Whereas usually steering effectively away from British politics I admit to having loved latest reside TV classes of the UK Parliament. The weekly Prime Minister’s Query Time (PMQ) held on Wednesdays is way extra entertaining than any cleaning soap opera. Witnessing the verbal jousting because the PM makes an attempt to side-step a withering grilling is sheer theatre. It’s virtually like being the accused within the dock at a court docket listening to.
At occasions the exchanges may be juvenile however not less than we’re within the wholesome scenario of witnessing the highest politician within the kingdom having to reply awkward questions — now that is democracy in motion, up entrance and in your face. There are few nations on the earth the place you possibly can observe a pacesetter endure such a cross-examination.
Boris Johnson has been on the again foot lately and has appeared exhausted after every session. The Every day Mail likened final Monday’s parliamentary exchanges to “The Recreation of Thrones with out the Dragons”.
Understandably only a few British PMs have appeared ahead to PMQ with one equating it to being in a “bear pit”. Harold Macmillan was mentioned to really feel bodily ailing earlier than query time whereas Harold Wilson hated it and was recognized to fortify himself with a brandy or two beforehand.
The immensity of the pressure was most successfully described by former premier Tony Blair who in his autobiography likened PMQ to the tooth extraction scene in Marathon Man. He known as it “probably the most nerve-wracking, discombobulating, nail-biting, bowel transferring, terror-inspiring, courage-draining expertise”.
Anybody fancy being British PM?
Matter of debate
New prime ministers are at their most weak at their first PMQ. Greeting Margaret Thatcher on her maiden go to to the despatch field in Could 1979, Labour MP Stanley Clinton-Davis cautioned her with “In replying to all questions will she please not be too strident”.
When John Main bought as much as make his debut at PMQ in Nov 1990, earlier than he had the prospect to utter a phrase he was greeted by a shout of “Resign!” from Labour’s Dennis Skinner. He most likely later wished he had taken that recommendation.
One of many wittiest politicians to grace the Home of Commons was Labour’s Denis Healey. Throughout one parliamentary session (not PMQ) after he had been attacked by the usually docile Geoffrey Howe he got here up with the luxurious “being criticised by him is like being savaged by a useless sheep”.
The artwork of insults
Insults are usually not confined to politics though we must always not overlook Sir Winston Churchill’s put-down of Labour politician Sir Stafford Cripps that “he has all of the virtues I dislike and not one of the vices I love”.
Churchill’s remark is an effective instance of an period when many insults had a contact of sophistication because of an efficient mixture of favor, sophistication and wit.
The world of literature was all the time fertile floor for put-downs. William Faulkner had a operating feud with fellow writer Ernest Hemingway and commented: “He has by no means been recognized to make use of a phrase that may ship a reader to the dictionary.” To which Hemingway shortly responded: “Poor Faulkner. Does he actually assume large feelings come from large phrases?”
Then there was Truman Capote’s blunt evaluation of Jack Kerouac: “That is not writing, that is typing.”
That is leisure
Present enterprise has all the time been a wealthy supply of insults. After a disagreement with one actor Mae West remarked: “His mom ought to have thrown him away and stored the stork”.
West, nevertheless was usually on the receiving finish of barbs with WC Fields calling her “a plumber’s thought of Cleopatra”.
One other actress who needed to put up with insults was Elizabeth Taylor however she produced a superb reposte: “A few of my greatest main males have been canines and horses.”
Sounds of discord
There may be an oft-quoted case when American movie director Billy Wilder after listening to a younger actor attempting to sing remarked: “You’ve gotten Van Gogh’s ear for music.” Some declare the actor responded “Gee, thanks”.
I fairly just like the remark by Austra- lian critic Clive James on pop singer Rod Stewart: “He has a sexy voice and a extremely unattractive backside. In his live performance performances he spends extra time wagging the latter than exercising the former…”
Classical composers weren’t proof against put-downs. A favorite goal was Richard Wagner. Composer Gioachino Rossini commented: “Wagner has lovely moments however terrible quarters of an hour.” Mark Twain supplied one other back-handed praise: “Wagner’s music is best than it sounds.”
The ginger rat
Again to UK parliamentary issues. Veteran Labour politician Harriet Harman, 71, lately introduced she is going to step down on the subsequent election. It is a pity as she was accountable for an entertaining parliamentary episode a number of years in the past.
Again in 2010 she referred to a Scottish political foe who occurred to have purple hair as being a “ginger rodent”. This precipitated uproar significantly in Scotland and he or she later apologised after being accused of blatant “gingerism”.
Recognizing a very good enterprise alternative an Inverness brewery shortly got here up with a brand new beer known as “Ginger Rodent”. The brew proved so well-liked that it wasn’t lengthy earlier than it was being served within the Strangers’ Bar on the Home of Commons with Ms Harman having the honour of pulling the primary pint.
Frankly, Boris appeared like he might have accomplished with a slurp of Ginger Rodent after his grilling this week.
Contact PostScript through e mail at oldcrutch@hotmail.com
Roger Crutchley
Bangkok Submit columnist
A very long time well-liked Bangkok Submit columnist. In 1994 he received the Ayumongkol Literary Award. For a few years he was Sports activities Editor on the Bangkok Submit.
E-mail : oldcrutch@gmail.com
