Comments on: Remembering ‘97 http://www.theliberati.net/quaequamblog/2007/05/07/remembering-97/ "crass, boorish and more a bruiser than blogger" - Alex Wilcock Wed, 03 Dec 2008 23:32:58 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: James Graham http://www.theliberati.net/quaequamblog/2007/05/07/remembering-97/#comment-52221 James Graham Mon, 07 May 2007 23:44:20 +0000 http://www.theliberati.net/quaequamblog/2007/05/07/remembering-97/#comment-52221 You're right: there's a whole slew of Labour MPs I'd just love to see humiliated. Many of them have ultra-safe seats (even more ultra-safe than Portillos) though, so I may be in for a long wait. The other thing that I forgot to mention was watching Iain Duncan Smith being interviewed by Paxo, clearly relishing every second of his own party's defeat, utterly wrapped up in the party's civil war (it worked both ways, with John Sopel reading out a Tory Reform Group press release that was startlingly visceral). Within 4 years, the fools had elected the man as leader - if this coverage had been shown in September 2001, somehow I suspect the result would have been different. You’re right: there’s a whole slew of Labour MPs I’d just love to see humiliated. Many of them have ultra-safe seats (even more ultra-safe than Portillos) though, so I may be in for a long wait.

The other thing that I forgot to mention was watching Iain Duncan Smith being interviewed by Paxo, clearly relishing every second of his own party’s defeat, utterly wrapped up in the party’s civil war (it worked both ways, with John Sopel reading out a Tory Reform Group press release that was startlingly visceral). Within 4 years, the fools had elected the man as leader - if this coverage had been shown in September 2001, somehow I suspect the result would have been different.

]]> By: Alex Wilcock http://www.theliberati.net/quaequamblog/2007/05/07/remembering-97/#comment-52203 Alex Wilcock Mon, 07 May 2007 22:58:20 +0000 http://www.theliberati.net/quaequamblog/2007/05/07/remembering-97/#comment-52203 Thanks for that, James – we heard from a friend this afternoon that we were on and just missed ourselves (as far as we know, it’s the only clear TV shot of the two of us together!), but still enjoyed a bit of it. I’d forgotten the Death Star trench graphic, which was fantastic – Richard suggested a CGI New Labour Godzilla to smash everything in its path – but I’d not forgotten just how much fun it was to see the Conservatives demolished. Even then, I took no pleasure in Labour’s victory (and got heckled at the count for saying they’d be just like the Tories, after my glorious far-distant third), but seeing all those Tory ministers in scowling defeat, even ten years later it would take a heart of stone not to laugh. You’re right that Mr Cameron couldn’t get the same effect yet; is that because, much as we all loathe the Blair-Brown lot, we still don’t loathe them <i>quite</i> as much? Actually, I’m just imagining Hazel Blears frowning as a tide of Tories, Lib Dems or Monster Raving Loonies sweeps her away, and I withdraw my previous remark. It’d still be incredibly funny. One of the most memorable moments of the night you <i>nearly </i>mention a few minutes before we appeared was not Michael Portillo’s defeat itself, but John Redwood’s reaction as he watches that result. Obviously not knowing the camera was on him, there’s an obvious flicker of a smile before he thinks to hide it! Thanks for that, James – we heard from a friend this afternoon that we were on and just missed ourselves (as far as we know, it’s the only clear TV shot of the two of us together!), but still enjoyed a bit of it. I’d forgotten the Death Star trench graphic, which was fantastic – Richard suggested a CGI New Labour Godzilla to smash everything in its path – but I’d not forgotten just how much fun it was to see the Conservatives demolished. Even then, I took no pleasure in Labour’s victory (and got heckled at the count for saying they’d be just like the Tories, after my glorious far-distant third), but seeing all those Tory ministers in scowling defeat, even ten years later it would take a heart of stone not to laugh. You’re right that Mr Cameron couldn’t get the same effect yet; is that because, much as we all loathe the Blair-Brown lot, we still don’t loathe them quite as much?

Actually, I’m just imagining Hazel Blears frowning as a tide of Tories, Lib Dems or Monster Raving Loonies sweeps her away, and I withdraw my previous remark. It’d still be incredibly funny.

One of the most memorable moments of the night you nearly mention a few minutes before we appeared was not Michael Portillo’s defeat itself, but John Redwood’s reaction as he watches that result. Obviously not knowing the camera was on him, there’s an obvious flicker of a smile before he thinks to hide it!

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