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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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A mere copier of nature can never produce anything great. - Joshua Reynolds
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On this day:
Edward I Expels Jews from England - 1290, Authority of the pope declared void in England - 1536, British Cops’ 1-2-3 in Olympic Tug o’ War - 1908, Mein Kampf Published - 1925, Great Martinstown Downpour - 1955, First UK Broadcast of Big Brother - 2000
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