My preferred choice of Sunday newspaper, the Observer, has had a serious brain fart today. Famed for its intelligent and often courageous journalism, today it has hosted a Q&A where “celebrities” and politicians have sought expert advice from a pop singer. I mean, really.
The pop singer concerned is poor little rich girl Lily Allen, self-styled heroine of Grenfell Tower where she turned up amid a media storm, had nothing worthwhile to say and promptly inflicted ludicrous conspiracy stories, later totally discredited by things called facts, about the number of deaths in the fire.
The world really has gone mad when the likes of David Lammy MP, Jeremy Corbyn (obviously) and luvvies like Emily Eavis engage in a ludicrous waste of paper by seeking her views on world affairs. Now, Allen has every right to have opinions, just like you and I, but I do question the value of a national newspaper putting her forward as some sort of substantial leader.
Allen provides us with gems such as “We need to fight back against this fascist regime”, meaning Theresa May’s useless, bungling government. It gets better. When asked who inspires her, she replies with all modesty, “I am my main inspiration.” We learn that she gave up smoking but still smokes and reveals that despite her passionate defence of refugees, she has not taken any in herself. Well, I am so grateful to have learned all that.
I can kind of understand Corbyn asking anyone serious questions since he is so devoid of any answers himself, but Christ, asking questions of a mid-table League One standard pop singer? Honestly?
Perhaps it’s just me but I have tired of hearing the views of stinking rich luvvies, like Allen, who seem so certain they are right and everyone else is wrong. In fact, every time a pop star talks politics, a small part of me dies, whether that’s Allen, Bono or Billy Bragg. And why? Because it scarcely matters to any of them who is actually in power. The affluent hard left, which is very much Corbyn’s base, rather fancy a hard left Corbyn government because if it fails, they will still live their lives in fabulous luxury. Meanwhile, the millions who have nothing much at all will be the ones who suffer.
I am not convinced, as Allen is, that Theresa May is a kind of fascist dictator. I just think she is the classic right wing Tory, albeit one with a tin ear and totally out of her depth as PM, just like Corbyn is as leader of the opposition. And anyway, if she is urging a fight again the “fascist regime”, I suggest she turns her efforts to the Labour Party as a first step and help oust the comrades who are leading the party to rack and ruin and the people who will suffer most are…yes, you guessed it.
Still, next week the Observer is inviting questions for the popular beat combo act Black Lace from Michael Gove, Alan Titchmarsh and a Britain’s Got Talent contestant. That could be every bit as entertaining as this week’s Q&A with Lily Allen. Or perhaps not?
