politics – Page 4 – Rob Mansfield: Content-ment

Mervyn writes a letter

So the economy is in a slump and inflation continues to rise in the UK, as the spectre of a recession looms for not only this country, but the whole world.

However, one thing has made me smile. Since Gordon Brown handed over responsibility for inflation and many other aspects of the economy, it has been up to Mervyn King, Governor of the Bank of England to report on how things are going.

And, one of the things he agreed to was that if inflation starts to rise, he has to, whisper it quietly, write a letter to Gordon Brown explaining himself.

You can imagine the scenes in the Merv’s office over the past few months, can’t you?

‘Oh shit, inflation’s taken a turn for the worse again. Quick, get the typewriter out and take a letter, Miss Jones!’

Vote… but not for Boris!

Today is election day and for those people who don’t live in London, it’s to vote for a new mayor.

Altogether there are 10 candidates, but it’s effectively developed into a two-horse race between the current mayor, Ken Livingstone and bumbling Boris Johnson.

The unthinkable looks as if it could well happen, because Boris Johnson is in the lead and highly likely to win.

And that frightens me… a lot. How are people taken in by him?

His slightly daffy schtick is wearing really thin. Anyone who has reached the position and status that he has doesn’t get there by being thick.

Ken, on the other hand, was born in London and has spent his entire life trying to make life better for those who live there.

Maybe he’s made mistakes, but then so has everyone, and I seriously can’t see how Boris could be any better as a candidate.

And even if you don’t want to vote for Ken as first preference, pick him as your second preference.

And, for god’s sake, please don’t vote Boris!

Why should Gordon Brown be exciting?

In case you’ve missed it, and you wouldn’t be alone in dozing off, Gordon Brown is currently in America glad-handing Dubya and all three of the potential next Presidents of the United States, ie Obama, Hillary and the one who’s part of the chip company.

Now, I think we’re all agreed on the fact Gordy isn’t Tony Blair. He’s cut from a different cloth and, let’s fact it, is in politics to do good for people, rather than get his face in the newspapers and on TV.

The thing is, for all the carping that goes on, you’d think that Gordon Brown should actually be pretending to host Strictly Come Dancing, rather than run the country.

Labour peer Lord Desai (who?) has attacked the current Prime Minister thus:

“Blair was like champagne and caviar. Brown is more like porridge or haggis. He is solid, very nourishing but not exciting.”

Apart from the fact that he’s stretched that metaphor to its very limits, it also begs the question why should Gordon Brown be “exciting”?

He’s looking after the country, not a flipping theme park.

It simply proves that most people think we need a leader who acts in the style of Richard Branson, rather than one who actually knows what he’s doing.

I’m sure you’re not bothered, Gordon, but you’re doing fine from where I’m sitting!