An impressionistic outlet for some of those thoughts, musical and otherwise, I don't have a chance to air in the media
Tuesday, 14 February 2017
Do svidanya, 'Nuttalls of Ukips'?
This sad man, our very own alternative-facts-lover on an even lower level if possible than Gove, Johnson et al, is now surely on the way out, following confirmation that claims about losing close friends at the Hillsborough disaster on his website were false*. Will the good citizens of Stoke take note in this post-shame era? Anyway, it's time again to enjoy that masterly and fine-tuned rant against Nuttall and his like from the great Stewart Lee (somehow the plurals are funny in themselves). The 'bloody immigrants, coming over here' voyage back through history, based on a statement from the lovely Paul, dates from 2013 but doesn't date and never will so long as there's prejudice around. For some reason it's not embeddable, but this is a neat preface with damning straight-to-camera address to Nuttall of Liverpool**.
And now see the whole big speech, the best bit of comedy on the internet I think I've ever seen.
*Nuttall's website manager took responsibility and resigned. But it was up there, until removal, as a direct quotation from the man himself. And now he's on record as saying the same thing twice to the BBC. Time for him to go, without a shadow of a doubt. But there is no shame from such folk.
**Nor does Liverpool want him back, as its Mayor made clear in no uncertain terms. Maybe the White House or the Kremlin can find him a kennel within their precincts?
There is one element in this, not the main one, but very relevant. The bright people in countries which are not even poor want to leave. The position for doctors in Hungary ( and no doubt Bulgaria ) is one case. As soon as young doctors qualify they want to move to Germany or England for a much higher standard of living for themselves and their families. The government of Hungary asks them to stay and is thinking of stern ways of keeping them - what about the ill people of Hungary? The people we would most welcome should stay at home - but why should they?
The speech which was quoted said inter alia that the bright people should stay in Bulgaria and assist in the development of that country. In whatever context that comment was made, I extracted it as it is a point which should be made more often. Some weeks ago I heard a BBC programme on the doctors of Hungary and it was tragic listening to the young doctor who wanted to double his standard of living ( and his prospects and those of his children) by going to Germany and the Hungarian minister who wanted doctors in Hungary. Thus, when we speak of the ability of EU people to move between EU countries, which sounds well in principle, we should think also of the home countries. It is probably a worse "theft" of talent if one is speaking of desperately poor countries. Sorry that this is a bit of a tangent, but you probably know my snipe like mind by now.
Unfortunately you would seem to be siding with 'Nuttalls of Ukips' there, though his snipe was purely couched in terms of 'let them stay at home'. I agree that it's very sad for countries to suffer 'brain drain's. Very tangential under the circumstances, though...
There is one element in this, not the main one, but very relevant. The bright people in countries which are not even poor want to leave. The position for doctors in Hungary ( and no doubt Bulgaria ) is one case. As soon as young doctors qualify they want to move to Germany or England for a much higher standard of living for themselves and their families. The government of Hungary asks them to stay and is thinking of stern ways of keeping them - what about the ill people of Hungary? The people we would most welcome should stay at home - but why should they?
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure I quite grasp the essential point you're making.
ReplyDeleteThe speech which was quoted said inter alia that the bright people should stay in Bulgaria and assist in the development of that country. In whatever context that comment was made, I extracted it as it is a point which should be made more often. Some weeks ago I heard a BBC programme on the doctors of Hungary and it was tragic listening to the young doctor who wanted to double his standard of living ( and his prospects and those of his children) by going to Germany and the Hungarian minister who wanted doctors in Hungary. Thus, when we speak of the ability of EU people to move between EU countries, which sounds well in principle, we should think also of the home countries. It is probably a worse "theft" of talent if one is speaking of desperately poor countries. Sorry that this is a bit of a tangent, but you probably know my snipe like mind by now.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately you would seem to be siding with 'Nuttalls of Ukips' there, though his snipe was purely couched in terms of 'let them stay at home'. I agree that it's very sad for countries to suffer 'brain drain's. Very tangential under the circumstances, though...
ReplyDeleteYou're right, David, pure comic genius. I cried with laughter.
ReplyDelete