. He had to give the speech of his life. Experience in times of trouble; fairness for all etc. No doubt whatever came out of his mouth, the party faithful would give him the PM a standing ovation.
So I decided to watch the speech from outside the bubble. I went to a roadhouse off the M6. Along with voters eating a late lunch before hitting the road again, I watched the PM up there on screen, while listening to the Midlands equivalent of Gold FM. ‘Would it be possible to turn the sound up on the TV’ I asked the lady behind the counter. ‘I wouldn’t bother love, its just the same as last year innit?’ In a way yes, but it is also a lot worse.
After the speech a Cabinet minister resigned. At 0300. While she was still in bed. Gordon’s office made the announcement. Shambles.
My favourite restaurant in Manchester was the Olive Press. Extremely tender salt lamb, great scallops and fantastic staff. Alas I didn’t find a video arcade. I will try harder in Birmingham.