In architecture, a folly is a building constructed primarily for decoration, but either suggesting through its appearance some other purpose, or merely appearing to be so extravagant that it transcends the normal range of garden ornaments or the class of building to which it belongs.
Ed is planning to put one in the back garden of number ten.
Now, I’m n danger of being perceived as entirely anti-Ed, which isn’t true. So, let’s open this out. Any other memorable follies Afterworders can think of, political or otherwise?
Here is the title song for the TV series Rock Follies. Andy MacKay made more money for the soundtrack than anything anyone had earned from Roxy Music up to that point. It was a big hit!
I have a horrible feeling, as the Telegraph was suggsting this morning, that this could be Ed’s Kinnock moment.
Like the Telegraph is an impartial observer!
They aren’t the only ones. The Guardian are scathing and they have been solidly behind Ed and Labour all campaign.
Tigger, for balance, in what ways are you not anti-Miliband? Two “anti” blog posts in four days and I’m not sure I can recall you saying a good word about him on here.
You’re right about the garden ornament, mind. I think it was a misguided attempt to highlight the fact that, even at this late stage of the game, we’re still not allowed to know what the Tories are actually planning to do with a second term.
Whatever misgivings you might have about Miliband’s campaign, the Conservatives have been far, far worse: one of the most negative, reductive platforms I can ever recall from a major party.
There was a time, a week or so back, when I was impressed with his resilience under constant attack. I made a comment to that effect buried on another thread. I’ve become less impressed this week.
I’m annoyed because I expect better from Labour. These aren’t policies. They are platitudes cooked up in their blessed focus groups. The Tories are hateful. I feel for the Lib Dems and hope they hold more seats than expected but they don’t have a prayer where I live.
I have a knot in my stomach!
I would say that the 2005 campaign run by Labour equals the current Conservatives in negativity and I would argue they were far more culpable given that Conservatives were widely perceived then as not being a viable government in any way. The fact is that negativity works for the incumbent government in election campaigning, it has worked in the past and it may work again. I don’t like it any more than you do.
There wasn’t an election in 2005… unless I slept through it.
Were you asleep all day 5th May 2005 when Tony Blair won his third term trouncing Michael Howard’s Conservatives?
Apparently…
Until a couple of weeks ago I was starting to feel ever so slightly confident that Labour might just pull it off. But not now – the debates, the failure to clearly articulate a vision, the tactical ineptitude of how they’ve dealt with the SNP question – and now this. It has to be the stupidest election stunt ever by any party. Never mind Kinnock, I think he is becoming Michael Foot and this could end a lot worse than has been predicted. I hope to God I’m wrong because Cameron has had a shocker of a campaign as well.
The ‘set in stone’ thing is… interesting. It’s certainly got people talking about Labour’s key pledges, so it’s possibly a good thing, on balance.
At this stage, my view remains as it was at the beginning: Cameron’s best hope is the SNP. If the nats win on the scale suggested by the polls, then the Tories will be the biggest party and Cameron back as PM. This is, of course, the best possible outcome for the SNP.
Any thoughts that the nats will not vote with the Tories to bring down a minority Labour government have been knocked on the head by Nicola Sturgeon’s statement that the SNP will return to 1979 form and do exactly that.
While on the subject, I don’t think you need to be Edmund Burke to be slightly queasy about the prospect of nat MPs acting under orders from a non-MP. One whose orders can no longer be questioned publicly, by decision of SNP conference. Dark days. Dark, dark days.
This has broken my dream – I remember a pub in Stebbing where they had a Rula Lenska/Dennis Waterman charity poster. Just in front of the peanut calendar.
Oh. I’m sorry about that, Rob. How can I make it up to you?
A King James Bible would do the job. Nice one Tigs.
Here it is, online!
http://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org
You are welcome.
I’m a big fan of the two Rock Follies albums. Both in my top 100 list. I always thought some of the songs would sound great covered by Queen. Or even Floyd. And someone should update it as a stage musical the, songs are so good.
For the AW youngsters who grew up with proper telly programmes and a choice of channels and so no nothing of how fresh and exciting a weekly rock drama was, here’s the final song on the second album. It sums up the whole story and pain and disappointment felby the characters at the end of it.
The band has split after newcomer Rox formed a natural centre-stage partnership with Dee that changed the band’s character and dynamic, casting the other two members, Q and Anna, unwillingly into the shadows.
The first verse is sung by camp, posh girl Q (Rula Lenska). Second by failed Shakesperean actress Anna (Charlotte Cornwall – who is John Le Carre’s sister). Third by Dee (Julie Covington), the only really talented singer and serious rocker in the band. The forth by Rox (Sue Jones-Davies, “Welsh tart” in Life of Brian and ex-Mayor of Aberwisthwyth) who has unwittingly destroyed everything by making the band successful.
(Nb. This clip is from the programme, but the music is actually considerably better on the CD, having been completely re-recorded).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IuiAhmDfsW4