Making make believe

Not an excoriation of the political class this morning, but in praise of regional theatre. 


First, the myth that those of us who live in London are out at the theatre all the time. It's just not true. I suppose I've averaged about one visit a year in London - in contrast to the days I still lived in Suffolk, when half a dozen plays a year was not uncommon. The reason for this was regional rep theatre; a small company of players in a modest venue with an ambitious repertoire. In the course of a season, they'd mount whatever Shakespeare was on the Cambridge 'O' level syllabus for that year, a whodunnit, something by Ibsen or Chekov, a panto, and something slightly edgy written by a post-war Lesbian. If the rep theatre in Ipswich wasn't playing what you wanted, a short trip up the road to the gem of a Georgian rep theatre in Bury St Edmunds was there. And if Malvolio bore a slight resemblance to the chap in the trilby in last weeks 'The Ghost Train' or to the rich chap in 'Little Foxes', then it was soon forgotten in the suspension of belief that makes great theatre. 


Ipswich Rep closed many years ago and became a pub. The first time I met someone for a drink there, I couldn't believe how small it was; we were sitting at a table on what had been the stage and it was tiny. Yet I had known this space to be a convincing Danish castle hall, a busy London street and countless vast Edwardian drawing rooms. Whatever magic had been at work had all departed; I searched intently at the floorboards, expecting perhaps to see something, some trace of all the actors footsteps perhaps, but they were just timber boards. Bury Rep is still there, but without a rep company. They just host touring acts these days. 


The members of the rep companies earned practically nothing. In the 1980s, as Assistant Stage Manager, or 'gofer', would earn £41.50 for a 60-hour week plus free dog-biscuits (one of the sponsors was an animal feed mill). I'm not sure why they all folded; TV and video, I suppose. Or easier money being an extra on the 'Bill'. Or Health and Safety. Or the gubbment ruling that they couldn't do Shakespeare or Ibsen any more as it was 'elitist' and they had to put on plays no-one would come to by new black playwrights. And it's this latter interference in the arts that infuriates me.


If you want a play that's 'intellectually accessible' to use the jargon to a Somali, a Pashtun and a chap from Southern Sudan simultaneously, you can't do better than Shakespeare, or Kit Marlowe; indeed, they'd understand 'Tamburlaine' with an insight few sheltered Anglians would have. Yet the poor buggers are condemned to sit through some patronising drivel from an untalented nobody with an Arts Council grant who is inchoately angry about their bottom or whatever.


Let's roll back those large cash-hungry regional theatres with well-paid staffs and press officers, all dependent on tax cash. Let's encourage rep companies to re-emerge, in their own small theatres, making make-believe and bringing joy and wonder to ordinary folk of whatever class, creed, caste or colour. And let's flip the bird to anyone who tries to impose a social agenda on the theatre. 

Miliband discovers Britain

H/T Richard North

Regressive Labour

An excellent Newsnight clip on the Speccie is surpassed by one of the comments beneath and the response to it. Referring to Eric Pickles, 'Jennifer' posted "Pickles is an odious man. There is no worse specie than a working class Tory."


'Jeremy' responded "That is one of the most silly, shallow, ignorant, blinkered and hateful remarks that I have heard for a very long time.What sits behind it is the idea that people should stick to their class, know their place, think alike and not seek to get ideas above their station.

And now I think I know why social mobility under the last Labour government regressed to the feudal levels that it did - because that suits the Labour mentality. And you call yourselves progressives. What a sham! There is nothing "progressive" about the sort of regression that is represented by yourself.

And between the two of you, it is not Eric Pickles who is the contemptible one..."


There's really nothing that I can add to that. 

Liberalist

Dick Puddlecote provides a useful heads-up this morning on two related events;


First, an alternative term to 'Libertarian'. Yes, 'Liberal' has been hijacked and soiled, but we could take a lesson from the Comrades here. Once Marxism had been outed from respectable academia as a foundation for all scholarship, those clever lefties invented 'Marxian' as in "Oh no, Terry hasn't written a Marxist paper, but he's used a Marxian analysis .."


Strangely, I'm just re-reading Norman Stone's account of the death of classic Liberalism in Europe between 1878 and 1919, with the rise of both Socialism and Conservatism in its place. And hence it's obvious. One who espouses Liberalism is not a Liberal but a Liberalist. There. That's my bid for the prize. 


And secondly a reminder that the ASI bloggers bash is set for the 21st April. This is the last evening before the great get-away, so just for once I may be able to attend without screwing up the following working day ...

Time to send back the Health & Welfare migrants

First, let's be clear that our anger over immigration shouldn't be targeted at immigrants. If we learned that Dubai was paying £5k a week in welfare, with the best medical care in the world, to any who made it to her shores, many of us would be there like a shot. You can't blame the health and welfare immigrants to the UK for taking advantage of the opportunity offered to them. No, let's be clear - our anger must be reserved for the Labour Party and its 'open door' policy to all-comers that has changed the face of our nation. 


