Comments
Exposing the absurdity of Chris Grayling
2009-08-26 13:20:19
Much to my family's annoyance, I am not a 'box set' kind of guy. I know it is the thing, all to sit down and get hooked together on some American TV show. Maybe it is a way of avoiding temptation to my addictive gene, but I have never seen a single episode of The West Wing; I liked The Sopranos well enough, but not so much I wanted to sit down and watch them all in one go on holiday; as for The WIre, I gave up after one episode because I quickly grew tired of hearing the word 'mothafucka.' Nor has my feminine side ever been tempted to join partner and daughter to watch hour upon hour of Sex and the City, OC, Gossip Girl or any of the rest of them.
Though not being a box set kind of guy, I like to think I can still be a finger on the pulse kind of guy, so even if I am not an expert on The Wire, I know what the Tories are up to when they seek to persuade people that modern day real life Manchester is like the dramatised version of Wired-up Baltimore.
Looking at Shadow Home Secretary Chris Grayling, I suspect he is not really a box set kind of guy either. He is one of the busier members of the unbelievably lazy and unproductive Shadow Cabinet, and does far too many visits, churns out way too many speeches and statements to have time to sit down and watch all that mothafuckin'.
But he, or more likely Tory comms director Andy Coulson, can spot a good headline/talking point, and Manchester equals The Wire falls into that category. It doesn't matter that it is absolute balls, offensive to Manchester, and with the potential for a backlash when they go there for their party conference in a few weeks time, it gets him and the issues talked about, and by the time the next popular culture resonance is called for, people will probably have moved on.
The problem for the Tories is that the popular culture resonances appear not to be a supplement to policy, but a replacement of them. Party HQ lets it be known 'Holby City woman' is their key target. What does that mean? Nurses? Or the women who watch? On the structure of government, they say their way of avoiding TB-GB style tensions between Dave Cameron and Georgie Osborne will be to make Number 10 and Number 11 'like the West Wing.' How?
Now I should here plead guilty to some pretty ghastly cultural blah myself. Adding Tony Blair's voice to the 'free Deirdre' campaign running as a storyline in Coronation Street was probably not my finest hour. But it was kind of funny, and what's more, nobody can ever say TB was short on policy ideas, either in Opposition or, as when Deirdre was in peril, in Government.
This is the difference, I think. We were perfectly happy to feed out the odd popular cultural line as a way of filling media space and showing we had a foot somewhere in the real world. But meanwhile there was a policy agenda being pursued that actually mattered. I still fail to see what policy agenda the Tories are trying to promote to the country.
Instead, just as TV stations sometimes announce a theme for a week, apparently this is 'broken Britain week' for the Tories and in her speech tomorrow Theresa May will doubtless try to paint a picture of Britain as one gigantic set of Shameless, and it will be as inaccurate as Grayling's grotesque portrayal of Manchester.
There is a good piece by Misha Glenny in The Guardian today who unlike Grayling has researched life on the streets of West Baltimore as well as the streets of Moss Side in Manchester. 'I can happily reassure Grayling:' he writes 'west Baltimore has not come to Moss Side, nor is it likely to in the foreseeable future so he may want to tone down his alarmist rhetoric which doesn't help the police or the communities involved.'
He details a few facts on homicide and gun crime - facts are clearly of little interest to Grayling - which expose the absurdity of his comparison. Baltimore has just over one per cent of the population of the UK, but over a third as many people are murdered there as in the whole of our country. 'Even sleepy Vancouver,' he says 'has a much more serious problem with drug gang shoot-outs than Manchester does.'
Glenny admits to being no fan of some of Labour's policies on criminal justice, but he points out more facts showing crime falling, and Britain slipping down the murder league table, below Finland, Iceland and Portugal, let alone the US. He also points out, as Labour politicians need to, the role previous Tory governments played in fostering what deprivation and violence exists in our inner cities.
It is touching to imagine Glenny thinks Grayling's real concern is helping police and communities, rather than exploiting any problems they may face for political gain.
Tory HQ's real concern today though will be the announcement that next year's Big Brother will be the last on Channel 4. This is welcome news to anyone who laments what so much of modern day TV has become. But a big blow to Dave and Co. I mean when it comes to cultural references showing you can get down with the yoof, Big Brother has been the Daddy.
Ps ... anyone out there know what Dave's policies on law and order are?
