The good ol’ TV debate issue
Ros Taylor goes where countless others (even me), trying to work out exactly why it is that Mr Blair refuses to take part in a debate with the other two main party leaders.
But there’s even more to recommend about this particular page, because of this lovely anecdote from ‘Vioce 1’:
“Hands up all those whose parents will be voting Labour on May 5?” he asked. Every hand went up except one.
“What’s wrong with that poor child’s arms?” the Minister asked the teacher, while gesturing at my pal’s immobile daughter.
“Nothing to do with her health care, is it?” he whispered in rising panic, as he envisaged his photo opp turning into another government NHS trap.
“No, there’s nothing wrong with her arms,” teacher confirmed.
“You didn’t raise your hand, my dear,” said the relieved Minister. “Which party would you vote for?”
“The Scottish Socialist Party.”
“And why would you vote for them?” he mocked.
“Well, my dad says none of you are worth voting for, but he says if he did vote that’s who he would vote for, so I’d be a Scottish Socialist, too.”
“Well,” said the Minister, “that’s no reason for you to vote for the SSP. You don’t always have to be like your parents. I mean, what if your mum and dad were thieves and vagabonds, you wouldn’t be a thief and a vagabond, too, would you?”
“No,” she agreed. “I’d be voting for you.”
I do love that kind of story.
This post was filed under: Election 2005.