Fascinating events in the UK with the most entertaining general election of just over a week ago. Pure box office stuff, where I found myself logging on to the BBC or tuning in to Sky News at every opportunity to see the 3 men in suits spar it out for the right to rule the country.
That stitch up from the media when Gordon left his microphone on and called that lady in the north a ‘bigot’ was an absolute classic. The world was watching his humiliation and all he could do was hold his head in his hands. Personally I felt for the guy, who hasn’t come away from a meeting with someone and commented about them? Happens with all of us everyday in some way, and we get away with it.
I ask why would you want the job as PM of Britain? Wouldn’t you have to be a serial psychopathic megalomaniac to put yourself on offer like that? But there they were, David Cameron the Tory leader, Lib/Dem Nick Clegg and the outgoing never elected Labour Premier Gordon Brown, all so desperately trying to convince the electorate of their sincerity. Never missing an opportunity to kick each other in the balls.
But then the result was so close that the only way anyone was going to be able to rule was to share the main bedroom, so after much deliberation David & Nick hop in together and poor old Gordon packs his bag and heads off to the spare room.
Now David and Nick are the best of friends, well in front of the cameras at least and are planning great things for the good of the country. It could end up a complete disaster, but yet it may just work. Could it be this form of collaborative government is just the thing to restore this great country to where it should be?
Of course, there are those like my mate “Dagenham Bill”, who is “Labour till I die”, gutted that the Tories are back in, albeit it with less power. He like many from my era, still remember the misery of the Thatcher days, and reckons that people have short memories. In Bill’s view,the younger people of Britain have only experienced life under Labour, or New Labour (by the way is it still new labour or old labour, or just labour?) and they have no idea what’s coming. ” Cameron will be worse than Thatcher” he says with a sigh of despondency. Yet many regard her as a hero of Britain, depends on where you fitted into the British class system.
I don’t think it will be like the old days, David Cameron can’t afford to let that happen otherwise he’ll be out on his ear, quicker than the next manager of West Ham United. I’m watching with a keen eye to see how it all develops over there, and with great hope that these guys can turn it around, and possibly set a trend, that countries like Australia and others can follow.
Talking of being out on your ear, our own Kevin Rudd looks to be in big trouble, with his approval rating dropping to an all time low. Some commentators over here, like Alan Jones are leading the crusade to get him out at the election later this year, in favour of Liberal Tony Abbott, who seems to be gaining in the popularity stakes as preferred PM. It is all bubbling along and looking like another epic is looming.
On more important matters the FA Cup Final kicks off at midnight here in Australia (EST). FA Cup holders and newly appointed Premier League Champs Chelsea, against the bottom side Portsmouth, winners in 2008. While Chelsea have been at times sensational, poor old Portsmouth have had a shocker on and off the pitch. They went into administration and as a result were deducted nine points, which in the end didn’t matter, as they would have been relegated anyway. Having said that, what an achievement in getting to the final at all. I could not believe it when they knocked Tottenham off in the Semi, to set up the clash with Carlo Ancelotti’s boys. My prediction, Chelsea will either rip them apart 4 or 5-0, or we will see another famous upset. Portsmouth winning 1-0. Form often goes out the window on Cup Final day, anything is possible, it’s just a total one-off.
