The Daddy of the Left in Brighton and Hove has shown that he has lost nothing of his ability for self-promotion. If you were to ask the TUSC (Trade Union and Socialist Coalition candidate for Brighton Kemptown, Dave Hill, whethere his campaign was about policy or personalities, he would reply “policy”.
But look at this weekend’s Argus. Front page – Dave Hill saying that he is being confused with Peter Stringfellow. Photos of Mr Stringfellow appear alongside Mr Hill, sorry Professor Hill. Dave, did someone really ask if you were PS or was it an inspired way of comanding the attention of the Argus in what is otherwise a completely dull campaign in Brighton Kemptown?
But not content with this dubious comparison, Dave Hill says that as a younger man he used to be confused with David Essex. What? But fair play to him, on the inside of the Argus are more photos of Dave Hill, today and as a young man.
But what I did love was how the Argus presented Dave Hill as the main candidate, mentioning as an aside that the other candidates inclue Simon Burgess, etc.
What it does sho is the lack of ‘characters’ in politics today. In the 1980s Dave Hill was forever creating stories, controversies and campaigns. His equal was former councillor Brian Fitch. More measured but equally effective was the late Dennis Hobden, and younger councillors like Steve (now Lord) Bassam, Richard Stanton and Andy Winter (who co-incidentally also appeared on the front page of the Argus today in a story about debt).
Now debt is an issue that Dave Hill could campaign on.
Filed under: General Election 2010 | Tagged: Andy Winter, Brian Fitch, Dave Hill, David Essex, Dennis Hobden, Peter Stringfellow, Richard Stanton, Simon Burgess, Steve Bassam, Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition, TUSC |
Brighton Politics Blog 
Yes….Dave has done very well at getting himself a profile hasn’t he? The “main candidates” can take a back seat for a change. People and groups putting an alternative to the “make the poorest pay” line of the three neo liberal parties get little enough exposure most of the time.
For the record Dave constantly gets mistaken for Peter Stringfellow so he might as well make the best of it!
If you want some politics to go with the fun, there’s plenty to be found on TUSC’s local blog or over at my place.
I am not so sure that the Kemp Town campaign is dull. Smouldering can be as interesting as explosive. The LibDem vote could be the one to watch there.