Rochester, Reckless, and Why There's No Doubt Medway Will Vote UKIP

I was born in the Medway towns, went to school there, and remained there until just after Mini was born.

I still take an interest in the town as quite a number of mates still live there, so info gets filtered back.

Just recently though, my former hometown has been all over the major newspapers and the TV too. Due to an election no less.

After the local Tory councillor, Mark Reckless, defected to UKIP, an election was called.

Now, I've met Mark Reckless. I've met a fair few of the councillors in the Medway towns down to my being an epic nerd a part of the first Youth Parliament in the town in my late teens. At that time, Labour was the choice of my local voters, even though the man they voted for was useless, and barely ever turned up to Westminster.

(How do I know this? Well, when I was in 6th form, we went to Westminster and the guide asked who our local MP was. On looking to see if he was in the House at the time, it turned out that actually, the Party Whips would be having a word with him as he hadn't been there for months).

Just as with Reckless being part of the Conservatives, now, he has jumped to the newest most popular party for the gormless who see one party promise in the manifesto and jump on it.

The problem with Medway- and they are by no means alone in this in the country, no doubt Slough will be next as they are quite similar- the town doesn't vote because they have the full picture of what their vote will mean for a certain party.

No.

They read the Sun, or newspapers like it, who tell them who to vote for, going on one simple part of the parties big load of promises, and they dutifully go and do just that.

UKIP will win in Medway, just as it will in many other formerly prosperous towns. They will win down to the fact UKIP shout about how every person who has ever moved here in the last 30 years have killed your country. Whilst whispering how it will remove the NHS, maternity pay, and all but make the disabled who claim benefit wear an orange jumpsuit and brand their foreheads whilst asking everyone else to throw eggs at them for being "dirty scroungers".

UKIP will win because the majority of chav stereotypes in their fake Burberry knock offs have now become so used to voting for people on TV, they use the same method of voting for there councillors, and I'm that  surprised they don't just have Dermot O'Leary on Meridian, asking people to phone in who they want to see win instead of asking them to go to the voting booth.

Instead of Peter Dickinson saying "Its time to face the MUSIC!" they could change it to "Its time to face the VOTERS!".

Yes, immigration is an issue. But its the fact that all the parties over years have been lax. If you lived in a war torn country, and you found out you could slip in unnoticed, you'd do it.

Leaving Europe is a given, unless it starts working for us, but UKIP are by far not the only party suggesting we leave.

Who would I rather vote for?

Ed Milliband. Whether or not folk see him as not very good looking, bumbling and uncharismatic, he actually talks a good manifesto which works for everyone, not just the rich.

I hate that it looks more and more like UKIP will triumph, and, its clear to many that UKIP and the Tories joining ranks will mean abject poverty for many average people in this country whilst the rich just get richer,

Its time we stopped looking at one part of a party, and actually became informed. Elsewise its the ConDems style all over again.

Rik Mayall: Legend in Our Living Rooms

It was with sadness yesterday that I read reports that Rik Mayall had died. It popped up on Elder's Facebook timeline as the story broke, and as with most internet rumour, I had hoped it was yet another false death report like so many are (what is that about? Surely you have to be all kinds of warped to think that's an acceptable use of your time?)

Sadly it was true, and my generation lost another comedy legend.

Obviously, I was but a tiny tot when Rik was first on our screens in The Young Ones and Comic Strip. I was old enough for Bottom though, and Guest House Paradiso. I found them both stupidly, hilariously funny. 

Pure comedy that didn't try too hard like so much does now. I like belly laughs, and prat falls and rude words, and Rik (and of course he was aided and abetted by Ade Edmondson) gave us those in spades.

One of the first films Elder and I watched together on a dodgy VHS video player in his first shared house was Drop Dead Fred. Rik had the ability to make a funny face and make you laugh. He just had one of those extremely expressive faces, whoever he was playing. Not many can face the camera and do one thing with their mouths and reduce an  audience to hysterics.

You can certainly see the impression he has made on some of the top comedians we have now- from Miranda Hart and her pieces to camera, to Jack Whitehall and his oafish toff in both Fresh Meat and Bad Education.

I recall the day my Dad brought back the series of the Young Ones on video from our local library, and we set about a happy Sunday pausing and rewinding to see the hidden pop up of a animals. He used to joke about my room being so untidy that my socks would walk down of their own accord. A direct use of Young One's imagery which, until I saw it on screen I had no idea he had stolen it.

It is a sad fact of ageing that people we have grown up with, those who are instantly recognisable and who stir up memories, are lost.

