Nobbut Laiking, by Ross Brewster
Just Maggie and me, and now Keir Starmer makes three. The Labour leader took his political life into his hands when he praised Margaret Thatcher’s courage and determination and her qualities of leadership.
I know people in his party who, even now, 10 years after the Iron Lady’s death, still cross themselves in horror at the mention of her name.
However I’m with Sir Keir on this one. I did not like her policies, but we sure knew who was in charge of the country, unlike today’s dismal Parliamentary specimens.
There’s never been a more polarising figure in British politics. I remember being sent out into the journalistic trenches to spend a day with Mrs Thatcher during one of her walkabouts.
I suspected some of my colleagues were a bit scared of Maggie. Be that as it may, she was charm itself. I only heard one dissenting voice. “Milk snatcher” came the cry from the back of the crowd. Even her critics were wary enough to adopt a cloak of anonymity,
Of course Mrs T’s questioners were prompted in advance. How else could she have told me that a man would fire off a question about education and her answer would be of considerable interest to me as a local topic. Right on cue the gentleman stepped forward and respectfully put his question and equally on cue Mrs Thatcher gave me the best quotes of the day. So much so she inquired if I had got a good shorthand note, or needed her to repeat any points she’d made.
In sixty years as a journalist I’ve met people from all shades of life, from top politicians to supposedly ordinary folk with a story to tell. One thing I learnt is there is no such thing as an ordinary person.
But when it comes to charisma, just two have stood out from the crowd, the late Queen and Margaret Thatcher. Both had the ability to work a crowd without appearing to be doing anything extraordinary. They embodied the word of the moment that’s found its way into the Oxford dictionary — rizz.
Sir Keir Starmer’s endorsement of Maggie’s bravery is seen by some as a cynical move to engage with centreist Tories in the shires, the traditional true blue voters who have grown weary of their own Tory party’s infighting. It’s a reversal of the situation before the 2019 election when electors in Labour red wall heartlands turned to Boris Johnson.
If he is sincere, then Starmer is suggesting it is alright to disagree agreeably and see some good in those whose views we might differ from. And with so much debate these days lapsing into tribal warfare, that can’t be a bad thing.
I’m sure Mrs Thatcher would have concurred, just as long as she could say at the end of the debate, “see, I was right all the time.”
My views have changed on assisted dying
Dylan Thomas entreated his readers to “rage, rage, against the dying of the light.” The Welsh poet hurried his end with excessive indulgence in booze. It is reported his last words followed 18 straight whiskies — “is that the record?”
But for many the opportunity to rage does not come so easily. Theirs can be a long and painful death. And as the law stands, if they choose assisted dying at Dignitas a relative or friend who accompanies them can face up to 14 years in prison.
Dame Esther Rantzen has brought assisted dying into the spotlight with her own lung cancer. I don’t call it a fight or a battle. Cancer is not a boxing match. Like motor neurone and other illnesses, it’s a cruel and all too common disease. For its victims the best hope is a pain free passing.
The last free vote in Parliament resulted in a heavy defeat for those who wanted to change the law. Dame Esther says it’s important that the law catches up with what the country wants, and attitudes to assisted dying have undoubtedly changed in recent years due in so small part to the testimony of people like the former That’s Life TV presenter.
I was an opponent until I got older and saw so many friends suffering. We treat our pets with more compassion. Thank goodness there are people who care, but it’s shameful that hospices have to rely on charity for two thirds of their income.
Keir Starmer seems to be moving towards a law change if he becomes Prime Minister. Many other countries have proved it’s possible to have assisted dying with strict safeguards. It’s high time we looked at this matter again.
Here’s how I stand with standing ovations
Standing ovations have crept into our theatres as something that’s almost obligatory at the end of a performance.
I get to the theatre a fair bit and it’s the indiscriminate ovations that irritate me. In the past year I’ve seen two outstanding productions that were deserving of every minute of their ovations. But I’ve also witnessed a number of good plays which have received similar plaudits.
Audiences pay their money and can do what they like, but a bit more discrimination between the ordinary, the good and the exceptional please.
