mostly harmless issue 9

8/8/2019 Mostly Harmless Issue 9

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8 COMMENT MOSTLY HARMLESS EASTER 2008

IN PRAISE OF THE INCOMPETENT MAN

There's something refreshing aboutinadequate politicians. They don't havethat veneer; that deft touch with which

to skirt around an inquisitor's trickery.London's three candidates for Mayor -Boris, Ken, and the other bloke - arethree such men.

Last week, BBC's Question Timeshowcased them to the nation. "SHUTUP!" squealed the Lib Dem man asBoris bumbled and mumbled his wayto the end of a sentence. Unseemly?Perhaps. Though an acceptable barb inlocal political debate, it wouldn't ever

happen with Gordo and Dave.Dimbleby goes on to suggest toKen that the Olympic bid was a "con-trick" to ensnare the government intoregenerating the East End of London.You expect a side-step, a rephrasing ofthe question. Instead: "It was! This hasworked just as I planned", like theproud little boy who'd just elicited freecandy from the hapless man in thecornershop. Nothing silver-tongued or

weasel-wordy about that one. It was ananswer with which Paxman might wellhave skewered a ministerial career on

Newsnight.

These colourful characters,however, can get away with characterflaws and unseemly gaffes whichwould rarely pass muster on thenational political scene. In the latestmasterclass in unintentionalbuffoonery, Boris suggested to anAsian radio DJ: "I'm down with theethnics. I'll out-ethnic you", whilstKen repeatedly refuses to disassociate

himself from unsavoury characters ofevery ilk, seemingly trying to remainin touch with his 'revolutionary' past.

Cabinet ministers resign for farless. They live in fear of verbal slipsand perceptions of impropriety.They're held to a standard whichdemands awkward answers to straightquestions on a daily basis.

The instinctive reaction is, ofcourse, that it doesn't quite matter asmuch when we're talking local politics.Boris can't invade Iran, or castScotland adrift, can he? Perhaps not. In

spite of their defects and shamboliccampaigns, though, there's somethingrefreshing about a political climatewhich doesn't dismiss these men fortheir frank, often impolitic approach tothe game. Ken might have five kids,Boris might have many more, but it'san election fought with far frankerdiscussions about policy andcompetence than most.

SIDDHARTH KHAJURIA FINDS SOME POSITIVES IN ALL THE BUFFOONERY OF THE MAYORAL RACE

Ill out-ethnic you


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MOSTLYHARMLESS EASTER 2008 MISCELLANY13

When the going gets weird, the weird start recruiting.Greeted by blank faces and offerings of strange, tastelessfruit, the mad men meander onwards blindly towards thecoming Armageddon and their own inevitable destruction.

Alas, MHs current editors leave for the terrifyingbleakness of the outside world in June, so the paper needs anew group of people to take it forward. After exams well beholding elections for editorial and design staff to run thingsnext year. Nows a very good time to get involved if you

want to play a part in the future.As ever, if you want to: edit, write, copy edit, design,

draw, letterbox or get involved with any aspect of puttingtogether MostlyHarmless, drop us a line.

[email protected]

Ben Whittle

MOSTLYHARMLESSNEEDS YOU


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mostly harmless issue 9

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