[Mitchell]

Ammi OBE has a ring to it

[Denver]

Originally Posted by Mitchell

Ammi OBE has a ring to it

As does Sir Denver

[Oliver_W]

Originally Posted by Denver

The John Cleese who is xenophobic

In what way?

[Oliver_W]

Originally Posted by AnnieK

JK Rowling has an OBE

Oops forgot about that!!

She should be a Dame

[Denver]

Originally Posted by Oliver_W

In what way?

By mouthing off about all the non English people in London

[Livia]

Originally Posted by Denver

By mouthing off about all the non English people in London

In my old borough, Newham... it's about 10% indigenous and 90% incomer. God forbid anyone should mention that or they'll be damned for all time for "mouthing off".

[Oliver_W]

Originally Posted by Denver

By mouthing off about all the non English people in London

When did he mouth off?

[Toy Soldier]

Originally Posted by Oliver_W

When did he mouth off?

On Twitty years ago.

To be fair, if you read between the lines what he's really criticising is globalisation and neoliberal capitalism, pointing out that London doesn't have a distinctly "anywhere" (other than "London") character anymore and is what I guess we call a "Global City" - which ARE quite distinct entities from their host countries. Whilst the city is British, it's hard to argue that "The City" is in any way British. It's not really about who lives there. In ye olde times, it would most likely be an independent city-state.

He did a pretty ham-fisted and old-mannish job of expressing it though. But then he is in his 80's.

[Oliver_W]

Originally Posted by Toy Soldier

On Twitty years ago.

To be fair, if you read between the lines what he's really criticising is globalisation and neoliberal capitalism, pointing out that London doesn't have a distinctly "anywhere" (other than "London") character anymore and is what I guess we call a "Global City" - which ARE quite distinct entities from their host countries. Whilst the city is British, it's hard to argue that "The City" is in any way British. It's not really about who lives there. In ye olde times, it would most likely be an independent city-state.

He did a pretty ham-fisted and old-mannish job of expressing it though. But then he is in his 80's.

Ohh I remember! Yeah there's nothing inherently wrong or "xenophobic" about saying London isn't a "British" city, especially as people from his party (Lib Dems) and Labour have said the same thing in a positive manner.

If he really was xenophobic, he wouldn't have moved to the Caribbean!