Making headlines, but obviously not reading them
"CONFERENCE season". If anything in the political lexicon can slow the pulse to a critical pace, it's those two words.
Even as an avowed enthusiast for all things political (well, most things political), Mr Brocklebank himself must confess that he looks forward to the few weeks at the back end of September and beginning of October only slightly more than he looks forward to his next prostate examination.
This week it was the turn of Labour leader Ed Miliband to underwhelm everyone but the clapping seals at Manchester's MEN arena with his coma-inducing "keynote speech".
At least Nick Clegg had the good sense to apologise for having nothing to say (or, should Mr B say, saying he'd do something and then not doing it), but Mr Miliband seemed positively triumphal about it.
Young Ed (who went to a comprehensive school, in case you hadn't heard), very much wants to appear in touch with the common man, but Mr B recalls how, when the Labour conference was in Liverpool last year, he was distinctly out of touch with the grass roots.
The reader may recall that last September, a huge outrage broke out in the national media about a club in Preston at which patrons were bloodthirstily enjoying the spectacle of two young kids cage fighting. Condemnation ensued from all corners of the social, cultural and political spectrum.
Well, nearly all of it . . .
For when Mr B and his colleague questioned the Labour leader about this gruesome slump in public taste and decency, his response was that he hadn't heard about it.
Mr B, understandably, thought this to be a sarcastic nod to the fact that the story had dominated the airwaves for several days leading up to the conference.
But no, as Ed's PR man searched around for the nearest noose or open window, it became quite apparent that Mr Miliband really had managed to miss this blanket-covered, depressing, state-of-the-nation story.
And the reason? "I was writing my speech".
Presumably that would be the speech which, three days later, he used to extol how he was the true representative of ordinary people.
Oh dear.
CANNY, consummate politician that he is, Liverpool Liberal Democrat leader Cllr Richard Kemp knows which way the political wind is blowing.
While his party's leader was busy apologising for turning bandit on his election promises, Cllr Kemp was evading bandits in Me-hico on a trade enjoy mission before returning to Blighty and heading straight for . . . the Labour Party conference in Manchester.
Could it be that astute Cllr Kemp has realised that the Lib Dem's only chance of staying in government is to join forces with Miliband?
It would appear not: Cllr Kemp was, in fact, manning the Save Our Post Offices stand.
Or, as one of Mr B's colleagues remarked, "perhaps the Lib Dems were looking for tips on how to deliver".
1 Comments
Leave a comment
Dale Street Associates
David Bartlett
City editor of the Post and Echo covering politics, regeneration, and urban affairs.
Read My Posts »
Ed Miliband
Special Adviser to the Chancellor
After Labour's 1997 landslide victory, Miliband worked as a special adviser to Chancellor Gordon Brown from 1997 to 2002
Chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers
Returning to the UK after Christmas, in January 2004, Gordon Brown appointed Miliband as Chairman of HM Treasury's Council of Economic Advisers as a replacement for Ed Balls, with specific responsibility for directing the UK's long-term economic planning.[19]
Voting record (from PublicWhip)
How Edward Miliband voted on key issues:
Voted a mixture of for and against a more proportional system for electing MPs.
Voted very strongly for introducing ID cards.
Voted a mixture of for and against a transparent Parliament.
Voted very strongly for Labour's anti-terrorism laws.
Voted moderately for automatic enrolment in occupational pensions.
Voted very strongly against an investigation into the Iraq war.
Voted moderately for replacing Trident.
Voted strongly for more EU integration.
Voted moderately against greater autonomy for schools.
Voted very strongly for allowing ministers to intervene in inquests.
Ed Miliband, Ed Balls, Yvette Cooper, Harriet Harman, Liam Byrne, Andy Burnham .... this is the failed administration. That had 13 years to avoid sending the UK into oblivion and instead put us on a direct path into it, demolishing manufacturing output by 50% over their term in power. Do we reward people that failed so badly over 13 years, with re-election? These jokers should be prosecuted for crimes against taxpayers. Labour hasn't changed at all. It's the same names and faces in the same positions, more or less. Kick them Out!