I became politically aware roughly around 1963 when I did some canvassing and leaflet distribution for Sir Harry Legge-Bourke. Many years later I worked with John Biffin.
Since those early days with Sir Harry, these have been the leaders of the two main UK political parties.
Socialists.
George Brown (Seriously alcoholic; died of cirrhosis)
Harold Wilson (ruined the UK's education system, and much else)
James Callaghan (showed me around parliament)
Michael Foot (a leg-end in his own time; mad as a hatter)
Neil Kinnock (the Welsh windbag; dreadful)
Margaret Beckett (highly forgettable)
Tony Blair (did more to destroy the UK's demographic than anyone else;... ever!)
Gordon Brown (promoted the privatisation of the NHS, and sold the family silver)
Harriet Harman (P C feminist, known as Har-person)
Ed Miliband (ineffectual)
Ms Harman again (hopeless)
Jeremy Corbyn (god help us)
Conservatives.
Harold Macmillan (intellectual; combined book-selling with politics)
Alec Douglas-Home (nice man; too mild mannered)
Ted Heath (lied about the advantages of joining the 'common market')
Margaret Thatcher (one of the all-time greats. voted 'the world's greatest politician of the 20th C')
John Major (like A D-H too mild mannered, but a good man)
William Hague (I'm a tad Vague about Hague)
Ian Duncan-Smith (forgettable)
Michael Howard (ditto)
David Cameron (inherited Gordon Brown's economic disasters; did extremely well to recoup)
Theresa May (seems like a tough cookie, but only time will tell)
Now off to the voting booths with you!
I note that The London Times has said today that Teresa May
ReplyDelete"After an appallingly dishonest election campaign, the PM is leading us towards an economic abyss"
If they think May is such a crazy spender, what on earth must they think of Corbyn.
DeleteWritten by Jenni Russell, close friend and defender of Ed Miliband, who is Godfather to her child. Wouldn't expect anything else from her.
DeleteThat explains it. One usually thinks of The Times as having quite intelligent hacks.
DeleteSo proud of your nationality that you live in another country and that says a more about you than you want us to know Mr Blimp.
ReplyDeleteYes Heron, I am proud of being English. As you well know, I live where I do by choice as it's suits my desired life style more than the UK. Very simple.
DeleteAnother case of pot calling kettle black. Heron is so proud of his country that he lives in Ireland and encourages us to vote Labour from there!
DeleteI din't like to mention that, I thought it might upset the little soul.
DeleteI am not as sensitive as you and there is more to me than you folk will ever know [wink]
DeleteMargaret Beckett went to my convent school. She likes to say she is from a working class family. I note one of her sister's became a nun and one became a doctor. She was the youngest and they were many years older than her and born in the 1930s.
ReplyDeleteOne thing to be said for Wilson, he did keep us out of Vietnam.
I remember Wilson saying he'd never heard such language, when he informed the President that he wasn't joining them in Vietnam.
DeleteI thought you had gone fishing. Did the tiddlers all swim away when they saw you coming ?
DeleteEnjoyed your take on matters. Possibly the most important UK General Election since 1979.
ReplyDeleteI try to see the funny side of most things; but as you say, this one is extremely important.
DeleteProbably, prior to Corbyn,the two worst Labour leaders would have to be Foot and Kinnock. However at least the two of them managed to finish university. Foot it must be said was an extremely well educated and intelligent man despite having the dress sense of a donkey.
ReplyDeleteCorbyn though even failed to finish a college course, even his A levels were a grade E. Yet we are led to believe that he has the intelligence to lead one of the world's largest economies. We might as well elect Robert Mugabe!
What you meant to have said: is that Corbyn is not afraid of having an open debate unlike the queen of the may.
DeleteI've never heard Corbyn referred to as 'intelligent', even from the most left of protagonists. Foot was probably too clever for his own good, and Kinnock was simply an employee of the unions.
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ReplyDeleteEnjoyed your round up of political leaders. Some names I recognise, some I don't. Love all your 'to the point' comments
DeleteAll reasonable accurate, combined with my usual caustic viewpoint.
DeleteI REALLY MUST APOLOGISE ON BEHALF OF CHLOE. I DO DELETE HER MORE OFFENSIVE COMMENTS, BUT I CAN'T STOP HER POSTING THEM. SHE OBVIOUSLY HAS PROBLEMS, SO I DON'T WISH TO BE TOO HARD ON HER. I JUST WISH SHE'D GO AWAY, AND ANNOY SOMEONE ELSE. ANY IDEAS?
ReplyDeleteI have no problems, I just despise selfish 'Monsieur je sais tout'people , you belong to this category. Why an old man needs to blog up from 6am ? Cause he has an 'surgonflé' Ego and needs to get his ideas around the world. You are the most ridiculous oldie I ever read about.
DeleteThere is no need to shout! We can all hear you loud and clear in between your slurps of wine.
DeleteOh oh you're changIng your mind like your skirt. Well I think the drinkers are in Ireland and Great Britain, we see them drunk shouting and screaming everywere. What a pity.
DeleteI never wear a skirt, a shirt yes but never a skirt, look here if you don't like to see people enjoying themselves then look the other way.
DeleteI voted earlier. I must say I actually feel ill about what is going to happen after the count.
ReplyDeleteWe don't want bad losers. Otherwise we'll just have to accept the voice of the people.
DeleteThey all called foul after the Brexit vote, I just want them all to finish bickering and get us the best deal. If its bad, you are going to have a new neighbour. I am eyeing that house you showed on here a little while ago. We were sent one in Bergerac by a friend. Part renovated by a Dutch couple, they ran out of money.
DeleteWhat did I say , you spend your time posting . May be it's good, so your wife can feel "tranquille".
ReplyDeleteThat's twice you said that. Do you always repeat yourself ?
DeleteNothing better to do Mr. Heron ? You seem to sit between two chsirs, that's how we call people who do not stick to their first opinion. Manipulator may be.
DeleteOh, I enjoy having a bit of craic with the folks. Better to display a sense of fun at times, for
Deleteotherwise people might think I was dry old shite :-)
I have voted for better or worse.
ReplyDeleteOmg this election is giving me Dheli belly. Loved your last two posts but also found them unnerving! God help us all and the pound/euro exchange rate!
ReplyDeleteHere we go again
ReplyDeleteMy father always said the Labour government of the mid 60s was responsible for his decision to leave the UK.
ReplyDeleteIt's 5.20 am, and still no firm result.
ReplyDelete