Campaigning in Islington with James Purnell

I WAS out in Islington today helping Labour’s St. George’s ward candidates Alex Smith, Jessica Asato and Gary Heather collect signatures for the campaign to save the Whittington Hospital and its A&E department.

The response on the doorstep was really positive, with many residents - regardless of political affiliation - signing the petition. In terms of voter ID-ing, again, the response was very encouraging, a lot of Labour supporters, nothing like the portents of doom portrayed by pessimistic bloggers and the national media.

Among the fellow canvassers was man-of-the-moment James Purnell, one-time Islington councillor and until recently resident in the borough, who announced he was standing down from parliament yesterday. It was great to see him!

Also out, in addition to James and the candidates, were Tollington ward councillor Richard Watts, Lucy Openshaw, Anna Turley and Anthony Painter - described by AP as a New Labour “campaigning dream team”.

I couldn’t agree more! :)

Next Saturday, the campaign to save the Whittington steps up a gear with a midday demonstration from Highbury Corner to the hospital with Islington Labour MPs Jeremy Corbyn and Emily Thornberry.

For more information check out these links:

• Save the Whittington Hospital Campaign website
• Alex and Jess’s St George’s Labour Party blog

EXCLUSIVE: Blur drummer: BRITS are a disgrace and Liam’s rude & obnoxious

FIFTEEN years on, 15 years, and it seems the rivalry between Britpop’s finest remains as strong as ever.

Last night, Blur drummer and Labour parliamentary candidate Dave Rowntree told me Liam Gallagher’s behaviour at Tuesday’s BRIT awards was nothing new, and shouldn’t have come as a surprise:

“He’s made a career out of being rude and obnoxious. It’s no way to behave, it’s how he’s always been, it’s no surprise.”

Rowntree also took aim at the awards themselves, adding:

“The BRITS are a disgrace aren’t they? I mean is that really the best of British music?!”

Wondering what’s the story (my early morning glory)? Definitely? Maybe here’s a little clue...

Can’t say I share Dave’s outrage, gotta say I was watching Liam thinking “Attaboy! Get in!!” - though I do agree with his general assessment of the UK music scene.

It was another sorry indictment of the Cowell-isation of British music, with “X-Factor” graduates JLS and Cheryl Cole stealing the headlines, the only high notes coming from Alicia and Jay Z - neither of whom are BRITS - and Robbie, a ridiculously young winner of the lifetime achievement award.

Oh well, there’s always next year, maybe even a gong for Blur, to sit alongside all Dave’s others in his big big house, very big house in the country ♪ ♫ ♪ ♫ ♪ ♫ ♪ ...

• Summer ’95: Blur v Oasis
• Dave Rowntree for Westminster

New anti Tory Terry poster campaign launched

NO EXPLANATION necessary...

• Design your own at mydavidcameron.com
• View some more here and over at Left Foot Forward

Feeling blue on red rose day? Here's some tunez to cheer you up! :)

FIRST UP, Katy Perry and 3oh!3 burning up the charts with Starstrukk:

♫ ♪ N-n-n-n-nice legs, Daisy Dukes,
Makes a man go woo-woo
That's the way they all come through like woo-woo woo-woo
Low-cut, seeee-through shirts that make ya woo-woo woo-woo
That's the way she come through like woowoo w-w-w-woo... ♪

♪ ♫ Tight jeans, double-ds makin’ me go woo-woo
All the people on the street know woo-woo woo-woo
Iced out, lit-up, make the kids go woo-woo woo-woo
All the people on the street know woowoo w-w-w-woo... ♫

Hubba hubba! ;)

Next, Alicia and Jay-Z; what city, what a video, what a tune! First heard it in the States last October:

... the memories, the memories! :P

And how about those kids from Glee? One of the all time feel good good time songs:

Listen and be happy, everybody!

Forget all your troubles, quit feeling sorry for yourself and smiiiiiiile!!!!

Third of Brits believe Peter Griffin leads the BNP

I KNOW, I know, you don’t know whether to laugh or cry at the stupidity of your fellow Brit; on balance, it’s best just to laugh, and ponder for a second what Seth MacFarlane makes of it all.

The surprusing (or maybe not) results come from a poll of 1,498 members of the public carried out by “the UK’s leading discount code and voucher site”, ‘myvouchercodes.co.uk’ - “a great way to save money when you shop online”. Allegedly.

The survey also revealed that more people recognised celebrity nonentity Jordan’s new husband Alex Reid than Gordon Brown, with 47 per cent of those polled saying Jeremy Clarkson would make the best celebrity PM.

So now you know. It’s official. TV and celeb culture have taken over people’s minds!

And with that, I bid you good-night; don’t have nightmares, do sleep well...