Archive
Darling credible, Mandy exciting, Tories panicking over adsPublish date: 2010-03-25 11:21:25
Today is all about credibilityPublish date: 2010-03-24 09:38:11
Obama's win good news for politics everywherePublish date: 2010-03-23 10:11:13
I take my hat off to a genius brieferPublish date: 2010-03-22 17:21:23
With Hague disabled, Labour team v Tory team even more importantPublish date: 2010-03-19 11:43:25
Tory lack of clarity gets candidates jitteringPublish date: 2010-03-18 10:12:25
Is Kate Winslet's split more important than Michael Foot's funeral?Publish date: 2010-03-17 11:38:52
Why Sir Trevor did no favours for CameronPublish date: 2010-03-16 10:57:18
Support the Street Kids World CupPublish date: 2010-03-15 11:25:17
Bumping into Peter M on the fundraising campaign trailPublish date: 2010-03-14 00:27:35
Adonis shows the way on transport, and debatesPublish date: 2010-03-12 12:22:05
The record needs a better hearing - Labour and ToryPublish date: 2010-03-11 08:50:51
What happened to the detoxification of the Tory brand?Publish date: 2010-03-06 12:00:38
Support, activism and hope returning to LabourPublish date: 2010-03-05 09:46:34
Happy Birthday Lord Ashcroft HB2UPublish date: 2010-03-04 10:59:48
Michael Foot ... above all else a lovely manPublish date: 2010-03-03 14:22:46
Elvis support for Labour lifts the mood furtherPublish date: 2010-03-03 10:16:30
Hoovergate - the rebuttal amid hope of Labour winPublish date: 2010-03-02 13:00:35
At least Britney knows what she is singing aboutPublish date: 2010-03-01 10:57:28
News blackout on Olympian success storyPublish date: 2010-02-28 14:52:49
Kseniya Simonova's got talentPublish date: 2010-02-27 21:14:58
Debate expectations in a good place for GB and CleggPublish date: 2010-02-26 10:21:53
We all agree - Carlisle is cleverer than DCPublish date: 2010-02-25 11:59:11
On News International phone-hacking and CameronPublish date: 2010-02-24 09:40:08
GB, temper or not, a better leader for Britain than DCPublish date: 2010-02-23 10:24:48
Cameron inquiry call says more about him than GBPublish date: 2010-02-22 15:15:59
Some great stuff in The Observer todayPublish date: 2010-02-21 11:00:46
Game definitely on. If polls narrow more, Tory jitters set inPublish date: 2010-02-20 14:35:40
Cameron so right about pigs in pokesPublish date: 2010-02-19 09:12:50
How twitter is changing balance of power in film indsutryPublish date: 2010-02-18 12:00:19
Thanks for the thanks. Is online shopping not always like this?Publish date: 2010-02-17 10:44:30
There'll be another New Big Idea along in a momentPublish date: 2010-02-16 09:53:22
People may listen more to the political GB having heard the personal GBPublish date: 2010-02-15 13:11:57
Happy Valentine's Day. My present to you is Jacques BrelPublish date: 2010-02-14 12:06:54
A celeb fest in my weekend of culturePublish date: 2010-02-13 10:38:58
Alan Johnson right to stand up for security servicesPublish date: 2010-02-12 14:27:56
Time to turn up volume on sport schools revolutionPublish date: 2010-02-11 10:17:54
Let's give Cameron a Doris Day moment over AshcroftPublish date: 2010-02-10 10:29:05
Time for Maya's voice to be heard amid the non-tearsPublish date: 2010-02-09 09:04:22
Marr needs to explain his 'sexed up' question re casualtiesPublish date: 2010-02-08 13:55:36
On GB's tears with Piers, and my emotional moment with MarrPublish date: 2010-02-07 16:04:56
On NI, Tory fears of Labour spinsters, and headbands in sportPublish date: 2010-02-06 10:00:25
Daily Mail tells truth shock horrorPublish date: 2010-02-05 08:54:36
Welcome to the virtual Maya launch partyPublish date: 2010-02-04 10:38:44
Public ahead of press on the mess that is CameronPublish date: 2010-02-03 13:52:26
Cameron winning on media support but losing on leadershipPublish date: 2010-02-02 10:47:50
Buy The Blair Years and raise cash for LabourPublish date: 2010-02-01 09:00:00
A lesson in campaign mindset from young Labour studentsPublish date: 2010-01-31 13:14:19
Media tweets show the real agendaPublish date: 2010-01-29 21:18:59
TB made a judgement, and is defending it wellPublish date: 2010-01-29 14:04:38
On inequality, special advisers, Ireland, and TB/IraqPublish date: 2010-01-28 13:45:08
Message machine Mandelson on form todayPublish date: 2010-01-27 12:15:42
Only one place to be tonightPublish date: 2010-01-26 09:20:26
Cameron and tweeting ought to be natural fitPublish date: 2010-01-25 11:55:58
Big bucks campaigning not what it's cracked out to bePublish date: 2010-01-24 10:28:57
A life in unemployment statisticsPublish date: 2010-01-22 09:39:21
Learning the wrong Iraq lessons for Afghan warPublish date: 2010-01-21 10:24:46
Denis MacShane MP on the rewriting of history re Iraq warPublish date: 2010-01-20 10:44:07
Darling v Gove, Osborne and help the rich squad is No ContestPublish date: 2010-01-19 10:12:27
Dacre's DownfallPublish date: 2010-01-18 03:30:21
Rebutting the good and the bad, and support from football fansPublish date: 2010-01-17 12:45:38
Mandela is a great man, Invictus a great filmPublish date: 2010-01-16 08:54:48
Is Paul Dacre hiding a guilty secret that explains his deranged paper?Publish date: 2010-01-15 09:56:24
What's the real fight to be had?Publish date: 2010-01-14 10:20:20
On Owen Coyle and Brian LawsPublish date: 2010-01-13 18:27:58
Thanks to friend and foe alike for helping yesterday go byPublish date: 2010-01-13 08:49:25
