Radiohead tribute to Gordon Murray, creator of Camberwick Green, Chigley and Trumpton
Always the stuff of childhood nightmares.
Posted by Michael Taylor at 8:35 pm No comments: Links to this post
Labels: Nostalgia
Who's to blame for Brexit? I name the guilty
I don't usually go in for blame. It corrodes and eats away at you, because often it leads to negativity and a failure to act positively as a result. That's why I mean it when I say I embrace forgiveness. What I don't offer is a free pass, an excuse, a shrug. So as a major, major seismic decision has been made by 52% of the British people, then someone's to blame, here's who.
I'm to blame. I should have delivered my leaflets earlier, I should have realised I had so many left over after I'd done my rounds and could have made better use of them.
I'm also to blame for letting vanity get the better of me and enthusiastically making sure we pulled out the stops for Gordon Brown to come to Manchester Met and deliver a major speech. I could have said, let me ring round and get you into a factory, or a youth centre in Bolton or something. Same with Eddie Izzard, Lucy Powell and Chuka Umunna. Sure, I got to meet them all, but it made no difference. They all spoke to lively audiences I helped pull together of students and Remain supporters.
Our universities are to blame. Most of the people who work for us voted Remain, most of the people who have been educated by us did too and most of our students did. Despite providing piles of evidence that it was better to stay, our experts were ultimately ignored. What then have we done to so weaken wider public trust? What must we do to broaden social gain from what we do? I will dedicate my life to changing this.
Brexit is to blame. The use of the stupid word made the decision assumptive. Would you call the General Election the Tory Election? No, of course you wouldn't, especially when there's a binary offer. Damn anyone who used it.
David Cameron is to blame. The lucky general ran out of luck. His plan didn't work. His judgement was appalling and he created this unnecessary and spiteful contest. He has paid a price and will be denied a legacy of making Britain more comfortable with his liberal brand of conservatism. He has done the decent thing and resigned.
Jeremy Corbyn is to blame. If he was intent on sabotaging the Labour IN campaign AND Stronger IN, then he couldn't have done a better job. He was useless. I have never understood the appeal. I never wanted him on the ballot, never mind as leader. He has come to represent whatever his followers want him to be about, all those meaningless tropes about equality and fair society and it doesn't have to be this way. It's empty rhetoric. He has no plan. He has no zeal, he is unfit to be leader of the Islington Allotment Society, never mind the most important reforming political movement in Britain's history. He must also do the decent thing and resign.
Labour is to blame. All of it, not just the bits I'm particularly angry about. Labour has failed to reconnect with the people who need a left of centre, social democratic, government. There are no wake up calls here, the erosion of Labour's base has been there for all to see for five years at least. Liz Kendall based her leadership campaign on this truth and was duly slaughtered for it.
The Trade Unions are to blame. Apart from the TUC's Frances O'Grady, I can think of no meaningful or positive intervention in the campaign from a trade union leader. The more they bluster, the more bombastic the rhetoric, the more they are being exposed as deep failures. They have failed in their manifest destiny to look out for the working people of this country: to train, promote education and embrace new patterns of work and technology. I laugh when I see resolutions passed at poorly attended union meetings and the photos of campaigners with their flags. They have no real power and influence any more. They lose every time. They are a paper army.
Blue Labour is to blame. A serious intellectual exercise has virtually disappeared at a time when it has been badly needed. I even read a blog today when it was referred to as a movement. It isn't, tragically. It's a collection of very clever blokes who aren't able to gain any traction for some heavy duty ideas.
The Liberal Democrats are to blame. I reserve a particular place in hell's waiting room for our local LibDems. If only they had put in 1% of the effort they do to getting their candidates elected locally into a campaign to remain in the EU. A leaflet mostly about the parliamentary ambitions of one of their councillors from Romiley and party building arrived with a poster, two days before polling day. Their presence was pitiful. Stockport voted to Remain thanks to Labour activists. There will be a reckoning for this.
The EU is to blame. How can anyone seriously expect to campaign for an endorsement of, and membership of, an organisation so widely misunderstood and so utterly unloved. Where did the passion of that unification of ideals go? The biggest laugh I got around the whole campaign was when John Oliver did that daft song called 'F*** the European Union', but vote Remain anyway.
