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Nick Cohen's book launch

February 27, 2009 11 Comments Filed Under: Uncategorized

A selection of Nick Cohen’s articles in various publications to the present day ‘Waiting for the Etonians’ is fucking brilliant. Leafing through it this morning, I have not yet come across a sentence I disagree with.

The book launch was last night at Daunt’s in Marylebone High Street, London. It was filled by the usual suspects plus writers such as Suzanne Moore and Ian McEwan. I was told due to high numbers not to bring anyone. So I didn’t. And felt like a bit of a twat on my own. I did chat to Jack of Kent, who for a right-wing Tory lawyer is about as far to the left as you can imagine. Never thought I’d find myself agreeing with a Tory. He introduced me to a couple of other Tories. I mentioned my Underground Restaurant. One guy from Demos said:

“Brilliant! That is sooo Tory. I’ve got to come.”

Surprised I said “Really? How is it Tory?”

“Well it’s all about you taking your own resources and using them to start a business. Refusing to kowtow to government regulations. And it’s sharing, community. Toryism is all about loving nowadays.” he replied.

His friend is in Hackney Conservatives.

“Are there any conservatives in Hackney?” I ask.

“Oh yes. More and more. Have you not heard of the Queenbridge battle? Where we trounced Labour?”

This Tory is a militant vegetarian. I tell him about Pogo vegan cafe in Hackney. He is excited. I say it’s Anarchist, the clientele sport Mohican haircuts and are laden with piercings while sitting on sofas sipping their mango soy shakes, that sort of thing. Not very Tory. He still wants to go.

He explains: “We are ‘red’ Tories as opposed to blue. Who legalised trade unions? Us! We were opposed to Whig policies. We believe in community.”

He expands:”Trouble was the Conservatives have fetishised Margaret Thatcher for the last decade. She was great. But monetarism doesn’t work. All the surrounding men put her on a pedestal rather like they worship the Virgin Mary in Southern Europe. Now with Cameron leading us, that is in the past…”

I interrupt: “But he’s a lightweight isn’t he?”

The Scottish Hackney Tory lowers his voice and says: “Well after yesterday, it’s all different. People will perceive him differently…”

“You mean, the fact that his child has died will give him…” I search for the right word “gravitas?”

The Scots Tory looks genuinely shocked. He stammers something about going to the toilet, turns on his heel and leaves me standing there on my own.
Even though Mr Cameron’s son was disabled and there was a certain inevitability about his death, there is no worse pain than losing a child. I truly sympathise, from the heart. But it doesn’t mean I will vote for him.

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Next Post: Mexican night at The Underground Restaurant »

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Comments

  1. Animal Disco

    February 28, 2009 at 7:20 am

    Once more, another very thought-provoking post.

    A friend of a friend said to me the other day, "there – now you'll vote Conservative next time around, won't you?". He was actually quite smug and – dare I say it – happy about the news. I'm with you on how I feel for and about what happened to the Camerons. Whatever he stands for, he doesn't deserve Palin-ising.

    Keep on keeping on, ML!

    Reply
  2. MsMarmitelover

    March 2, 2009 at 9:15 am

    Thanks Melissa.
    Can you explain more what you mean by Palin-ising?

    Reply
  3. Ben Emlyn-Jones

    March 2, 2009 at 8:14 pm

    Glad you're enjoying the book, ML. Personally I'm not sure I wouldn't get bored with a book with nothing at all in it I disagreed with!
    I'm beginning to wonder if the whole paradigm of left-and-right-wing is a distorted view of politics. Firstly the two are hard to define, especially left-wing. What is it? State rather than private control of society? Stalin was very left wing therefore, but this criteria would actually put Hitler somewhat left of centre too! Does left= freedom and right= authoritarianism? Definitely not! On this scale both Adolf and Josef score full marks on the right.
    In the last few years, as I've become by repelled by both left wing and right wing political views, and being attracted to others both left wing and right wing, I'm totally reforming the way I see the political world.

    Reply
  4. Ben Emlyn-Jones

    March 2, 2009 at 8:29 pm

    ML, if you'll excuse me commenting on your question to Melissa I suspect it has more to do with Sarah Palin than Michael Palin. "Welease Bawack
    Obama!" 🙂

    Reply
  5. Animal Disco

    March 3, 2009 at 4:05 pm

    Hi ML (and Ben!), I was referring to all the hype that got thrust upon Sarah Palin in the run-up to the US elections regarding the fact that she had a disabled child that she hadn't chosen to abort. Sky news put a similar emphasis on Cameron's wife when they 'broke' the news about their son's death. Yuk.