So far so good in campaign to remove discriminatory lawPublish date: 2010-01-11 09:48:15
Thanks to Will Hutton for talking sense on 'class war'Publish date: 2010-01-10 12:56:48
In defence of airbrushed postersPublish date: 2010-01-09 16:45:29
Fire is always best turned on the ToriesPublish date: 2010-01-07 15:41:19
On Hoon-Hewitt and John PrescottPublish date: 2010-01-07 00:55:10
Sad and baffled to see Coyle goPublish date: 2010-01-05 16:26:05
Cameron's wobble the product of his team saying what their audiences want to hearPublish date: 2010-01-05 10:50:58
New Tory slogan - if you've got the cash, splash it on crap adsPublish date: 2010-01-02 12:11:18
And the musicians of the decade were ... The Beatles and The KingPublish date: 2009-12-31 18:52:25
Prepare for avalanche of Ashcroft posters for ToriesPublish date: 2009-12-30 15:06:06
Here's Good Luck to you, Mrs RobinsonPublish date: 2009-12-29 12:22:42
One man's White Christmas joy is another's football disasterPublish date: 2009-12-24 13:36:05
My favourite fact of the day - a French decimal time systemPublish date: 2009-12-23 16:48:00
A few crisis management tips for EurostarPublish date: 2009-12-22 11:49:35
Do we need same approach to booze as smoking?Publish date: 2009-12-19 09:13:28
Prepare for tears, tantrums and an imperfect but miraculous Copenhagen conclusionPublish date: 2009-12-18 10:23:03
London 2012 and Copenhagen today ... different approaches to tight deadlinesPublish date: 2009-12-16 11:13:21
Tiger cut off at the knees. I bet he'll be backPublish date: 2009-12-14 11:03:17
Cameron Shameron on the need for new laws to clarify Ashcroft tax statusPublish date: 2009-12-13 17:06:56
When poor mental health creates great art ...Publish date: 2009-12-12 15:21:13
Giggs gets my Sports Personality vote, but I'll miss the big momentPublish date: 2009-12-11 13:56:15
Tough day for Labour, but tough questions for Tories tooPublish date: 2009-12-10 10:03:13
Alistair Darling's quiet authority key part of recovery.Publish date: 2009-12-09 11:03:25
Clegg risks squeeze as election nearsPublish date: 2009-12-08 15:30:58
Copenhagen really matters. Guardian front page sets scene wellPublish date: 2009-12-07 10:26:33
Four years on, what do we think of Cameron's leadership?Publish date: 2009-12-06 13:55:17
Boris and Waddles, an everyday tale of Tory croneyismPublish date: 2009-12-05 09:53:35
The Speaker's wife is a credit to him, and spot on about Cameron's ToryismPublish date: 2009-12-04 10:52:37
PMQs win for GB was a direct result of Cameron's strategic failurePublish date: 2009-12-03 08:21:10
Cameron's conkers add to his problem with serious opinionPublish date: 2009-12-02 10:59:45
Sarko at risk of riling Obama and GB. Cameron on conkersPublish date: 2009-12-01 10:29:48
The life and death of the man who made the link between exercise and healthPublish date: 2009-11-28 11:37:29
Even top Tories think Dave and Co can't do piss up in a breweryPublish date: 2009-11-27 20:51:29
Well done BBC Inside Sport. Shame on media for news blackout on Coulson bullying casePublish date: 2009-11-26 13:59:57
Well done BBC in Mental Health Media awards. Looking forward to Inside Sport on depression tonightPublish date: 2009-11-25 10:26:22
BBC main bulletin blackout on leaders' speeches bizarrePublish date: 2009-11-24 10:17:48
Business right to be worried about Tory axe on RDAsPublish date: 2009-11-23 10:17:12
Why should Brown and Cameron apologise for being seen to pay tribute to the war dead?Publish date: 2009-11-22 11:12:38
Beware climate change denial dressed up as 'commonsense'Publish date: 2009-11-21 12:54:27
Something for the weekend - a long lazy blog lifted from interviewsPublish date: 2009-11-20 12:35:23
If France and FIFA won't act on Thierry Henry, let's have a boycott of Gillette razorsPublish date: 2009-11-19 10:09:00
Never in the history of human taxation has so much been promised from so many to so fewPublish date: 2009-11-18 18:32:39
Tories far from 'effete and unfamiliar' when it comes to twisted tax prioritiesPublish date: 2009-11-18 09:52:12
Two very different stories of depressionPublish date: 2009-11-17 17:17:11
Congrats to Ellie on PPB campaign, and Willy Hague on getting van RompuyPublish date: 2009-11-17 11:40:14
Private schools worse than State schools - unless it's drugs you're after. DiscussPublish date: 2009-11-16 12:10:25
Fiona Millar 5 Toby Young 0Publish date: 2009-11-15 13:18:38
Where we fight we winPublish date: 2009-11-13 11:22:00
Good luck to Number 10 on 'lobby' review. And a big NO to the other PRPublish date: 2009-11-12 14:39:11
Robert Enke RIP. May his death increase understanding of depressionPublish date: 2009-11-11 17:59:53
On the exploitation of grief to get GordonPublish date: 2009-11-11 08:59:01
Why Tories are not home and dry, and wrong to call GB callousPublish date: 2009-11-10 13:00:20
Labour needs more of the winning mentalityPublish date: 2009-11-09 10:30:44
The scandal of friendship and the shame of Who Wants to be a Millionaire?Publish date: 2009-11-07 10:53:53
US clarity of strategy required for full explanation on AfghanistanPublish date: 2009-11-06 10:31:48
Just because he is French doesn't mean he's wrongPublish date: 2009-11-05 10:58:46
Congratulations to David Cameron and Trevor KavanaghPublish date: 2009-11-04 10:34:36
Is there a Sun blackout on Cameron's dumping of 'cast iron guarantee' on Europe?Publish date: 2009-11-03 20:37:04
