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Gillian Duffy

We don’t really know the views of Rochdale pensioner Gillian Duffy; but just by getting to speak to one of the demi-gods who have spent the election campaign talking at us she has become our inadvertent hero of the week. Gordon Brown’s snide gaffe – calling her “Just a bigoted woman” for having the temerity merely to begin raising topics concerning her – deservedly rebounded on him personally. But Mrs Duffy’s moment encapsulated the discontent of the electorate, and the religiously preserved disconnect between the population and the airbrushed political priest-class. Only the faithful may approach with eyes averted lest we sully them; and as symbolically demonstrated in the TV leaders’ debates, heaven forefend that our reactions should pollute their environment.

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It's very hard to be a gentleman and a writer. - Somerset Maugham
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On this day:
Russian Revolution - 1917, Lord Lucan disappears - 1974
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