    Reply
  6. MsMarmitelover

    March 3, 2009 at 4:12 pm

    Hi Melissa,
    I must say I am a bit sickened by the media on subjects like this. Jade Goody's illness…sorry but I don't want to know.

    Reply
  7. Ben Emlyn-Jones

    March 3, 2009 at 4:21 pm

    Poor Jade has been a media punchbag for ages now. She was a Conformist-Contempt pin-up girl and once she's died and the headlines of her death have ebbed, they'll find some other dupe to take her place.

    Reply
  8. Rog T

    March 3, 2009 at 6:38 pm

    Ms Marms,

    I'm running a little poll over on my blog and thought some of your legion of avid readers may wish to partake

    Vote for the No 1 Hypocrite here

    Reply
  9. Animal Disco

    March 3, 2009 at 7:00 pm

    I'm with you both on your comments above, re media/Jade Goody. I see it all as a double tragedy for those at the centre of the storms themselves, and the millions more who feel the need to chase their ambulances. Thank goodness for blogs like this!

    Reply
  10. MsMarmitelover

    March 6, 2009 at 2:50 pm

    Nick Davies will be giving a talk at Housmans bookshop in Kings X if anybody is interested

    (book event & talk)
    Nick Davies – ‘Flat Earth News’
    Wednesday 1st April – 7pm

    Reply
  11. ahackinhackney

    March 6, 2009 at 10:33 pm

    Hello … fascinating post as usual … let's go to the talk at Housmans xx

    Reply

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MsMarmiteLover aka Kerstin Rodgers.

Chef, photographer, author, journalist, blogger. Pioneer of the supperclub movement.

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My piece in the @hamandhigh about the 3 day @heat My piece in the @hamandhigh about the  3 day @heathostile training course. Incredibly interesting & challenging. Link: https://www.hamhigh.co.uk/things-to-do/hostile-environment-training-9037980 to read more #hostileenvironmenttraining
Supper club dishes from Saturday: pickled beetroot Supper club dishes from Saturday: pickled beetroot eggs, cheeseboard, stracciatella & cucumber, tomato/strawberry/peashoot salad with real balsamic & spruce oil, home cured dill gravlax, smoked salmon, homemade sourdough crisp bread, potato salad with wild fennel & lots more! #supperclub #midsummer #eattherainbow (miss you @linnsoederstroem)
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My first supperclub in two years will take place t My first supperclub in two years will take place this Saturday 18th June starting at 7.30pm. Tickets are £50 byo you can book here: https://msmarmitelover.com/product/midsommar-supper-club there are still a few places left. Pescetarian menu. Scandi and botanical influences. #gettingbackonmyfeet #postpandemic #smallbusinesses #supperclub #london
I recently completed the 3 day @heathostile train I recently completed the 3 day  @heathostile training course. On the last day I was kidnapped by ex-special forces for a few hours & learnt how to deal with compliance training & a hostile environment. It was one of the most interesting experiences of my life. 3 intense days of combat first aid, navigation & how to survive in a war zone. I handled short, long guns, mortars, grenades, bullets, and tourniquet & bandaged an amputee. I learnt where to sit in a car, where to hide from a bullet, where to protect myself if in a car. It was brilliant. Highly recommended for any journalists, photographers, cameramen, charity workers, paramedics going into any difficult environment say a disaster or war. The stories from the tutors & the other participants were so interesting. My piece on it out soon. Book a course: https://hostile-environment.co.uk/  They also do jungle & desert training. I’d love to join the Antarctic expedition. Anyway that’s me hooded in the front. #adventures #het #hostileenvironmenttraining #experiences #travel
Bundoran beach, Donegal. I spent a week knocking o Bundoran beach, Donegal. I spent a week knocking on doors, going to libraries, searching through graveyards for my Irish forebears. It’s really hard to find information prior to 1850. I found this in last years trip to Arbroath in Scotland. Headstones wear out, records are lost or burnt in a fire, everybody has the same name and are known by nicknames, successive children have the same first name, that usually means they died and the next one is called by the same thing. Women did have children out of wedlock, and people remarried more often than you’d think, plus families fall out & never see each other again. I learnt that my Irish great grandfather michael went to Glasgow & met a woman who came from a similar place: somewhere wild & beautiful by the sea. Then they and their children came to london. Chasing the work & the money always. Politics and economics matter for they push people around from rural to city. And now we rodgers are Londoners. #ireland #scotland #family #travel #roots
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Easter Sunday. Daffodil skeletons. Easter Sunday. Daffodil skeletons.
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