We are to blame. Our divided society. The cruel casting off of the poor, the blindness to the effects of globalisation, the lack of concern for Communites derided as chavs and scroungers. They've had enough.
So, yes, I've got that off my chest now, let me know if there's anyone I've missed out.
Posted by Michael Taylor at 8:55 pm 5 comments: Links to this post
Labels: Labour, Liberal Democrats, Politics
Choose peace and hope, an evening with the Mizens
Amidst all the hate, the naked racism and division throughout our society, Rachel and I were fortunate to take our seats in a public meeting last night to hear a strong message of love and hope from Barry and Margaret Mizen.
Eight years ago they lost their son Jimmy in a brutal attack in south London just a day after his 16th birthday.
Ever since they have dedicated their lives to promoting peace and love, driven by their strong Christian faith, through the For Jimmy charity.
At a time when my confidence in our politics has never been so low it was a reminder that there are many ways to change the world. And never has it felt more important to embrace that message of love, forgiveness, peace and hope.
Posted by Michael Taylor at 8:59 am No comments: Links to this post
Labels: catholic stuff, family, reflections
Location: Hazel Grove, Stockport, UK
Just watch this - then Vote Remain. Michael Dougan video nails it
Location: Liverpool, Merseyside, UK
Stone Roses at the Etihad - joyous, raucous and middle-aged Dads in bucket hats
What a joyous, raucous, fun and happy night we had watching the Stone Roses at the Etihad last night.
I can't explain how much so many of their songs mean to us. A time, a place, a feeling.
Really proud of Rachel and our lads, and glad we shared such an occasion. Also had some real characters around us from Liverpool and Scotland. Thank you Robie from Fife for keeping us entertained.
I know there's been loads of sneering at middle aged blokes in bucket hats and Adidas trainers with their mini-me sons, well that was us and I don't give a toss, that's who we are.
Labels: family, music
Here we go again - I'm so tired of the hate
I feel numb. Sick with shock and fear. I really don't know where we are going as a country. The murder of Jo Cox MP, if it is to mean anything, has to wake us up to the hatred and bile that ferments everywhere.
This referendum wasn't necessary. It isn't about a law, or a treaty, it's about something far bigger than can be summed up in one question. So the campaign to Leave has made it about immigration. No matter that our trading island will be less well able to police our waters, process in Calais, or support refugees in continental Europe.
We are living in an era of post-truth politics. It doesn't seem to matter what the evidence is, just what facts suit your prejudices. The answer "it's complicated" isn't good enough any more, it has to be the easy answer, the anger, the war cry, the condemnation. There has to be someone to blame, someone to hate.
Fascists declare direct action against Sadiq Khan. That UKIP poster. I don't know any more than any other twit with a keyboard whether it flipped a troubled mind, but he didn't do it last week, or last year. He did it yesterday and now our nation is denied a talented servant and her family is robbed of a mother and a lover. Awful.
There were people yesterday afternoon literally willing the murderer to be a Muslim so they could say 'I told you so'. As facts emerge about Tommy Mair, then that gets used by others as evidence of a right wing coup, a white supremacist assassination. Social media enables others to make snap judgements - me included - the latest being an army of instant experts on mental health. I'm weary of it.
I'm tired of the anger, tired of the sullen insolence that demands a voice, a right without a care for the consequences. Where's the love? The joy?
I applaud, by the way, the "thank your MP" hashtag. I imagine our Tory MP works hard, so do some of our councillors, so do people who deliver leaflets or knock on doors. Yet it seems like open season on us all. Some of my political opponents get under my skin from time to time, but we have to take responsibility here for the dehumanising language we use and the way we all conduct ourselves.
So proud of this amazing Manchester Metropolitan University film
I love this new film, showcasing our University, that was aired for the first time at the Chancellor's installation on Monday.
Introduced by Vice-Chancellor, Professor Malcolm Press, the stunning five-minute film tells the inspiring story of Manchester Metropolitan, connecting our modern spirit of creativity and innovation with our 19th century roots in, among others, the Manchester Mechanics Institute and Manchester School of Art.
