"As the first Tory leader to have done a walkabout in Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow without being head-butted, I think it's a great badge of honour" - David Cameron.
"No true gentleman wears a 'vest', nor, indeed, pyjamas. If he should find it necessary to wear the latter, he should wear a nightshirt" - Nigel Kenyon, of Compton Chamberlayne, Wiltshire, in a letter to The Daily Telegraph.
"You see other actors having their faces done and you think, 'Why? Don't do all that stuff. You look ridiculous. Leave it alone, for heaven's sake. Just get old'" - Sir Anthony Hopkins who regards plastic surgery as "ridiculous".
"I suppose that all that is holding you back is finding a place. Let me know when you have and I will pop round with a bowl of sugar" - Tory front-bencher Ed Vaizey in a letter to Kylie Minogue, who has apparently expressed a wish to live in his Wantage and Didcot constituency.
"As a former corporal in the Royal Engineers in the 1960s, most of us didn't give a bugger who the Defence Secretary was" - Labour peer Lord Snape during a House of Lords row over Des Browne being both Defence and Scottish Secretary.
"I don't like to cross dead people out of my address book. I put them in square brackets"- Novelist Julian Barnes.
Is Ed Vaisey aware of what "sugar" can mean in street slang? Offering it to a pop star? Oh dear!
ReplyDeleteThis may be madness but Cameron should try campaigning in Scotland more because since May I suspect we are starting to see the death of the Labour-Scotland connection. Or a realignment to a more realistic relationship at least. Maybe 20 years too late the socialist ideal is starting to crack in Scotland.
ReplyDeleteThe quote from Cameron today that will come back to haunt the Tories in Scotland is "the stain of separatism". Just when the Tories were doing quite well in Scotland and working pragmatically with the minority SNP Government he uses this most pejorative phrase (often used by the Donations 'r'Us Labour Party too).
ReplyDeleteFor the sake of a smartarse line Cameron has just undermined his chance of improving the Tories' fortunes in Scotland.
Iain, you missed a quote:
ReplyDelete"Prison would be a bore, but quite endurable." Conrad Black
JUST IN FROM CHICAGO:
US Judge Amy St Eve has given Conrad Black 6 1/2 year federal prison sentence, the result of his conviction for fraud related to the sale of Hollinger International newspapers, and for obstruction of justice related to his videotaped removal of 13 boxes from his Toronto office. (The last by a guy whom one pundit noted "hasn't lifted anything heavier than a fork for thirty years.")
This despite statements in support of Black by leading trans-Atlantic tories Brian Mulroney (!!!) and William Hague.
Immediately before his sentencing, Black addressed the court to express his "profound regret and sadness for the severe hardship inflicted on all of the shareholders". Meaning NOT the crime but rather the botheration.
Judge St. Eve then gave her own quote for the day:
"Mr. Black, you have violated your duty to Hollinger International and its shareholders."
"I frankly cannot understand how somebody of your stature...could engage in the conduct you engaged in and put everything at risk, including your reputation."
NOTE that just before sentance was rendered, CB's crack squad of mouthpieces was yet again bemoaning the fact that he cannot serve his sentence in the kinder-and-gentler confines of a Canadian jail.
Apparently these US legal eagles didn't notice this was because Black GAVE UP HIS CANADIAN CITIZENSHIP for the express purpose of becoming "Lord" Black.
Talk about being hoist on yer own petard!
Despite my schaudendfreude, do feel sympathy with Conarad Black and his family as human beings, as well as for the sad waste of his obvious gifts and talents.
But have nothing but for "Lord" Black's ego, ethics and ethos.
Agreed anonymous at 7-19.
ReplyDeleteHe sounded like the Labour party - or the Conservative party 10 years ago.
People in Scotland have become immune to the pejorative sound bites against the SNP. Even unionist voters were put off the Labour party at the May elections with the 'World will fall in rhetoric' and that the Nats are somehow a disease, vermin or a stain.
With polls showing 40% backing the SNP everyone will know someone who's a Nat so describing them as a stain is seen as an insult.
And just when Dave was setting the right tone as well.
A stain? Has he taken leave of his senses indulging in that crap.
ReplyDeleteHe would have more annoyed the Nats if he'd kept to the Scottish people don't want independence line and they are locked in by devolution.
Sounds like he's having to appeal to the core vote in Scotland rather than break out of it.
Bad move. He's just cost the party tactical Nat votes in Labour-Tory contests in Scotland at the next General Election.
Bye bye Dumfries and Galloway, East Renfrewshire, Edinburgh South West, Stirling, West Aberdeenshire & Kincardine.
Sounds as if Nigel Kenyon has got his long johns in a right twist.
ReplyDeleteIain, if Mr Cameron really said he was not headbutted I think that is a disgusting thing to say and has already raised a lot of notice on the Scotsman and Glasgow Herald sites.
ReplyDeleteWill he say lucky I was not shot when he goes to Brixton next or Toxteth or some inner city slum in England, don't hold your breath.
Same old tories talking down to the ungrateful Scots!
Conrad Black is an operatic character, and he's not done yet. But I hear there's an opening for the new Mr. Barbara Amiel...
ReplyDeleteraincoaster
"As the first Tory leader to have done a walkabout in Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow without being head-butted, I think it's a great badge of honour" - David Cameron.
ReplyDeleteYes, because all Scots are violent thugs. Well done Dave
I don't think that Dave should try stand up in Glasgow. His first attempt was woeful - and should ensure that he IS head butted if he goes to Glasgow again.
ReplyDelete"Yes, because all Scots are violent thugs. Well done Dave"
ReplyDeleteIain, Are you happy to leave this in your comments?
You would remove "All Blacks are rapists, or all Gays are child molestors", but perhaps you're happy to promote xenophobia.
Danny
Danny
ReplyDeleteI assumed barry day was being ironic, but you've put a doubt in my mind.
What do you say Iain (or barry day even)?
"Iain, Are you happy to leave this in your comments?
ReplyDeleteYou would remove "All Blacks are rapists, or all Gays are child molestors", but perhaps you're happy to promote xenophobia."
Wait - are you accusing David Cameron of xenophobia? Because, and you may have missed this, in fact, I'm pretty sure you did, what I was doing was trying to highlight just how stupid a thing it was to say. Next time I'll warn you in advance Danny when there'll be irony in the post.
barry day
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you were being ironic,but you never know with all these English racists mouthing off.
I lived in Glasgow, I'm a Tory and I got headbutted, not in Sauciehall Street granted, but in Kelvin Way, just off it.
ReplyDeleteYou should have seen the other bloke though.