Wednesday, July 21, 2010

A Tale of Two Ex-Prime Ministers

Compare and contrast.

A couple of weeks ago I happened to see Tony Blair. Well, when I say I saw him, he was actually in the biggest BMW I have ever seen, driving at breakneck speed down Edgware Road accompanied by a vast retinue of ancilliary cars all with lights flashing and containing stern looking police bodyguards.

Last week, a friend of mine was driving down Great Peter Street in Westminster when the small people carrier in front of him stopped outside the block of flats by the junction with Marsham Street. Out stepped Gordon Brown and one police bodyguard.

Good on Gordon Brown for apparently eschewing the police outriders and back up car that is his by right as an ex Prime Minister.

27 comments:

Unsworth said...

Brown's in hiding. Blair is not. That is all.

skynine said...

Tony Blair is the best augment for a Constitutional Monarchy.

Tom Lees said...

Gordon's not a huge target for crazy stope the war protestors though is he?!

Billy Blofeld said...

We should not quibble about the size and scale of Blair's security.

Personally I'd be willing to give him the full protection of one of Her Majesty's prisons for life on the strength of his war crimes.

The Grim Reaper said...

I'm looking forward to Gordon finishing his book and getting it published. Mandy's book isn't going to provide me with enough toilet paper to last much longer...

Nick said...

The nicest thing you've ever said about GB.

Mirtha Tidville said...

and without Mrs Brown as well....wonder how she`s getting by without her er `hero`...

Sen. C.R.O'Blene said...

"driving at breakneck speed down Edgware Road"...

Obviously in a hurry to screech right into Connaught Square for a cup of tea and a crumpet.

I can't think of any other reason can you?

Anonymous said...

as he spends most of his time in a secure unit i'm sure mr brown's protection needs are limited. and even al qaeda probably draw the line at blowing up the deranged. as an aside.....anyone managed to spot the dear leader and the love of his life sarah in the same room morethan once since the election?

Patrick said...

Did you wave and say "hello"...... On either occasion?

Colin said...

This is a benefit that should be means tested...

The Grim Reaper said...

Did your friend ask him "Gordon, did you know the most popular video of you on YouTube is one where you're picking your nose?"

It would be too much to resist for me.

Lady Finchley said...

I've seen Sarah Brown in the Commons on several occasions - odd indeed.

Libertarian said...

@sinosimon

Actually I thought al qaeda's entire modus operandi consisted of blowing up the deranged.

Libertarian said...

meanwhile Dover Council, Canterbury City Council and Kent County Council have all sent delegations to the Golf Open at St Andrews some of them for 9 days !

This because Royal St. Georges in Sandwich is next years venue.

Just let them bleat once when the 20% budget cut hits that they have to cut front line services

Jimmy said...

"Tony Blair is the best augment for a Constitutional Monarchy."

What a lovely thing to say, although I suspect some will say it doesn't need to be augmented.

Raedwald said...

The Blairs' understanding of the benefits of public office are widely shared I'm sure by his arab neighbours around the Edgware Road, where cars of vulgar and ostentatious size and luxury, wives covered with Harrods' bling and millions hidden in overseas accounts are asde rigueur as the loathing of their own peoples. I'm sure he fits in with them all very well.

Elby the Beserk said...

Sarah's his minder. Nor would I think that Brown particularly wants to draw attention to himself. Blair, however, wants to be the Mick Jagger of international politics. If he's at risk, it is his fault - he should pay for his own security. Better - stay away.

Victor, NW Kent said...

Didn't they call out 3 fire engines and the SAS when he set some toast on fire at one of his country houses?

King Alfred just got a clip on the ear.

Tapestry said...

Blair needs all the accoutrements. How would he cope with being seen in Tescos carrying a plastic bag. Cherie would never live it down.

That said I wouldn't want him totalled by a Serbian hitman like Dando. There are still guys in jail who tried to tell the truth about that one. Blair bombed Serbian TV. Two days later Dando was hit. Barry George served seven years. He was nothing to do with it. Blair's face costs more than money to protect.

skynine said...

Jimmy, I'm sorry,
argument, argument, argument.

Sometimes spellchecker doesn't pick up typo's. I should make more effort to proofread it myself.

TimP said...

Blair is a war criminal and is loathed by most of the population, so it is understandable in a way, if undeserved.

Guido Fawkes said...

Good of you to identify his home location for Alky Aider

Unsworth said...

@ skynine

As the Duty Pedant and Resident Apostrophe Cop I'm sorry to have to point out that the plural of typo - is typos.

Cynic said...

Are you sure Tony wasn't under arrest?

Brian said...

@Tom Lees "Gordon's not a huge target for crazy stope the war protestors though is he?!"

Who? little "Illegal War" Nicky Clegg?

Unsworth said...

@ Guido Fawkes

We can all but live in hope.