And once we're clear that Labour's betrayal of the British people on immigration has rendered it unfit ever to hold office again, let's get on with sending back all Labour's economic migrants with as much humanity and dignity as we can afford. First, let's start with the Health Service. Unlawful free treatment for immigrants is costing scores of millions; so no treatment, no GP registration, to any non-EU citizens unless paid for in advance in full. And that includes all the Nigerian village girls clogging up the maternity ward here. They can have their babies in Abuja or Lagos. 


Second, a 'combing out' of economic migrants living in Welfare housing, including all the Housing Association stock subsidised from tax. We can start with individual voter registration for this, but first we need to grasp the nettle and change the law to stop all Commonwealth citizens having the automatic right to register on the voting roll. Thousands of illegal overstayers are currently registered to vote, giving them access to bank accounts, welfare housing and benefits. The loss to British citizens of the reciprocal right of being able to vote in Burkino Faso or Tonga will be bearable. 


Finally, the devolution to borough level in London of UK Border Agency search and seize teams. Here in Lewisham they could fill a deportation-charter A340 every week with very little effort. For the next five years at least, let's convert all those walking co-ordinators and safe-drinking advisors to UKBA squaddists and get them doing something useful. 


Oh, and Cameron. We're all aware he only said what he said because there's some voting coming up, but if the man just for once actually took some action in support of his weasel words he might rescue just a smidgeon of credibility. 

MPs "Self-serving shits"?

From Andreas Whittam-Smith in the Indie;

Politicians find themselves enveloped in public disapproval. One new MP told a colleague that the hardest part of the job was coping with the disdain of the public. A cabinet minister had remarked: "Out there, they think we are self-serving shits." Why is this? And is it an unavoidable consequence of our system of parliamentary democracy?

No, dear - not of Parliamentary democracy, but of the party system. So long as the central Statists in party HQ select candidates to be blown-in, infiltrated, parachuted, imposed and thrust on our constituencies, so long will we be limited to dags and apparatchiks, obedient lobby fodder with just sufficient charisma and intelligence to garner votes locally, but without any dangerous independence of thought or action. Those morons who speak of politics as a 'career', who are convinced that a background as a student union organiser and an MP's researcher, with a 2:1 in PPE, is the perfect background for a Parliamentarian, are largely responsible for the dreck and dross infesting the Commons chamber. 

Only one thing will improve the quality of our MPs; the destruction of the power of the three big parties. 

Where's the meat, Dave?

From Simon Jenkins in the Guardian:

Research indicates that people are more satisfied with services the closer they are run to their community, as with clinics in Scandinavia or police in Japan. They are happier where they are allowed more personal and neighbourhood autonomy. Yet all British governments, national and local, remain implacably opposed to honouring this satisfaction. They do not trust people to tax and provide locally.

France has 38,880 local 'communes', each with an elected Mayor, each having substantial autonomy over local public functions. The average population of the communes is 1,580. Yet our Westminster masters, ministers and mandarins both, are terrified of local autonomy. So here's a challenge, Dave; use Suffolk as a test-bed. By the end of this Parliament, restructure local government in Suffolk. It's really not that hard. 

First there are the big towns - some big enough to run their own, separate police forces. Each big enough to elect a council of burgesses and aldermen to manage their affairs;

Bury St Edmunds	36,640
Felixtowe	24,000
Haverhill	22,720
Ipswich	118,400
Lowestoft	58,300
Newmarket	15,320
Stowmarket	15,740
Sudbury	12,080

Then there are the towns and villages, with a total population of around 390,000, but aggregated in groups of around 18,000 in the old 'hundreds' - there are 21 of these. For the villages, each hundred could run its own police force. Remember that our Localism exemplar, Vail in Colorado, runs a very effective small independent police force with a population of 5,000. And then there are the villages, some big, some small, but all of which can elect a Mayor to head their public governance. Here they are; read their names with pride and wonder:-

 

