On Friday evening I was at the Grassroots Out (GO) rally at the QE II Centre in Westminster; the same evening David Cameron brought his new deal back from Brussels, so the BBC has to give coverage to the GO rally for balance – clever timing by GO, or just lucky? (You won’t join GO for the tie, I hope.)
So what really happened at that rally? Turnout about 2,000 with standing room only. Everyone I spoke to were there to have their prejudices confirmed. Massively boring speeches up to an including young Conservative MP, Tom Pursglove, and (you couldn’t make it up) a black cab driver who thinks leaving the EU will scupper Uber.
Finally, speeches from three heavyweights: Kate Hoey (Labour); David Davis (Conservative); Nigel Farage (UKIP). They played on our emotions and didn’t try to blind us with dodgy statistics. Finally, minor drama, as George Galloway (disgraced and disgraceful former Labour MP), was announced as a surprise speaker. This morning the BBC and newspapers report on the walk-out by about 200 people that his name triggered. I was amongst them. The truth was more mundane. After 2 1/2 hours I was bursting for a pee, others were too and had trains to catch. I don’t like Galloway but I wouldn’t give him the oxygen of publicity by walking out on him. For balance, here is a picture from the Stay-In campaign.
Now we have four months to make up our minds. This is unlikely to be my last word.
Bizarre bedfellows, Messrs Galloway and Farage.
I shouldn’t be seen dead in those ghastly ties.