Johnson seems to get it on immigration. Right on advisors advising tooPublish date: 2009-11-03 11:58:59
Public opinion on climate change - the public might be the problemPublish date: 2009-11-02 11:37:23
In praise of Stephen Fry, who should tweet or not as he sees fitPublish date: 2009-11-01 09:29:34
John Sergeant spot on re TB. TB's Olympics legacy. Liam Gallagher's generosityPublish date: 2009-10-30 11:50:44
Conservative contortions on Europe and BlairPublish date: 2009-10-29 11:44:12
Two-jobs Osborne suffering credibility deficitPublish date: 2009-10-28 09:14:22
Canaries win AC spin award with dark nights productivity surveyPublish date: 2009-10-27 09:41:48
Blair - dead big in Japan!Publish date: 2009-10-26 17:21:17
No complacency, variants on a themePublish date: 2009-10-24 09:48:46
Griffin may have been dreadful, but there can be no complacencyPublish date: 2009-10-23 11:57:29
Margaret Hodge MP on how to fight the BNPPublish date: 2009-10-22 16:48:39
Thanks to Charlie Falconer and Dominic Grieve - yes, I know he is a ToryPublish date: 2009-10-21 17:24:18
On Biscuitgate, barmy Tory policy, and BNP v GeneralsPublish date: 2009-10-21 10:36:15
More on Obergruppenfuhrer Dacre, Biscuitgate and Bullingdon ConservatismPublish date: 2009-10-20 12:16:37
Biscuitgate and Susan Boyle, no win territory for GBPublish date: 2009-10-19 12:31:00
Hating the Mail - a mindset worth havingPublish date: 2009-10-17 11:28:12
A line by line guide to the Mail statement on Gately article outragePublish date: 2009-10-16 19:12:36
Hit the Mail where it hurtsPublish date: 2009-10-16 16:36:02
Talking Cameron and Obama with US Democrats. Progressive Convervatism? No, he can'tPublish date: 2009-10-16 10:02:40
Inspired by kids' green passionPublish date: 2009-10-14 18:24:13
Good news on leukaemia, good news on student activismPublish date: 2009-10-13 08:24:21
Musings from Bertie Ahern, and how I won the Nobel prize for literaturePublish date: 2009-10-12 09:26:18
Continuing double standards in the mediaPublish date: 2009-10-11 11:36:21
The best policies in Cameron's speech were those of Labour Big GovernmentPublish date: 2009-10-08 17:07:40
Tongues slipping all over the placePublish date: 2009-10-08 09:00:07
Cameron confuses strategy and tactics and puts Union at riskPublish date: 2009-10-07 10:29:26
Osborne inspires apathy at BBC LeedsPublish date: 2009-10-06 16:01:59
Let's see more of the Tory candidates pleasePublish date: 2009-10-06 09:23:11
Labour needs to fight on record to stop Tory vandalismPublish date: 2009-10-05 14:28:40
VacuDave goes all peevish at difficult questions. Bring on the debatesPublish date: 2009-10-04 23:33:52
Lots of joking around in Jersey, though nothing as hysterical as Dave's Europe positionPublish date: 2009-10-03 10:31:22
On The Sun, Obama in Copenhagen and Alistair McGowan on the looPublish date: 2009-10-01 10:59:49
Sun switches ain't wot they used to bePublish date: 2009-09-30 10:17:14
Darling and Mandelson show what I mean by authenticityPublish date: 2009-09-28 16:28:18
Serious Politics 1 Low Journalism 0Publish date: 2009-09-27 11:55:54
Media's love for Cameron should be turned into a weaknessPublish date: 2009-09-26 10:30:03
Time for ministers to stand up and fightPublish date: 2009-09-25 09:40:26
Today's media double standards watchPublish date: 2009-09-24 09:29:45
Breaking News - GB wins award, Lib Dems face all waysPublish date: 2009-09-23 09:43:49
Why authenticity is the key to comms, and why Merkel will winPublish date: 2009-09-22 08:29:13
Why I love NHS walk-in centresPublish date: 2009-09-21 12:13:03
Here goes with the smoked SalmondPublish date: 2009-09-20 10:40:21
Breaking News - Cameron's vacuousness an impersonator's nightmarePublish date: 2009-09-19 11:06:09
Cameron has an army of spin doctors - aka journalistsPublish date: 2009-09-18 10:07:06
On Scottish independence, Cameron's short-termism, and Jimmy Carter being rightPublish date: 2009-09-17 09:56:56
Is Cameron Alex Salmond's Trojan Horse?Publish date: 2009-09-15 10:13:42
On the TUC, Roy of the Rovers and Anna WintourPublish date: 2009-09-14 11:04:46
Memo to Apple boss Steve JobsPublish date: 2009-09-13 17:36:31
A day in the life of a (crap) City traderPublish date: 2009-09-11 17:52:25
Defend record with pride, attack Tories with gustoPublish date: 2009-09-10 11:06:36
Cameron's Conservatism beyond parodyPublish date: 2009-09-09 10:38:00
On transforned cities, and tales of Princess Di and Laura BushPublish date: 2009-09-08 09:45:54
Labour should put minister up against Griffin on Question TimePublish date: 2009-09-06 12:39:56
School speech the latest source of right-wing frothing at ObamaPublish date: 2009-09-05 08:23:02
More horse's mouth, less Beeb blah pleasePublish date: 2009-09-04 22:49:20
Real respect for sport can be Olympic legacyPublish date: 2009-09-04 09:27:34
First ladies watch out for Japanese bombshellPublish date: 2009-09-03 10:47:19
TV debate - good idea in theory, but ...Publish date: 2009-09-02 15:37:43
'No worries' - the new response to thanksPublish date: 2009-09-01 12:25:19
Tremors of Japanese political earthquake will be felt far and widePublish date: 2009-08-30 15:50:54
Pressure on Ed Miliband can help get a climate change dealPublish date: 2009-08-28 13:39:08
Why Tories and media cannot stomach GCSE success storyPublish date: 2009-08-27 16:03:34
Joy and beauty and a night of magicPublish date: 2009-08-20 10:55:11