The campus is captured in glorious cinematic quality and sweeping shots. The film brings to life the student experience at Manchester Metropolitan while promoting our unrivalled facilities, our research and knowledge exchange, and our contribution to the wider city region.
The Vice-Chancellor said: "It was a privilege to introduce the film to our guests at the Chancellor's installation ceremony on Monday. It set exactly the right tone for the day, and left our audience in no doubt of our illustrious tradition and our continuing potential for transformative impact. The film offers a great insight into what we're about and what makes us distinctive. We want these films to inspire, to inform and to tell our story as we seek to realise our potential in the city region, in our teaching, through research, internationally and by strengthening our partnerships."
Lord Mandelson, in his new role as Chancellor, features on the film talking about Manchester being at the heart of the Northern Powerhouse agenda, and the factors that attracted him to Manchester Metropolitan, including our many exciting plans for the future.
Poet Laureate Professor Dame Carol Ann Duffy talks about the University's ability to open up, take risks and to inspire. Students feature too, praising the teaching that helps them to reach their potential.
This is just the first in a series of films which will be produced over the coming months to support the ambitions of the University and showcase our outstanding offering. The films will be developed to reach and nurture our key audiences, reinforcing our ambitions and celebrating our story.
Watch and share the film as widely as possible.
Labels: Manchester, Manchester Metropolitan University, Politics
Seven great songs in seven days for seven good friends
Over on the Facebook, my friend Chris Barry nominated me for the music challenge, which meant that for the next seven days I shared a tune a day.
I'm going to kick off with Berry Gordy's Desert Island Disc I heard this morning in another tear jerker on Kirsty Young's peerless interview with the castaways. The Tamla Motown founder clearly still holds a torch for the love of his life Diana Ross, here performing I Hear a Symphony. I'm so lucky I'm with mine.
For one of my dearest and longest friendships and who really got me into Northern Soul and Motown I nominated Kevin Parkes to delve into his musical archives and share his top tunes for the next seven days.
My second choice is Preposterous Tales by I, Ludicrous.
All of us at some point have met a Ken McKenzie. In fact if you can't think of someone in your life that's like him, it's probably you.
As Facebook is about old friends and new I'm going to celebrate the old again and nominate Paul Swinnerton to pick a new tune a day for the next seven days - as he introduced me to this song back in the late 1980s. Apparently he was good mates with them!. It's true, man!
Day three of the musical challenge takes me to Perth in Western Australia, the world's most isolated city. A big song about loneliness by a band who embodied so much about their home city - flatlands, wilderness, big and empty.
It's Wide Open Road by The Triffids.
But I love it especially because I used to have it on a VHS that my friend Roy Jopson (RIP) made for me when we shared a house in Perth. When I moved to London I'd watch it after a night out, to take me back to nights (and mornings) sat up chatting with ABC TV's Rage on in the background. The track after it was Atmosphere by Joy Division, two bands that belong in, and are a product of, their unique time and place.
I'm passing the baton for the musical challenge - pick a tune for the next seven days - to Adil Bux, a Perth pal to this day, who Facebook has allowed me to stay in touch with and witness his lovely family growing up. Hope to see you for a lemonade in London sometime soon my friend.
Much love to all the Perth crew - Keep the Faith.
Part four of the seven day musical challenge finally brings me into the 1990s (which apparently was the point).
I love the pomp of the Pet Shop Boys and this awesome reworking of a Village People disco anthem.
This is dedicated to the honeymooners Jason Prince and Lee Clarkson who are indeed heading that way in a few days. Consider yourself nominated, but take your time and enjoy the West Coast. Life is peaceful there.
Day five of the musical challenge. And I had to promise to stick to the 90s, which apparently was the point (whoops). This is from the soaring "comeback" album from the Manic Street Preachers. I saw them supporting Oasis at Cardiff Arena in 1996 and trying this stuff out. 20 years later they were filling stadiums and now they're doing the Welsh team's song for the Euros.
I'm going to nominate Martin Cook to take up the challenge of a new tune every day for the next seven. "I wish I had a bottle... ".
Day six of the music challenge and it's THE Oasis track of the time, Don't Look Back in Anger.
I did this song with the band who played at my 40th and at the Y Factor charity gig we did for MENCAP, raising over 150k over a few years.
