There are so many reasons in which to admire my ‘independently spirited’ MP, despite the Labour Party banner than Kate Hoey still somehow manages to associate herself with. The MP for Vauxhall does a lot of wonderful things around the constituency. Her fight against the Neo Cons in the borough actively pursuing a repressive social housing policy, has to be welcomed.
But it all comes down to how the chuffers can I vote for a woman who demonises cycling in the same way that the Daily Mail demonises other sections of society?
Speaking of which…
Those with good memories [hello!] may recall how Hoey wrote in the MoS back in 2003:
“The real menace on Britain’s roads are selfish, aggressive, law-breaking and infuriatingly smug lycra louts.”
Present and correct, Madam - although the selfish, aggressive and law-breaking description isn not something I personally attach to myself. I do LOVE lycra though.
My MP was even moved to write in the MoS on how she is purer than pure when it comes to observing transport laws, with quaint tales of a childhood past:
“From my fifth birthday until I was 11 l rode four miles each day to primary school. But even then I had been taught to stop at crossroads and use hand signals.”
Well lookey, lookey HERE.
Whoops.
Running a red in central London has just cost my MP £240. The financial imapct probably won’t damage her, but the political fallout might be a bit of a problem.
Espcially so when her behaviour is identical to the very same actions that she demonsied a decade ago:
“As I waited patiently at the traffic lights near Parliament with a police car behind me, a cyclist rode past at a fair old speed straight through the red light. The police totally ignored the incident.”
Kate Hoey has yet to declare her intentions come 2015. It would be a shame if the Neo Con Nu Labour party in Lambeth finally got its way and managed to remove my ‘independently spirited’ MP.
If she is to stand at the next election, a much-delayed apology for criticising ALL cyclists in such a crass manner might just help her in a constituency where non-car ownership is now the norm.
“I absolutely love local newspapers and had many a happy year on them before the move to Fleet St. The work involved was very similar to the nationals on occasion but mostly it was a genre all of it’s own. Often cheesy but also challenging it provided a great training ground.”
Eddie Mullholland opens up his Transpontine archive from his days at the SLP.
Something to make you smile, as well as feel sorrowful.
“I’ve had a wonderful year, travelled, looking up old acquaintances. Cancer comes. It’s going to kill you. People often talk about a brave fight against cancer. That’s not my way of approaching it. Any fight is a losing battle. I accept what is going to happen. I’m very grateful for these few months that I have had.”
Wilko Johnson, still rather awkwardly walking it like he talks it across the stage.
Long may it continue.