Monday September 10th: The metamorphosis begins...Remember the good old days - when Gordon listened. He was a rock in the foot and mouth days. Unflappable on the morning of the terrorist threat.Resolute in the face of the floods. But alas, he is looking to prove his similarity to Thatcher straight off the bat. The Guardian website reports today that he told the Trades Union Congress that he would not make promises on pay rises that would jeopardise the economy.
"No loss of discipline, no resort to the easy options, no unaffordable promises, no taking risks with inflation. So let me be straightforward with you - pay discipline is essential to prevent inflation, to maintain growth and create more jobs - and so that we never return to the old boom and bust of the past."
The Gentleman, it seems, is not for turning.
Gordon has also pledged to provide 500,000 British people with jobs. The move, it is hoped, will bring Britain closer to full employment than ever before. But will it work? To be honest I'm not sure. Back in my student days, I know that there were occasions when I should have been trawling through the classifieds for employment, but decided that one more episode of Everybody Loves Raymond was infinitely preferrable. Therein lies a potential fly in Gordon's ointment. If they turn off all TV between 9AM and 5PM, there would be no more "I just want to see how Jeremy Kyle sorts this one out" or getting sucked into Location, Location, Location because you didn't fancy the black and white film on BBC2. Just productivity. A busy worker is a happy worker. The entire nation will move as one, like a finally tuned engine, hurtling along the rails into a metaphorical Waterloo; a Golden Age of prosperity for all. By God, Gordon will put the labour into Labour.
The Telgraph had Beverley Knight reviewing, last night's show for them. She's supported Prince twice during his run and has apparently owned the place both times. I went one better, and got Ronan 'Spartacus' George on it. "The Purple One reigned supreme." Ronan says. "A genius and a true heir to Little Richard, Chuck Berry and James Brown (to name a few). The first hour was like the greatest party you've ever been to. Then the man, armed with his piano, sang to us. Just because he can. A jewel of a night." Spartacus, you're a poet
And so, on we shuffle, with just under a fortnight left, the Big Clunking Fist and Mr. Goodnight are still going at it toe to toe. This one could go down to a points decision...
