From the Huffington Post:
A Liberal Democrat MP wore a Nigel Farage mask at the party’s conference as she mocked the Ukip leader’s penchant for beer.
Just before Nick Clegg’s appearance, Lorely Burt also mocked a former-Ukip councillor’s claim that this winter’s floods had been brought on by the introduction of gay marriage.
This was not, shall we say, the funniest thing we have ever seen. It wouldn’t, to be honest, have been funny even at the traditional end of Conference late night sing-a-long the Glee Club.
To be fair, though, after an inauspicious start, Lorely went on to make a serious speech, echoing how bad for business it would be should UKIP get their way.
The HP site has video of the whole thing, but it is a minute of your life you won’t get back.
Lorely is a great constituency MP, and a real expert on business. She can maybe add good sport to that, but she should definitely stick to the day job in future.
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10 Comments
Note: for those wishing to understand the criteria for Glee Club turns, I don’t think this clip meets them.
Gareth, could you go into more detail about the criteria, please? If the bar is Simon being fabulous and the Huppertmeister presaging the Digital Bill of Rights motion with Every Breath you take, I start to get it, but maybe you could be more explicit;-).
I thought a gimmick was coming after the staged passing of messages that preceded it. I didn’t get it at first, as I didn’t recognise the mask or the mannerisms. After that I was so embarrassed that I covered my eyes. It would have seemed laboured at the Glee Club or as Scout camp fire stunt. When the gimmick was over the message was fine. Please don’t do it again Lorely.
Who is it that persuades MPs that this sort of thing is a good idea? I expect I am not the oly one cringing at the memory of Sarah Teather at an earlier conference. If we want jokes there are plenty of good comedians available.
MPs should all stick to the day job. I realise that is more difficult when only 10% of the population want to have anything to do with you and the party leadership has become the joke. But if the voters wanted comedians then the panel from Mock the Week would be running the country.
Having watched this on the Telegraph website it was very ill advised. What the reaction be if Nigel Farage had done such a thing about a female Lib Dem MP ? Of course a good joke is an asset to a politician – but some – Danny Alexander springs to mind, couldn’t tell a joke to save their life.
@ JohnTilley
‘Who is it that persuades MPs that this sort of thing is a good idea?’
Some can do it, and some shouldn’t try. Perhaps the props and putting words into the target’s mouth where what irked here. Rory Bremner could have carried it off. And I agree with you, John, about Sarah Teather’s jokes. They didn’t add anything to the work of a courageous and impressive politician.
On the other hand, Tim Farren can include jokes, argument, passion and inspiration in one address, as he did at the Rally in York. But it’s a really well-crafted and well-judged performance.
So some can and some shouldn’t.
why don’t we search out one of the professional stand-ups to do something of this sort as a warm-up to each afternoon’s session..
Ian Sanderson, I agree.
President Tim is a unique talent and has personal and political skills go far beyond most of his colleagues. Some would suggest he would make an excellent leader for the Liberal Democrats. I would not be unhappy with that myself although I could name half a dozen of our MPs who I would be happier leading the party that the current joker.
Peter Tyzack, good idea. But ai am not sure ithat the state of our party finances would cover the fee without selling a few more peerages.
Peter Tyzack
That can be risky; have you forgotten Kenny Everett at the Tory Party pre-election rally in 1983?
I can remember Sandi Toksvig doing an excellent job of the appeal at a LibDem conference some years ago.