Mark Thomas: The People’s Manifesto

After Coca-Cola and the international Arms Trade, Mark Thomas delivers his solutions to the current state of British politics, with a little help from the British people.

Political reform may sound like a task filled with difficult problems, but as Mark Thomas explains; we already have all the answers. While touring last year’s “it’s the stupid economy” show Mark asked audiences to suggest policies to sort out British politics and in true democratic style the best policies were then voted into the new ‘The Peoples Manifesto.’ A book and Radio 4 show that aims to give politics back to the people.

“People innately have lots of solutions. It sounds like an obvious thing but everyone thinks that they can be prime minister; everyone thinks that they can do a better job. They certainly think they can do a better job than their MP. Everyone has opinions and that was how the manifesto show was born. Instead of politicians telling us what we should do, it should be the other way round.”

Thomas, 46, has been a stalwart of the alternative comedy scene for over twenty-five years having found humour in the unlikely sources of anti-corporation demonstrations and political corruption. He is perhaps best known for his Channel Four show, the Mark Thomas Product, that exposed legal loopholes in the arms trade and data protection act, yet he has also won significant awards for his investigative journalism and his activism on human rights issues. Does this mean he is still a comedian first and foremost?

“People ask whether I put the politics first, journalism first or the comedy first; it doesn’t really matter. I’m just playing with the cards that I have been dealt because I really love doing what I do. I love the fact that this past year has been about the manifesto, the year before that it was about Coca Cola and the year before that it was about the serious organised crime and police act. I guess I’ve spent twenty five years of my life trying to avoid a proper job.”

From the absurd and humorous, to the serious and practical, The People’s Manifesto contains ideas from across the country and Thomas genuinely believes that some of them would actually improve Britain, such as the prohibition of deception act that makes it illegal for MPs to knowingly lie; or ‘Archers Law’ as he claims it will popularly be known.

“I do love the idea of being able to take an MP to court for lying. There are ways and means of taking an MP to court just now but it is very difficult. Do you remember that great quote by Geoff Hoon? When he was asked if he had seen the report for going to Iraq, he said that he hadn’t which was factually correct, because it had been read to him. Although he wasn’t technically lying, he wasn’t telling the truth either. Situations like that are just too important; there are peoples’ lives at stake.”  

“Even in Scotland if we remember, the first election of the Scottish Parliament saw the Liberal Democrats reneging on their main manifesto pledge, and it’s from this that we have one of our manifesto pledges, that manifesto’s must be legally binding. If you are elected on central polities like NHS, tuition fees, and you break your pledge. People shouldn’t have to wait four years to get you out, they should be able to get your arse into court and hit you where it hurts which is in the pocket.”

Articulate and principled, Thomas has continually fought the position of the underdog and has shown his willingness to court controversy when he feels it is necessary. His website recently carried his objections to the proposed state-funded funeral of Margaret Thatcher, inviting users to download and sign a protest postcard addressed to the Queen detailing what else they will be doing on the days of the funeral; fireworks and barbeques to name but a few. 

“There is a massive irony in the women who didn’t believe in society, who said that there is no such thing as society and then expects society to whip round and bury her. Her Pinochet and Reagan where the architects of neo-liberalism and as such they shouldn’t be celebrated, they shouldn’t be regarded as national heroes. They are disgraces.”

With MP’s expenses, banking mismanagement, neo-liberalism and civil rights abuses still prevalent in Britain today, Mark Thomas would be forgiven for having a pessimistic outlook on the future. However, this could not be further from the truth.

“If you look at it in historical terms we have come a long way since we have had the vote. Women haven’t even had the vote for 100 years yet. This last year in particular I think there has been a fundamental shift in attitudes that will take a long time to wear down. People are even more wary of politicians and they are realising that democracy isn’t just about putting a cross on a ballot every four years, it’s about deciding what you want and fighting for it.”

 Mark Thomas plays the Glasgow Stand on Monday 18^th January and Edinburgh Stand on Tuesday 19^th.

Technology has failed me.

For some reason unknown, Twitter or Delicious or Flickr refuse to work on my blog. What did I do wrong I ask!

I get the feeling that I have somehow offended social networking personally and now I am reaping the consequences of my actions.

Perhaps I didn’t update my Facebook regularly enough or maybe myspace is getting back at me for ditching it for Facebook? Hell hath no fury like a webpage scorned. But I put my hands up and say that I did not do it personally. I follow online trends, I don’t set them! I like books! Books I say! Old, scuffed well thumbed books! The internet in general is no place for people like me, people who have had the misfortune to be born waaay past their time.

I don’t want to be too specific but I think I would have fitted like a glove in, oh I dunno, lets say 1960′s America. That would have been just about smashing!

Think about it; smoking was still cool and (apparently) good for you, you could feasibly wear a trilby hat when walking down the street without folk laughing at you, offering someone a drink at 9am in the mornin was considered ‘jovial’ as opposed to ‘concerning’ and importantly, the most challenging piece of electrical equipment was probably the TV. Granted I would have to stay on my toes in case I was inadvertently exposed as a Commie but I would be willing to run that risk just to leave technology behind.

SO! In short I apologise that my Twitter or Flickr feed is not linked to my blog, as for the life of me I have no idea why this is. Now that I have said my piece I’m off to figure out how to time travel back to a simpler time.