Twitter NHS backlash good for ObamaPublish date: 2009-08-14 15:44:49
A lifetime's ambition fulfilledPublish date: 2009-08-08 16:59:02
Breaking the blog-a-day spell as warm up to holidayPublish date: 2009-07-20 17:44:49
No hiding place from Twitter, me on the bike, JP in DCPublish date: 2009-07-17 18:17:09
At last - something Obama cannot do wellPublish date: 2009-07-16 10:05:47
Will MPs take the lead in the debate on euthanasia?Publish date: 2009-07-15 12:30:01
Berlin brothel leads the way to a greener worldPublish date: 2009-07-14 10:57:25
A time for GB to explain the whole picturePublish date: 2009-07-13 12:37:54
All hail Monty, Jimmy and Collie!Publish date: 2009-07-12 20:06:36
First triathlon of the summer for me, education award for FionaPublish date: 2009-07-12 09:43:06
Of Burnley's friendly and Obama's wandering eyePublish date: 2009-07-11 12:38:52
Two great early morning momentsPublish date: 2009-07-10 10:27:07
Cameron had better be sure he's rightPublish date: 2009-07-09 11:06:22
Guardian scoop has big questions for press, cops and CameronPublish date: 2009-07-08 20:40:54
Divisive legend: Lance ArmstrongPublish date: 2009-07-07 10:38:23
First hug a hoodie, now grab a gayPublish date: 2009-07-06 12:57:09
Mail on Scumday's wonderful account of Lansley's kipperdomPublish date: 2009-07-05 13:14:51
Ecclestone undermines his own success with alarming views on HitlerPublish date: 2009-07-04 14:04:04
When the conmen move more quickly than the councilPublish date: 2009-07-03 10:19:52
Andrew Lansley done up like a kipperPublish date: 2009-07-02 10:10:52
A day spent interviewing footballers, then being interviewed by a transvestite comedianPublish date: 2009-07-01 14:47:40
When the power of black eyes fadesPublish date: 2009-06-30 09:24:59
Farewell to Henry HodgePublish date: 2009-06-29 20:41:12
Honouring the power of sport to do goodPublish date: 2009-06-29 14:49:42
Andy Murray is a winner. Is that why some Brits don't like him?Publish date: 2009-06-28 09:19:20
New Parliament will look very different. The younger the betterPublish date: 2009-06-27 17:34:26
Two nice surprises, sad end to dayPublish date: 2009-06-26 09:16:33
Apology from the Spectator on Iraq boosts Henry Hodge fundPublish date: 2009-06-25 19:57:26
Thanks to Mr Harper on mental health, rebuttal of Mr Hague on IraqPublish date: 2009-06-24 23:47:54
Glad to find Eric Cantona in a quiet cinema ...Publish date: 2009-06-24 00:46:23
By Dave's friends shall we know him?Publish date: 2009-06-23 11:30:20
The Speaker has to balance tradition and change - but defend ParliamentPublish date: 2009-06-22 11:58:44
Less a blog than an apology for not having done onePublish date: 2009-06-21 20:07:43
The day Lions skipper Paul O'Connell took my trousers downPublish date: 2009-06-20 11:48:28
On the Iraq inquiry, Independent article wrongPublish date: 2009-06-19 20:28:24
Thank you to three readers, now please get involvedPublish date: 2009-06-19 09:13:35
A tribute to a lovely manPublish date: 2009-06-18 17:19:40
Bad times in Belfast, great day for Burnley, odd statement from Ed BallsPublish date: 2009-06-18 10:04:47
A plea for five-figure cyber-donationsPublish date: 2009-06-17 07:40:42
On two inquiriesPublish date: 2009-06-16 08:57:39
From India to Iran to Labour witPublish date: 2009-06-15 10:13:17
Memories of Princess DianaPublish date: 2009-06-14 09:54:55
A House Divided?Publish date: 2009-06-13 02:53:47
A humbling NHS experience, a media row and a good GB speechPublish date: 2009-06-12 10:48:46
Psychiatrists heading for relegation in 'disease prestige' league tablePublish date: 2009-06-11 10:25:35
The shrinks awaitPublish date: 2009-06-10 09:44:16
As Obama fights for healthcare, let's celebrate the record herePublish date: 2009-06-09 12:52:55
Anger at BNP seats must be turned into activismPublish date: 2009-06-08 14:11:10
Can today be as frenzied as Friday?Publish date: 2009-06-07 10:31:04
Take heart from a win in LambethPublish date: 2009-06-06 18:46:40
JP is right there was no proper campaign but Tories still weakPublish date: 2009-06-05 13:47:20
Do we care more about the NHS or moats?Publish date: 2009-06-04 00:21:23
Guardian of social justice or attention-seeker?Publish date: 2009-06-03 10:19:33
Who says Britain can't deliver the best?Publish date: 2009-06-02 08:08:38
Mainstream has a duty to vote against BNPPublish date: 2009-06-01 11:03:29
Let Diversity inspire a vote against the hate-filled BNPPublish date: 2009-05-31 12:24:20
White House whack at UK media well-timed but sure to be ignoredPublish date: 2009-05-30 13:41:00
Elvis has a plan to make MPs King againPublish date: 2009-05-29 12:09:44
At least there's a campaign on in ItalyPublish date: 2009-05-28 09:04:32
A blow to gay rights and a boost for Cameron's short-termismPublish date: 2009-05-27 11:27:41
It's my blog and I'll be a big kid if I want toPublish date: 2009-05-26 23:25:58
Highs feel better after so many lowsPublish date: 2009-05-26 10:13:12
Only one present countsPublish date: 2009-05-25 11:05:46
Contrast Cheney and BushPublish date: 2009-05-24 12:11:45
Sex (or at least the female form) obsessed BritainPublish date: 2009-05-23 20:49:57
Sport at both ends of the financial spectrumPublish date: 2009-05-23 09:57:23
Stronger together - whether Scotland or expensesPublish date: 2009-05-22 10:22:36
Back to Number 10, familiar faces, familiar argumentsPublish date: 2009-05-21 10:14:34
Speaking up for ParliamentPublish date: 2009-05-20 11:44:17
