Plonker of The Week

Sometimes, because they have been so conditioned by Nanny into not thinking, people blurt out the most absurd nonsense.

Regrettably many of the these "blurters" have some form of menial position of power over the rest of us.

This week one of Nanny's plonkers took a particularly daft notion into his head, and tried to make it public policy.

My plonker of the week award goes to Peter O'Neill, a Labour councilor in Wolverhampton.

O'Neill, for reasons that escape me, had decided that the popular tune "Land of Hope and Glory" was in fact too political (something to do with the Tory Party and the Falklands War!); consequently he sought to ban it at the forthcoming Remembrance Day celebrations.

However, he was prepared to replace it with something equally uplifting; he was going to allow the popular tune "Sailing", as performed by Rod Stewart in 1975, to be played.

Needless to say this daft idea was shot down in flames by all and sundry.

O'Neill has now been forced to apologise for his lapse of common sense.

He apologised for causing offence and said that it was "a mistake".

He claimed that he was concerned at the falling numbers of people attending the Remembrance celebrations, and wanted to attract younger groups to the event.

May I ask how the playing of a 1970's hit will attract younger people?

O'Neill said that he "fully accepted" that Land of Hope and Glory "belonged to the British people", not the Conservative party.

Quote:

"I admit I was wrong. My own personal view is that it is associated with Conservative party conferences

I was wrong. That music belongs to the British people. The strength of feeling I have heard has made me painfully aware of that.

I did not wish to cause offence to anyone".

Mr O'Neill said he now wanted to draw a line under the affair.

Of course he does!

I am sure that had there not been such a fuss, he would have had it banned.

That's the trouble with Nanny, you have to remain ever vigilant.