Thank you for the laughs Rik. We lost a true comedy great of the modern age yesterday. RIP.

Is It Just Me?: Who Thinks Its Not That Farage Won, Its More That We All Hate Clegg?

Did you see the much hyped second debate between Lib Dem/Conservative Tea Boy Nick "Fame Seeker" Clegg and Nigel "Friendly Face of Racism and Sexism" Farage?

Those in the know are suggesting that Farage basically walked it, making Clegg look silly and lacking in any knowledge of what us, the electorate, want from Europe, and our continued place within it.

There was much of the expected usual fayre, with both men resembling two toddlers having a ruck- accusations of lying being the main point from both.

The thing is, I don't particularly like any of them. Don't get me wrong, I'm even less of a fan of Smugron and his Tory Eton Old Boys Club party, but I can't help think that it wasn't so much a win for Farage, but a case of most sensible, and former Lib Dem supporters, hating Clegg with a passion.

Why?

If you ask me, Clegg kind of resembles the kind of act you see on X Factor. You know the one, it happens every year. You get a band of spotty oiks, who have limited talent jump on stage, fronted by someone who is actually quite good (especially when backed by the less talented ones). 

They sit outside talking to Dermot, about how they have been through so much together, how they are like family and no chance of fame and fortune will ever rip them apart. They are tight, they believe in each other and all they stand for.

Then, they walked out on stage, and of course, the quite talented one gets told to ditch their scruples and go out on their own to seek fame. They may even get told to join a bunch of other, supposedly talented folk. It then all goes wrong and they go out in week 3 as they weren't that talented after all, to be shunned by their mates.

How is Clegg like this, I hear you ask? 

Well, think about it.


The Lib Dems have long been the third party. They had definite policies of being the party of the student, the disillusioned. My own parents voted for them. We always had a Lib Dem sign in our window come election time.

Then, Clegg got a bit bored of being in this party of losers, and on being told by Smugron that together they could lead the country, he jumped in with a party who are their polar opposite.

Straight away, all his promises, to support students against plans to bring in Fees went out the window. He chased fame and gave up everything he believed in.

Now, it's all going wrong, and whilst most of us are not fans of Smugron, he's just performing to type- greedy Tory who is only interested in his rich buddies and what they want- all of us who used to seek refuge with the Lib Dems are jumping ship.

Farage and his UKIP (BNP Lite for the Middle Classes) party of EU haters are no doubt going to hold the power if we get a hung parliament again. 

As for the Lib Dems, well, they're losing seats left right and Middle England to even wacky independent parties, such is the drive to ditch them.

Who will end up worse off as a result of the ConDem experiment? Without doubt the Lib Dems and Clegg. Even Smugron is distancing himself from Clegg- when asked on BBC Breakfast who he thought had won the debate his answer was not to support Clegg but to remark he didn't have anyone in the race.

Clegg is about to find out what happens when you ditch your mates in favour of fame.

Its a very lonely place out there Nick.

Silent Sunday, 20.01.2013

Is It Just Me: Who Thinks Radio 1 Should NOT Be Targeting 13-14 Year Olds?

You may or may not have seen this on the Entertainment news sections, but Nick Grimshaw- who took over from Chris Moyles as Breakfast Show host a few short months ago- has refused point blank to play any Robbie Williams songs, including his Number 1 record, Candy.

Now, yes, I am biased here being Robbie's Biggest Fan (Copyright me), but surely the fact that Rob happens to be Number 1 in the UK pop charts, and Radio One is meant to be a pop chart radio show, its a bit of a no brainer not to play Candy at the very least.

Is It Just Me: Who Thinks Music Isn't as Good as in the 90s?

*This post stems from a very late night/early morning conversation between myself and Elder. It may of been born from tiredness, or too much Cider. Just thought I should point that out*

Image: FreeDigitalPhotos.net

As long time readers and friendlies will know, I love music, I live in a music loving household, and music played quite a big part in Elder and I getting together. We're both part of a great Facebook site (although I'm more of a quiet observer) called The Yeah, Yeah Yeah, were the idea is that anything, musically, goes (except Bieber of course).


This sparked a debate between Elder and I as he was choosing tracks via Youtube to post to the site for other's to enjoy, he'd run out of ideas so I made some suggestions of my own.

Want to Help After the Riot?

After my frankly angry post towards our useless Prime Minister (who quoted exactly what I said he would about lessons being learned. Grr) it was brilliant to see the riot clean up posts on Twitter. People taking the time to go to the places hit, with brooms and bin bags, making tea and really showing that the UK can be a place that thrives on community.