Leicester Mercury political correspondent
Archive for April, 2010
The week in politics
Apr 11th
“A candidate sacked after causing outrage on Twitter, a major row between Gordon Brown and big business and a cameo appearance from Michael Caine. Who said politics was dull?”
Read my take on the first week of the General Election campaign here.
UKIP’s straight-talk falls flat
Apr 11th
Tory blogger Iain Dale loves the new UKIP poster. In their typical blunt style they urge voters to sod the lot and vote for them instead.
The simplest posters work best, and I reckon this could wring a few extra votes out of those who were either going to stay at home or spoil their ballot papers because of their dislike for the big three.
But what of their claim to be ‘straight-talking’? They’re even plugging a freephone number you can call for a bit of straight talk.
Well, I called it. Unfortunately UKIP fell at the first hurdle.
“Sorry, this mailbox is full. Please try again another time.”
I’ll try again on May 7…
Private Eye turns on Leicestershire County Council
Apr 11th
The ongoing saga over the school hall at Breedon on the Hill has caught the eye of Private Eye.
Ian Hislop and friends highlight the row – centred on villagers’ use of a local school hall – in the current edition of the publication, and it’s clear which side they’ve taken.
“Jobsworths at Tory Leicestershire county council want to put an end to the villagers’ right to use their own hall…
“Win or lose, Leicestershire’s stubbornness will cost it dearly… If the council loses, taxpayers could end up forking out in excess of £3m to cover both sides’ costs – enough dosh to build several new village halls.”
Roadmap to recovery?
Apr 6th
Tory party big beast dropped into the Leicester Mercury on Tuesday afternoon.
But it was the call to our office before his arrival that puzzled us.
“Hello could you help us out,” his press assistant asked, “how do we get to the Mercury from junction 20 on the M1?” Ken was muttering away in the background about the confusion.
A helpful reporter with a better head for directions duly stepped in and led the way, but surely a key player like Ken should have a sat-nav to help him tour the country?
Despite insisting that he was just half an hour away, he didn’t arrive at our reception for a further 60 minutes.
Speculation that he’d taken time out to enjoy a Bolivar Petit Corona in the spring sun before arrival was unfounded…