 

…….they had Xboxes in 1960 didn’t they?!?!?

Anyone fancy a pint?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 “ Fancy a pint?”

“ehh…why not, kills an hour doesn’t it!”

“It does indeed, where ye fancy going?”

“I really fancy going to Wetherspoons for one.”

“Really??”

“aye! I just love it in there”

“but……why?!?”

“I dunno, its just that atmosphere, the way that everyone o’them is the same, ye know? Nae music playing,staff justifiably looking at ye like that hate ye…i love that.”

 

Ok, ok I admit it I am no playwright but you get the idea.

This piece of impromptu amateur theatre was inspired by the announcement that JD Wetherspoon plans to open 250 pubs over the next five years.  http://tiny.cc/qtRPt

This, as you may understand, has made me very sad indeed.

Let’s face it; we all from time to time, when money is no longer our friend, have the need to wander into the nearest spoons for a quiet drink. There is no shame in that whatsoever. Who can argue with decent imported Eastern European beers for less than two-quid a bottle or, if the mood takes you, a bottle of wine for less than a tenner?

It’s a natural part of life, cutting your cloth to suit your means.

But!

What do you do when you find yourself with quite a long cloth, a cloth that needs no cutting, a cloth that will allow you to wet your whistle wherever you may choose??…Sorry, that metaphor got away from me there. The natural assumption would be that you go somewhere else but sadly this is not the case.

With the alarming statistic that pubs are closing at a record 50 per week http://tiny.cc/kCd3y does this mean that the traditional Scottish pub atmosphere is eroding only to be replaced by cheaper chain pub alternatives.

An interesting and comfortable bar is hard to find, but there are still some great bars ticking over in Glasgow. They provide a staging post for new music, comedy nights, film and literary festivals. In point, they not only help us drown our sorrows or toast our victories, but act as an essential part of Scottish culture.

So, to the reader I ask but one simple thing….only drink in Spoons if your drunk, skint or both.

Detroit’s final indignity?

Respect for human life is one thing, respect for the dead is quiet another. However, I believe they are directly linked. The respect we give to our dead reflects the respect we have for our lives. It is central to the proper function of a civilised society. With this in mind I would encourage you to look at the article linked below regarding the record amount of unburied bodies lying in Detroit’s central mortuary.

 http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/us_and_americas/article6926247.ece

 This has been a problem for a number of years that has got exponentially worse due to the recession as unemployment sits at 28%, a rate higher than the worst troughs of the great depression, people can no longer afford to bury their loved ones.

However, with the aid of local philanthropists, $8,000 has been raised to help bury 11 people with 55 remaining in the crematorium. This indicates that donations are now the most likely source of funding for future burials.

This raises an interesting and I believe important ethical dilemma.

In a city that has so many social problems, poverty, crime, drug addiction. Could philanthropic donations be better used? Would future donations be better spent on those who are alive and still suffering?

Writers Block

the condition of being unable to create a piece of written work because something in your mind prevents you from doing it’ (Cambridge Dictionary Online)

Writers block. I’m 99% sure that’s what I’ve got. At a time when I need to be creative, innovative, captivating, investigative, exhilarating, expansive I cannot think of a single thing to write about…not a button.

The good news is, I am not alone. In fact it seems at anyone time I am part of a considerable community of people staring blankly at a word document each taking longer and longer sighs.

I’m still holding on to the belief that this will be short-term thing but my misgivings pointed me in the direction of a Mr Henry Roth. Roth wrote his first book Call it Sleep in 1934, his second Mercy of a Rude Stream, was published in 1994…sixty long years later….sixty!

So, as a means of tackling this affliction I have enlisted the help of a website http://www.43folders.com/2004/11/18/hack-your-way-out-of-writers-block  which provides practical tips to beat the block.

As fellow journo’s and therefore possible future sufferers I thought I’d pick out a few and let you know how I get on. I see it as my moral responsibility; I’m doing it for the greater good. (JS Mill, whit a guy!)

Talk to a monkey – Explain what you’re really trying to say to a stuffed animal or cardboard cutout

This had a rather alarming affect as the monkey spoke back…

Write from a persona – Lend your voice to a writing personality who isn’t you. Doesn’t have to be a pirate or anything—just try seeing your topic from someone else’s perspective, style, and interest.

‘Why is that dishevelled guy asking me to write about blogging??’ (the monkey’s perspective)

Take a walk – Get out of your writing brain for 10 minutes. 

Not a problem…back in 10.

Take a shower; change clothes – Give yourself a truly clean start.

 Great Idea, I’m a bit sweaty from the walk.

Get away from the computer; Write someplace new – If you’ve been staring at the screen and nothing is happening, walk away. Shut down the computer. Take one pen and one notebook, and go somewhere new.

 But….I’ve just got back!

Listen to new music – Try something instrumental and rhythmic that you’ve never heard before. Put it on repeat, then stop fiddling with iTunes until your draft is done.

 Hmm here goes….

 ‘

This only generated more questions. Like what b’christ was going on in the 80’s???

I will end with a simple conclusion.

By writing about the failure of the listed methods to cure my writers block I have inadvertently cured my writers block.

Take what you can from that. I’m off for a lie down.

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