Peace in the Middle East - yes he canPublish date: 2009-05-19 09:37:35
Breaking news - one frenzy at a timePublish date: 2009-05-18 10:34:30
Getting a good look at Vince CablePublish date: 2009-05-17 09:36:55
How do you solve a problem like Silvio?Publish date: 2009-05-16 09:32:21
It was the internet wot won itPublish date: 2009-05-15 10:04:57
There now follows ... a good whack at CameronPublish date: 2009-05-14 17:21:28
They got their kit off - so you get your cash outPublish date: 2009-05-14 07:41:11
Expenses row must not obscure Tory intentions on minimum wagePublish date: 2009-05-13 16:12:08
We love you Burnley, we do ... what a nightPublish date: 2009-05-13 02:37:17
A tweet cannot express the wonders of TGVPublish date: 2009-05-12 08:48:31
It's Mind week - Get it off your Chest with me and Stephen FryPublish date: 2009-05-11 06:29:15
Hate the Mail, love ObamaPublish date: 2009-05-10 10:04:00
Burnley 1 Reading 0 - a biased reportPublish date: 2009-05-09 21:26:32
MPs expenses - time for party leaders to meet againPublish date: 2009-05-09 09:50:19
Should happiness replace prosperity as national goal?Publish date: 2009-05-08 08:43:23
Musings from a sleepless nightPublish date: 2009-05-07 07:33:49
Darren Fletcher - an injustice that has to be rightedPublish date: 2009-05-06 09:52:29
Maggie's legacy not as great as she thinksPublish date: 2009-05-05 08:33:02
Here's hoping Cardiff is metaphor for CameronPublish date: 2009-05-04 09:38:30
More Mr Benn and Co pleasePublish date: 2009-05-03 10:03:00
Going Fourth with JPPublish date: 2009-05-02 18:25:41
Journalism - print first, think laterPublish date: 2009-05-02 09:10:01
In praise of two poetsPublish date: 2009-05-01 10:26:36
JP hits the road againPublish date: 2009-04-29 18:52:11
My night with Eddie IzzardPublish date: 2009-04-29 10:53:25
Explaining the 50p top tax ratePublish date: 2009-04-28 09:22:53
George Best and Martin McGuinnessPublish date: 2009-04-27 09:02:35
Cameron confused over indepdendence and impartialityPublish date: 2009-04-26 12:20:56
Guide ro Marathon running part 2Publish date: 2009-04-25 11:01:34
Good signals on coal and the OlympicsPublish date: 2009-04-24 10:45:28
Tips for the London MarathonPublish date: 2009-04-23 17:29:27
Missed the Budget, saw why it matteredPublish date: 2009-04-22 23:09:31
Football good, politics bad. AllegedlyPublish date: 2009-04-22 00:00:24
The Great Wall gets greaterPublish date: 2009-04-21 09:55:22
Two sides to police storyPublish date: 2009-04-20 11:39:54
Budgets, Balls, billionaires and Susan BoylePublish date: 2009-04-19 12:31:45
Do muscles have memories?Publish date: 2009-04-18 09:44:44
Bring back standing at footballPublish date: 2009-04-17 14:50:22
When Facebook friends fall outPublish date: 2009-04-16 12:29:16
Guardian sightings and the email and bath plug agendaPublish date: 2009-04-15 11:32:16
The spin is all in the prismPublish date: 2009-04-14 09:22:41
A setback, not a crisisPublish date: 2009-04-13 12:55:19
The real lessons from Damian McBridePublish date: 2009-04-12 10:49:47
Will English always be the dominant language?Publish date: 2009-04-11 10:02:02
On the pipes and what makes a ScotPublish date: 2009-04-10 11:06:20
John Prescott lazy? NO WAYPublish date: 2009-04-09 09:11:31
David Frost is seventyPublish date: 2009-04-08 08:48:38
The Speaker, BBC2, tonight and tomorrow 8pmPublish date: 2009-04-07 14:25:31
Obama, colds and being woken by Korean missilesPublish date: 2009-04-06 11:59:24
When a call matters more than protocolPublish date: 2009-04-05 11:33:42
Green Cities Champions LeaguePublish date: 2009-04-04 10:19:53
Could Cameron have delivered the G20 deal?Publish date: 2009-04-03 10:11:59
Of Benn and BonoPublish date: 2009-04-02 08:21:16
Memo to Sarko - allez vite a LondresPublish date: 2009-04-01 08:46:17
Happy April Fool's DayPublish date: 2009-04-01 01:44:05
Eurostar, Le Monde and a thought for the G20 sherpasPublish date: 2009-03-31 09:17:22
Why Kevin Rudd made an impactPublish date: 2009-03-30 10:24:41
Pre-G20 hype matters less than post-G20 processPublish date: 2009-03-29 13:17:28
The Damned UnitedPublish date: 2009-03-28 10:37:04
A hobby horse, a plug and a bit of sportPublish date: 2009-03-27 10:22:23
Cloughie - he had a lot to be big-headed aboutPublish date: 2009-03-26 09:38:36
A sad sight of the old fearing the youngPublish date: 2009-03-25 17:03:07
Post-modern, post-structural, or bullshit?Publish date: 2009-03-25 08:18:02
Learning the right lessons from ObamaPublish date: 2009-03-24 08:53:15
Lazy Dave needs to keep an eye on lazy KenPublish date: 2009-03-23 11:16:14
Farewell favourite restaurant, hello hometownPublish date: 2009-03-22 08:18:09
Dave, Danny and have the Tories really changed?Publish date: 2009-03-21 08:55:13
Life beyond Dover ...Publish date: 2009-03-20 10:11:21
My friends in The New Statesman - Fergie, Fiona, Tony, Sarah, Kevin, 'Dacre,' and a great GB idea for the G20Publish date: 2009-03-18 10:38:22
Iraq, Iran, GB, Obama and diplomatic chessPublish date: 2009-03-17 10:07:13
The Age of StupidPublish date: 2009-03-16 08:27:13
Is all change good?Publish date: 2009-03-15 10:00:06
The pressure of being a post-modern sex godPublish date: 2009-03-14 10:00:55
Cameron still hasn't sealed the deal with businessPublish date: 2009-03-13 09:21:49
Stand up for social workersPublish date: 2009-03-12 08:31:17