Acton	1780
Akenham	60
Aldeburgh	2690
Alderton	430
Aldham	200
Aldringham cum Thorpe	730
All Saints & St Nicholas, South Elmham	130
Alpheton	260
Ampton	70
Arwarton	110
Ashbocking	340
Ashfield cum Thorpe	200
Aspall	60
Assington	380
Athelington	30
Bacton	1180
Badingham	480
Badley	90
Badwell Ash	740
Bardwell	720
Barham	1460
Barking	430
Barnardiston	210
Barnby	510
Barnham	650
Barningham	930
Barrow	1540
Barsham	210
Barton Mills	830
Battisford	460
Bawdsey	320
Baylham	270
Beccles	9850
Beck Row, Holywell Row and Kenny Hill	4180
Bedfield	320
Bedingfield	230
Belstead	190
Benacre	80
Benhall	560
Bentley	750
Beyton	680
Bildeston	960
Blaxhall	220
Blundeston	1590
Blyford	120
Blythburgh	330
Botesdale	670
Boulge	40
Boxford	1270
Boxted	120
Boyton	170
Bradfield Combust with Stanningfield	540
Bradfield St Clare	160
Bradfield St George	360
Braiseworth	70
Bramfield	380
Bramford	2410
Brampton with Stoven	460
Brandeston	260
Brandon	8380
Brantham	2650
Bredfield	330
Brent Eleigh	180
Brettenham	270
Brightwell	60
Brockley	300
Brome and Oakley	430
Bromeswell	340
Bruisyard	160
Brundish	180
Bucklesham	550
Bungay	5050
Bures	920
Burgate	150
Burgh	200
Burstall	200
Butley	200
Buxhall	440
Campsey Ash	310
Capel	2970
Capel St Andrew	70
Carlton Colville	7690
Cavendish	980
Cavenham	120
Charsfield	370
Chattisham	140
Chedburgh	650
Chediston	210
Chelmondiston	990
Chelsworth	140
Chevington	630
Chillesford	120
Chilton	400
Clare	2060
Claydon	2190
Clopton	360
Cockfield	840
Coddenham	570
Combs	1020
Coney Weston	400
Cookley	80
Copdock and Washbrook	1130
Corton	1170
Cotton	510
Covehithe	30
Cowlinge	380
Cransford	160
Cratfield	280
Creeting St mary	710
Creeting St Peter	260
Cretingham	190
Crowfield	350
Culford	640
Culpho	40
Dalham	210
Dallinghoo	180
Darsham	290
Debach	80
Debenham	2040
Denham	170
Denham	180
Dennington	580
Denston	120
Depden	200
Drinkstone	560
Dunwich	70
Earl Soham	380
East Bergholt	2950
Easton	330
Edwardstone	360
Ellough	40
Elmsett	760
Elmswell	3390
Elveden	270
Eriswell	4920
Euston	130
Exning	1960
Eye	2180
Eyke	370
Fakenham Magna	160
Falkenham	180
Farnham	100
Felsham	420
Finningham	430
Flempton	180
Flixton	180
Flixton (Lothingland)	40
Flowton	120
Fornham All Saints	1140
Fornham St Genevieve	110
Fornham St Martin	1300
Foxhall	270
Framlingham	3340
Framsden	330
Freckenham	360
Fressingfield	1020
Freston	120
Friston	360
Frostenden	190
Gazeley	740
Gedding	130
Gedgrave	30
Gipping	80
Gisleham	690
Gislingham	950
Glemsford	3360
Gosbeck	220
Great Ashfield	310
Great Barton	2030
Great Bealings	310
Great Blakenham	1100
Great Bradley	350
Great Bricett	1250
Great Cornard	8060
Great Finborough	800
Great Glemham	200
Great Livermere	230
Great Thurlow	980
Great Waldringfield	1450
Great Whelnetham	820
Great Wrattling	210
Groton	240
Grundisburgh	1530
Hacheston	370
Hadleigh	8150
Halesworth	4930
Hargrave	280
Harkstead	280
Harleston	160
Hartest	440
Hasketon	440
Haughley	1750
Hawkedon	120
Hawstead	340
Helmingham	170
Hemingstone	210
Hemley	60
Hengrave	140
Henley	580
Henstead with Hulver Street	320
Hepworth	550
Herringswell	190
Hessett	490
Heveningham	120
Higham	140
Higham	140
Hinderclay	340
Hintlesham	580
Hitcham	620
Holbrook	2420
Hollesley	1400
Holton	830
Holton St Mary	220
Honington	1340
Hoo	90
Hopton	650
Horham	320
Horringer	890
Hoxne	820
Hundon	1070
Hunston	160
Huntingfield	190
Icklingham	420
Ickworth	30
Iken	120
Ingham	430
Ixworth	2240
Ixworth Thorpe	60
Kedington	1780
Kelsale cum Carlton	1030
Kentford	420
Kenton	170
Kersey	340
Kesgrave	11020
Kessingland	4200
Kettlebaston	70
Kettleburgh	230
Kirton	1050
Knettishall	40
Knodishall	860
Lackford	270
Lakenheath	4490
Langham	90
Lavenham	1780
