The most impressively feeble argument so far, though, came on Friday, from Karren Brady – star of The Apprentice, Tory peer and vice-chairman of West Ham United. Football fans, she said, should vote to remain in the EU – because if we left, clubs could no longer stuff their squads with foreign players. “Losing this unhindered access to European talent,” she says, “would put British clubs at a disadvantage.”
Do you ever wonder whether both sides in this referendum are staffed solely with secret agents sent by their opponents?
It’s always music to younger ears
Kanye West has announced that his new album is the greatest ever recorded. Not just by him, but by anyone. He has previously hailed himself as “the greatest living rock star”. No wonder music magazines are in trouble, now musicians are writing their own reviews.
"My pathetic sneering at Kanye West is an important part of the cultural cycle"
The other day, a colleague asked me why I and many others my age mock Kanye West. I’m a decrepit 35; she’s 22, and finds my failure to recognise his genius disrespectful.
In fact, I’m merely performing my time-honoured role. Every time a revolutionary pop act comes along, the young love it, while the old sniff about what a dreadful racket it is – not like the music of their youth. In due course, the young become old, whereupon they discover that the generation below them is listening to the most dreadful racket – not like the music of their youth.
Those over 35 who profess to enjoy new music are embarrassing not only themselves but the young. The disapproval of the old is integral to pop’s appeal. My pathetic sneering at Kanye West is an important part of the cultural cycle.
Civilising politics
On Tuesday evening an architectural society met to discuss how redesigning the Commons might improve politics. As a daily observer of Parliament I was invited to speak. I said a different seating arrangement (say, a fan shape rather than opposing benches) might civilise PMQs, by making it less cramped and adversarial.
The best way to improve PMQs, though, would need no redesign. Simply bar any MP who isn’t due to ask a question. Then there would be no baying, no heckling, and no silly crowd-pleasing from the Prime Minister.
Source: http://telegraph.feedsportal.com/c/32726/f/579309/s/4d3bf2ea/sc/13/l/0L0Stelegraph0O0Cnews0Cnewstopics0Ceureferendum0C12130A3390CKarren0EBradys0Eown0Egoal0Ewith0EEU0Epitch0Bhtml/story01.htm