Surely Malcolm Tucker could have told Armando Ianucci ... You can't spin a spinnerPublish date: 2009-03-11 10:58:25
Start of a new approach from Labour?Publish date: 2009-03-10 09:54:12
A peace process still strongPublish date: 2009-03-09 08:21:05
Day of destiny for the real footballer of the yearPublish date: 2009-03-08 09:21:06
Private advice to Peggy Mitchell - the leaked note in fullPublish date: 2009-03-07 08:17:21
Boris, the Tories and the tummy-tickling poodle pressPublish date: 2009-03-06 09:49:37
A day in the life of the self-obsessed TV reporterPublish date: 2009-03-05 07:55:47
GB - good speech, well deliveredPublish date: 2009-03-04 19:31:05
Notes on the environment, a role in EastEndersPublish date: 2009-03-04 10:58:56
She may be my 'wife' but it is time to rebut!Publish date: 2009-03-03 10:52:59
Some speeches matter more than othersPublish date: 2009-03-02 12:04:45
Mental health and the Carling Cup FinalPublish date: 2009-03-01 09:08:17
Inside the chocolate factoryPublish date: 2009-02-28 10:23:59
GB on the G20, JP on Jeremy KylePublish date: 2009-02-27 09:14:36
Charity and the credit crunch, please give generously!Publish date: 2009-02-26 08:55:12
Why oh why are the Tories not home and dry?Publish date: 2009-02-24 09:44:59
Me, Dermot and ten top songsPublish date: 2009-02-23 10:02:19
Names round-upPublish date: 2009-02-22 08:43:39
What's in a name?Publish date: 2009-02-21 09:58:14
Editing the New StatesmanPublish date: 2009-02-20 11:42:36
Salute Peter M’s proper use of the F wordPublish date: 2009-02-19 09:58:58
Labour's communications challenge for the NHSPublish date: 2009-02-18 10:34:39
In praise of KeighleyPublish date: 2009-02-17 14:33:57
A night at the EmiratesPublish date: 2009-02-17 00:06:51
When marriage is testedPublish date: 2009-02-16 13:36:35
Spare me the myths and the whiningPublish date: 2009-02-15 13:29:50
Dave Cameron - is that all there is?Publish date: 2009-02-14 11:11:55
Boris Johnson: F is for ...Publish date: 2009-02-13 07:55:10
The Cameron vacuumPublish date: 2009-02-12 14:48:33
Lincoln, Obama, Blair and the 24 hour media culturePublish date: 2009-02-11 10:28:47
Eighteen interviews later ...Publish date: 2009-02-10 19:24:45
Time to talk about Time to Change on NewsnightPublish date: 2009-02-09 22:47:49
So that’s what they mean by online community?Publish date: 2009-02-08 12:12:51
First blogPublish date: 2009-02-05 15:23:57
simon gittins
2009-08-27 17:42:35'anyone out there know what Dave's policies on law and order are?'
I'd guess they would be the same as the Tory policy on most issues; Try and clear up the mess they will inherit after 12/13 years of a Labour government, no easy task I'm sure you'll agree.
Joanna
2009-08-27 15:16:08Hi Alastair
I've just read your Burnley FC post, and guess what? We had six new Burnley FC chants entered into our Football Chants Competition in 2008/9.
Who are we? We're from Get On. Last season we launched a chant competition to inspire football fans to show off their natural skill and wit with words and then potentially be inspired to go on to take a Skills for Life course.
Burnley fans came out in their numbers for us! If you want any more information don't hesitate to contact me. We've launched a new competition for 2009-10, asking fans to enter their chants via YouTube, take a look at www.direct.gov.uk/geton. Perhaps Burnley could take the title this year? Which title? Well, you decide.
Michael
2009-08-27 11:59:31Grayling's comments about the Wire were misguided and have backfired on him. However, it is a magnificent work and scrutinises politics as much as it does drugs, education, policing and journalism. This blog post echoes Mayor Royce defending himself against Councilman Carcetti. One of the themes of the Wire is that we do not confront our social ills honestly - our institutions are too wrapped up in targets, propaganda and personal advancement. I have a number of misgivings about Grayling, but this blog misses the point entirely - and I really do suggest you watch the Wire. It really is as good as everybody says and there are lessons there for all post industrial societies where drugs and unemployment are commonplace.
Andy G
2009-08-27 11:41:48A couple of years ago on a commercial talk radio station Cameron was asked whether he prefered the policing style of Gene Hunt or Iain Blair. Instead of saying, Gene Hunt is a fictional character off the TV so it's a stupid question. He said he couldn't answer as he hadn't seen much of Life on Mars.
Katharine T.
2009-08-27 03:43:23It's possible the Cameron line on law and order is similar to our own plastic haired Conservative leader Harper. The answer, if asked the question would perhaps be (albeit with an English accent rather than a goofy Canadian one) "well, I'm going to speak a lot of gobbledygoop that means nothing, but really what I think is: Guns bad. Jail good." So then all the voters who live in middle class and upper class ville who spend many worrying hours installing burglar alarms and CCTV on their properties can feel safe and snug as bedbugs that they are voting for the party who can keep their 2400 sq foot houses (for the middle class), or 10,000 sq foot mansions (the rich) safe from those raggedy ruffians who roam the streets waving Desert Eagles and Barettas in the faces of decent tax paying citizens. Because you know, that happens to everyone with more than a grand in the bank when they walk down the High Street...