Lawshall	940
Laxfield	910
Layham	560
Leavenheath	1380
Leiston	5430
Letheringham	70
Levington	270
Lidgate	220
Lindsey	190
Linstead Magna	60
Linstead Parva	90
Little Bealings	470
Little Blakenham	310
Little Bradley	60
Little Cornard	300
Little Finborough	40
Little Glemham	170
Little Livermere	40
Little Thurlow	230
Little Waldringfield	360
Little Whelnetham	180
Little Wratting	160
Long Melford	3500
Lound	370
Market Weston	260
Marlesford	220
Martlesham	5670
Mellis	460
Melton	3910
Mendham	440
Mendlesham	1380
Metfield	330
Mettingham	200
Middleton	370
Milden	90
Mildenhall	10120
Monewden	130
Monk Soham	170
Monks Eleigh	440
Moulton	1090
Mutford	500
Nacton	720
Nayland-with-Wissington	1130
Nedging-with-Naughton	400
Needham Market	4560
Nettlestead	90
Newbourne	280
Newton	500
North Cove	450
Norton	860
Nowton	140
Occold	500
Offton	370
Old Newton with Dagworth	1050
Onehouse	930
Orford	630
Otley	730
Oulton	4050
Ousden	260
Pakenham	840
Palgrave	780
Parham	300
Peasenhall	500
Pettaugh	220
Pettistree	200
Pinewood	4500
Playford	220
Polstead	820
Poslingford	180
Preston St Mary	230
Purdis Farm	2000
Ramsholt	30
Rattlesden	900
Raydon	490
Red Lodge	1640
Rede	160
Redgrave	540
Redisham	110
Redlingfield	110
Rendham	260
Rendlesham	2200
Reydon	2580
Rickinghall Inferior	380
Rickinghall Superior	830
Ringsfield	340
Ringshall	650
Risby	820
Rishangles	80
Rumburgh	330
Rushbrooke with Rougham	1140
Rushmere	80
Rushmere St Andrew	6440
Santon Downham	240
Sapiston	150
Saxmundham	3420
Saxtead	390
Semer	150
Shadingfield	170
Shelland	50
Shelley	60
Shimpling	420
Shipmeadow	160
Shotley	2380
Shottisham	200
Sibton	190
Snape	630
Somerleyton, Ashby and Herringfleet	420
Somersham	710
Somerton	80
Sotherton	80
Sotterley	120
South Cove	20
Southolt	70
Southwold	1380
Spexhall	210
Sproughton	1390
St. Andrew, Ilketshall	290
St. Cross, South Elmham	120
St. James, South Elmham	210
St. John, Ilketshall	40
St. Lawrence, Ilketshall	170
St. Margaret, Ilketshall	140
St. Margaret, South Elmham	100
St. Mary, South Elmham	170
St. Michael, South Elmham	60
St. Peter, South Elmham	40
Stansfield	230
Stanstead	310
Stanton	2680
Sternfield	130
Stoke Ash	240
Stoke-by-Clare	490
Stoke-by-Nayland	720
Stonham Aspal	590
Stonham Earl	650
Stonham Parva	350
Stowlangtoft	200
Stowlangtoft	270
Stowupland	1970
Stradbroke	1330
Stradishall	490
Stratford St Andrew	170
Stratford St Mary	740
Stratton Hall	20
Stuston	190
Stutton	820
Sudbourne	330
Sutton	550
Swefling	200
Swilland	170
Syleham	190
Tannington	110
Tattingstone	530
The Saxhams	300
Theberton	310
Thelnetham	230
Thorington	70
Thorndon	590
Thornham magna	90
Thornham Parva	50
Thorpe Morieux	260
Thrandeston	130
Thurston	3260
Thwaite	160
Timworth	50
Tostock	460
Trimley St Martin	1950
Trimley St Mary	3700
Troston	860
Tuddenham	450
Tuddenham St Martin	320
Tunstall	490
Ubbeston	100
Ufford	860
Uggeshall	170
Walberswick	390
Waldringfield	480
Walpole	220
Walsham-le-Willows	1170
Wangford	20
Wangford with Henham	640
Wantisden	30
Wattisfield	440
Wattisham	110
Wenham Magna	150
Wenham Parva	20
Wenhaston with Mells Hamlet	870
West Stow	180
Westerfield	440
Westhall	390
Westhorpe	210
Westleton	450
Westley	180
Weston	230
Wetherden	540
Wetheringsett-cum-Brockford	670
Weybread	420
Whatfield	310
Whepstead	430
Wherstead	350
Whitton	90
Wickham Market	2140
Wickham Skeith	320
Wickhambrook	1170
Wilby	240
Willingham St Mary	150
Willisham	270
Wingfield	330
Winston	160
Wissett	260
Withersfield	430
Witnesham	810
Wixoe	140
Woodbridge	7320
Woolpit	1990
Woolverstone	240
Wordwell	20
Worlingham	3730
Worlington	460
Worlingworth	750
Wortham	700
Wrentham	960
Wyverstone	370
Yaxley	530
Yoxford	700