Last edited Wed Apr 10, 2013, 03:10 AM - Edit history (1)

...I don't rate Ed Miliband all that much, but the way David Miliband has chosen to flounce out of UK politics suggests to me that it's for the best that he didn't become Labour leader. We need whoever is Leader of Her Majesty's Opposition to be somebody who sticks around for the fight.

When all is said, he could have been an important part of Labour's front bench.

... though I've met his brother and rather liked him.

If that's what he wants to do, so be it. It seems a worthwhile cause, though I'm not sure what his qualifications for running it are.

The Skin

My one concern here is that so many British politicians seem to head for the USA if their careers here are not working out quite as they want (notably Tony Blair!) Nothing wrong with that in itself, but it contributes to the impression that our own politicians are increasingly regarding us as the 51st state.

Especially given that David Miliband could have been a very senior member of the shadow cabinet if he'd wanted it.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-22393094

SOUTH SHIELDS RESULT
Emma Lewell-Buck (Labour) 12,493 votes
Richard Elvin (UK Independence Party) 5,988 votes
Karen Allen (Conservatives) 2,857 votes
Ahmed Khan (Independent) 1,331 votes
Phil Brown (Independent Socialist Party) 750 votes
Lady Dorothy Macbeth Brookes (BNP) 711 votes
Hugh Annand (Liberal Democrats) 352 votes
Howling Laud Hope (The Official Monster Raving Loony Party) 197 votes
Thomas Faithful Darwood (Independent) 57 votes

"Lady Dorothy Macbeth Brookes "? Is anyone really called 'Lady Macbeth'?

A couple of days ago UKIP were going to win this, according to the press, or at least do better than at Eastleigh.

The local paper's headline today was "Labour Wins But UKIP is the Real Story". I can remember when coming first was the real story.

Meanwhile, the rest of the politicians take one look at the Baggy Trousered One and metamorphose into a pack of Corporal Joneses, rushing around shouting "Don't Panic!".

Remember you heard it first on Radio Skin. THE BUBBLE WILL BURST. IT ALWAYS DOES!

The Skin

Yes, the UKIP percentage is worrying; but to put it into perspective, the Labour candidate won an absolute majority of the vote, and UKIP came nowhere near. Admittedly, it would have been worrying if Labour hadn't won, as according to Wikipedia they've hed the seat since 1935, and it is the only constutuency in England that has never had a Conservative MP at any time since the Great Reform Act!

I like the new MP's comments:

'As the result was announced, she said: "Mr Cameron, when working families needed a government on their side, you made them pay for a tax cut for millionaires.

"When our young people needed jobs, you gave them a shrinking economy, and when the most vulnerable people in our society were really struggling you gave them the bedroom tax."

Ms Lewell-Buck added: "I will help get people back to work, champion our wonderful town and never give the Tory government one moment's peace."'

Hope she sticks to it!

Dorothy Macbeth Brookes--who gave her a knighthood?

But seriously, why the title Lady?

and the 'Macbeth' may be too. Or she may be the daughter of some minor duke, marquess or earl (like "Lady Diana Spencer", before she was married). If it is a real title, and she's using it 'correctly', she'd have it from being someone's daughter - that's the only time you put in the female first name, I think.

Can you be charged if you incorrectly add the title of Lady or Sir to your name?

It didn't seem to be a problem for Lord Sutch. I can find references to "Lady Dorothy Brookes" and "Lady Dorothy Brooke" on BNP and related websites dating back to August last year, so it wasn't just adopted for this by-election. Though I can find plain "Dorothy Brooke" as well, which was what she stood as for the Tynemouth seat in the 2010 general election.

When it comes down to it, it's hard to care about her name. She's in the BNP, which is enough to tell us she's full of shit.