Notting Hill riot: where was Cameron?
The last dregs of this year’s Notting Hill Carnival were marred by a bit of aggro. As we know from the Daily Mirror, Notting Hill resident David Cameron was on his “real holiday” aboard a lavish £21k a week yacht with no photographers invited unlike the ostentatious photocall cum bucket and spade affair in Cornwall earlier in the summer. Typical of Cam the Sham who is not only duplicitous but has a habit of being in the wrong place at the wrong time. First he was in Africa when his own constituency was flooded, now he chooses to do a runner when the largest street festival in the world and symbol of multiculturalism is held on his doorstep.
PS Long before gentrification when it was a run-down part of the inner-city that Lord snooty and his pals wouldn’t dare to reside in, Notting Hill was scene of this country’s first “race riots”. See BBC history lesson here and Guardian travelogue here.
PPS I doff my cap to Paul Burgin who eerily predicted this Cameron holiday bonanza a month ago.
August 27, 2008 at 12:00 pm
I’m not really sure whether or not the holiday destinations of our country’s leaders are relavent. Yes – on one hand they need to be seen to identify with the average citizen (whatever that is!) but if you were offered the opportunity of a luxury cruise, who wouldn’t take it! Don’t really think MPs hoidays should be used as photo opportunities wherever they are but if this was used to portray a particular, biased image then it is clearly wrong.
It is also wrong if he ignores significant events back home whilst continueing with his holiday. Having said that family should come first, before politics. In any case which front bench politicians actualy take an active interest in their own constituencies?
August 27, 2008 at 12:05 pm
He was trying to rough it with the plebs in Cornwall to show how he felt their pain in the credit crunch then slipped off to his further Turkish delight secret jolly when he thought no-one would notice. How the other half lives.
August 27, 2008 at 12:22 pm
It was raving as usual at Sancho Panza and Good Times, though I did have to negotiate the knife arch at Clapham before arrival.
What was your favourite part of the Carnival this year Rupa?
August 27, 2008 at 12:56 pm
Hello ac. I was in Pembridge Rd and further down towards Kensington Park Road (?) until about 5.30pm but my pre-school child found the foghorns and whistles a bit much so we walked down to Holland Park for feeding ducks and ace adventure playground which was highlight of the day. Didn’t see Cameron anywhere.
August 27, 2008 at 4:30 pm
“now he chooses to do a runner when the largest street festival in the world and symbol of multiculturalism is held on his doorstep”
A £6m policing budget to cover knife and gun scanners and pitched battles with 150-strong black gangs is not really the best advert for years of Multiculturalism, is it?
The Holland Park adventure playground is ace tho!
August 27, 2008 at 4:43 pm
It’s not really on for policitians’ holidays to be used as photo opportunities wherever they are and for whatever reason. Holidays are time-out with families and should not be in the public spotlight for any reason – both parties are guilty of this.
August 27, 2008 at 4:49 pm
Why should David Cameron by expected to be at a carnical, multicultural or otherwise? He can’t be expected to attend every event going. Where there any other politicians present?
August 27, 2008 at 7:49 pm
If David Cameron had turned up to the carnival you would have accused him of just doing it for the photo opportunity. And as for the first race riots in Britain happening after the second world war, what is the Guardian on? We have had dozens of race riots in this country before then, either directed against Jews or foreigners in general (or Catholics).
August 27, 2008 at 8:55 pm
Billy Boy Hague did for tory leaders at the Notting Hill Carnival. Still you know Labour’s fucked when the media wont even do Cameron for his fake Cornwall holiday photo op.
August 27, 2008 at 8:56 pm
Apols for fowl language but then the situation is fowl
August 28, 2008 at 4:15 am
Didn’t know where to post this but…
I hereby tag you, as I have been tagged, to participate in Iain Dale’s ‘where were you when’ meme thingy.
See any number of blogs (Kerry McCarthy, Sadie’s Tavern etc) for details.
September 2, 2008 at 8:07 am
Rupa – Notting Hill is never more divided than when the Carnival is on.
The posh in-comers make sure they are at their second homes in Cornwall or Tuscany. The locals (white and black) are usually there or thereabouts, often making a few quid selling beer from their front gardens.
When/if the Carnival is moved out of the area, we will know the balance of class forces has tipped irreparably.