The greatest tribute to my musical prowess was from Terry Christian: "he's dancing to the words".
The leader of the band and the most musically gifted of all of my friends on here is Jeremy Smith, soon to appear at Glastonbury as part of Barclay James Harvest. Over to you maestro to pick a 90s tune a day for the next seven days....
Final day of the music challenge.
I went all the way back to 1994 for this one. A song that reminds me of going freelance for the first time and the optimism I needed to sustain me through the uncertainty.
The song was also used three years later as a campaign song for New Labour in the landslide election of that year. A time of optimism and togetherness I feel our country has long since left behind.
The song is of course Things Can Only Get Better by D:Ream, featuring Professor Brian Cox on keyboards.
Today is the day we formally install New Labour's Peter Mandelson as Chancellor of Manchester Metropolitan University. I was sat with Peter last year at an event at the other University when Brian Cox was speaking. Peter asked me what band the pop Professor had been in. I told him. "That was our song!" he exclaimed.
Not quite a guacamole moment, but it did mark a time and place that has led to us now working together at ManMet.
With me that day, who I now nominate is comrade Steve Connor.
Labels: Australia, friends, journalism, Labour, Manchester Metropolitan University, music, Nostalgia
OBI Property 'Beyond the Bomb' - Manchester 20 years on
Underwhelmed by Owen Coyle's appointment as Blackburn Rovers manager
Owen Coyle is going to have to turn around not only his own flagging career, but the mindset of an exhausted and insulted group of fans AND the fortunes of a club in the financial mire. If he manages it, then he could well have a religion named after him.
Can he do it? On the evidence of his last three jobs he has lost the touch he once had at Burnley. Crap at Wigan, Not good at Houston in the MLS and sacked from his dream job at Bolton. When he got Burnley promoted I thought he was a decent bloke who understood how football should be played, but he torched all of that when he took the Bolton job.
I'm not excited by this appointment, I'm underwhelmed by it.
I'm not offended by this appointment, but we all long ago gave up on any notion that the Venky's knew what they were doing.
Posted by Michael Taylor at 12:24 pm 1 comment: Links to this post
Labels: blackburn rovers, football
Welcome to The Marple Leaf
I'm Michael Taylor and this is my blog from Marple; where Manchester meets the Peaks. I live here with my wife Rachel and our five sons. I've been doing the blog as a random collection of local issues and personal obsessions since 2006, covering things like telly, politics, football and trains. I work at Manchester Metropolitan University in external relations, I'm involved in a few different businesses and had my debut novel published in 2015. Please feel free to post comments, but keep it clean.
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Andy Burnham, at KPMG
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What I bang on about
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My neck of the woods - local
Book of the Future (Tom Cheesewright)
Mellor View
Northern Monkeys
Raving Adman
Roger Cashman
Stuart Vallantine
The Casual Connoisseur
My neck of the woods - global
100 Football Grounds Club
David Hepworth
Gerasites
Ian Moore - Full English Brexit
Michael Merrick
Nora Mulready
Public Policy and the Past
Radiohead tribute to Gordon Murray, creator of Cam...
Just watch this - then Vote Remain. Michael Dougan...
Stone Roses at the Etihad - joyous, raucous and mi...
So proud of this amazing Manchester Metropolitan U...
Seven great songs in seven days for seven good fri...
OBI Property 'Beyond the Bomb' - Manchester 20 yea...
Underwhelmed by Owen Coyle's appointment as Blackb...
Our simple life
Don't worry about genius and don't worry about not being clever. Trust rather to hard work, perseverance, and determination. The best motto for a long march is "Don't grumble. Plug on."
You hold your future in your own hands. Never waver in this belief. Don't swagger. The boy who swaggers - like the man who swaggers - has little else that he can do. He is a cheap-Jack crying his own paltry wares. It is the empty tin that rattles most.
Be honest. Be loyal. Be kind.
Remember that the hardest thing to acquire is the faculty of being unselfish. As a quality it is one of the finest attributes of manliness.
Love the sea, the ringing beach and the open downs.
Keep clean, body and mind.
Sir Frederick Treves, September 1903, Boy's Own Paper, quoted in The Dangerous Book for Boys by Conn and Hal Iggulden
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