Last week of the election, let me tell a great story by the late Frank Dobson, minus, of course, the swear words. 1953. The big issue was the Cold War. Lena Jeger was a Labour candidate in a Camden by-election. She climbed several flights of stairs to the top of a tower block &
knocked on a door. A cockney lady answered. "Hello," said Jeger breathlessly, "I am your Labour candidate & I'd like to talk to you about the dangers of Germany being encouraged to re-arm."
"Did you just climb the stairwell?" said the cockney.
"Yes."
"It smells of pee, don't it?"
"Did you just climb the stairwell?" said the cockney.
"Yes."
"It smells of pee, don't it?"
"I suppose it does," said Jeger.
"What are you gonna do about folk peeing in my stairwell?"
"I don't think there is anything I can do."
"Well then" said the cockney, "if you can't stop people peeing in my stairwell, I don't see how you're going to stop the Germans from rearming."
"What are you gonna do about folk peeing in my stairwell?"
"I don't think there is anything I can do."
"Well then" said the cockney, "if you can't stop people peeing in my stairwell, I don't see how you're going to stop the Germans from rearming."
Boom: all politics is local. Good night.