Jane A
2009-08-26 21:42:55Ominously I received a flyer tonight for a literary festival close to where I live - including Cameron "In Conversation". The blurb reads "Has the Conservative party persuaded voters that they have the policies and the right team to form the next Government?"
If I were Dave, I'd be looking for a PR team who could come up with a plug without a question mark in it.
Joanne Sheppard
2009-08-26 21:41:35I live in a deprived part of inner city Manchester; I am also obsessed by The Wire. Consequently I feel both confident and well-qualified in saying that Moss Side is about as much like The Wire as working for MI5 is like a James Bond film. Some of the routes into central Manchester from the south pass through Moss Side. My guess is that Grayling has been chauffeur-driven into the city one day, seen the oh-so-shocking-and-terrifying sight of a few young black guys hanging around chatting on a street corner and instantly assumed they must be gun-toting smack dealers. The comparison he made is lazy, offensive and absurd.
Homicides in Baltimore (population around 636,000) in 2006: 276.
Homicides in Greater Manchester (population 2.5 million) in the same year: 59.
@jlocke13
2009-08-26 21:32:08Alastair, you have watched the huge decline in the UK over the past 12 years and you still cling to the socialist dream.... Education system ruined, NHS no better in spite of billions, unemployment high, one in six households without a wage earner, child poverty worse than when you came to power, biggest debt in the industrialised world ...I could go on but you cling to the socialist dream in spite of the evidence...it will not work, your party and government are devalued and have no chance of winning any general election in the next five years...not that the opposition are much better but at least they are not deluded...
Colin Morley
2009-08-26 18:58:46Not much of a TV watcher myself - but re Dave's policies on law and order, probably best acquaint ourselves with "The Bill" which is apparently popular.
Richard
2009-08-26 18:07:43Policy #1: Convicted terrorists who have contracted cancer shall die a lonely death in prison
Andy G
2009-08-26 15:53:12Agree with your Comments Alistair. But I have to agree with the other posters who say the Labour Party are letting the Conservatives get away with it. I don't know what Cameron's policies are on anything apart from fox hunting and inheritance tax.
John Willman
2009-08-26 14:46:09I completely agree with this blog, BUT...
I suspect many ordinary voters will have responded to it positively - two of the three vox pops on the Beeb last night said they agreed.
Harry
2009-08-26 13:55:51I'd quite like to hear your views on the Lockerbie bomber, or the filesharing cutoff plan. Those are the far more interesting stories of the day, far more so than a poncy Tory comment about The Wire made a couple of days ago.
For people like me who read your blog and already dislike the Tories, you're preaching to the choir when you tell us they're disconnected from reality and sometimes offensive.
You can only write what you feel about writing, but it's irritating to see a blog centred on such an insignificant story, ruthlessly exploited by you to show up the Conservatives yet again, where I'm sure people would rather hear your opinion on more serious stories.
I guess you're following the "offense is the best defense" doctrine, but it devaluates your blog to see the crosshairs on Tory foolishness in the midst of more serious Labour foolishness.
Martin Fox
2009-08-26 13:49:06Couldn't agree more AC, classic Tory guff. Ready for the cameras but not ready for government!
Dean Perry
2009-08-26 13:48:19Liked the blog Alastair, have no idea what Dave's policies are on law and order. It’s like everything with Dave’s Tories when you raise the subject on policy and commitment they steer onto Labour failures without answering the question. Their all a load of media pleases and lack substance in any policy area. The NHS row was a perfect example of Dave’s emphasis on media relation and attention to image not saving him from talking about policy which clearly isn’t his comfort zone. I strongly believe that a televised debate between GB and DC would truly unmask the Tories and wipe them out for another five years.
Simon Leonard
2009-08-26 13:39:28Ps ...anyone out there know what Dave's policies on law and order are?
I believe he's in favour. Not sure beyond that though ;)
Brian Cleary
2009-08-26 13:35:07Alistair,
Firstly - you're missing the greatest TV show of all time by not looking at The West Wing. I only watched the first episode last month and am now at the end of Series 3. My wife and I never agree on TV shows and she loves it too. Aside from the politics, it's brilliantly written.
Also, if Chris Grayling has a fondness for likening hardworking cities to shit holes in TV shows, shouldn't he be likened to Harry Enfield's Tim Awfully Nice But Dim?
Brian
@jlocke13
2009-08-26 13:33:52I can't believe you are accusing Andy Coulson of spotting a good headline as if it is a crime...after all you were the master of the art... and as for cultural blah your present leader Gordon is always quick to jump on a passing cultural wagon...susan boyle, ashes win, to name just two recent examples.
ps anyone know what Gordon's policies for reducing UK debt are??
Craig, Oxfordshire
2009-08-26 13:31:08Shame on you Alastair. This question:
"anyone out there know what Dave's policies on law and order are?"
Should have been:
"anyone out there know what Dave's policies on anything are?"
What's worse is Labour's message at the minute has evaporated. There's no riposte to anything out of Dave and Georgie's mouths. Gordon seems to have just given up. The lies and nonsense that the Tories spout needs to be counter-attacked. The public are falling for Dave's act - and the Government seem powerless to stop it.
Rob
2009-08-26 13:27:57Spot on as ever Alastair — but utterly shocked by your never having seen one single episode of The West Wing. Do yourself a favour and correct this urgently!
Post a comment