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Brightoniana: Embassy Court

I love a nosey behind closed doors and I was interested to take a tour around Embassy Court on Saturday. It's a fascinating and beautiful building from the 1930s. More Miami Beach than West Pier, and certainly a Brighton icon. Tales of Embassy Court's heydey before the war, replete with a martini bar and lifts reserved for servants, did make me wonder. The cost of keeping these flats was extraordinary. It was all about exclusive luxury. I can't imagine it was as respectable as our lovely tour guide suggested. I'm sure it was a hotbed of adultery, kept women, well respected men in the ... Read more »

Election Notes 29/04/10: The battle of hustings

Election Notes 29/04/10: The battle of hustings

Anyone who cares about democracy is in favour of anything that breathes life into politics. That could be electoral reform, Twitter, public meetings, canvassing, men dressed in chicken suits. There are actually lots of ways of encouraging discussion and debate. All are good. I’m just not sure ... Read more »
Election Notes 28/04/10: Going Postal

Election Notes 28/04/10: Going Postal

The postal votes are out there now. In Brighton Pavilion, something like 10000 voters will be voting postally. It’s astonishing. It’s also tantalising to wonder what those ballots cast could tell us but that must elude us. The postal vote packs went out last week and a great percentage ... Read more »
Election Notes 27/04/10/: It must be election time because…

Election Notes 27/04/10/: It must be election time because…

I walk down a street and the first thing I wonder is how the doors are numbered. I haven’t taken a go on Facebook Scrabble for 4 days. I’ve skipped my beloved pub quiz several times and that NEVER happens. Red garments are being worn more. Blue and green ones. Not so much. My ... Read more »
Election Notes 26/04/10: Fast forward to May 7th?

Election Notes 26/04/10: Fast forward to May 7th?

Do you know David Hare’s play The Absence of War? It’s a thinly veiled account of Kinnock’s experience in the 1992 campaign. In the play, Labour leader George Jones loses to a man rather more like David Cameron than John Major. I saw it at the national theatre many moons ago with John Thaw as ... Read more »
Election Notes 25/04/10: Beware polite Tories

Election Notes 25/04/10: Beware polite Tories

As any activist knows, canvassing isn’t really about persuasion (although it does sometimes turn into a discussion, and quite right too). It’s predominantly a data collecting exercise. Where is your support? Make sure you solidify it. Get your people out on polling day. That’s why I ... Read more »
Election Notes: 24/04/10: What’s an anti-Tory vote in Brighton Pavilion?

Election Notes: 24/04/10: What’s an anti-Tory vote in Brighton Pavilion?

A friend asked me the other day: “I don’t want a Tory MP. So who’s telling the truth: Labour or Green?” He was referring to the Labour and Green leaflets that are going out and both claim to be the only ones who can beat the Conservatives here. It’s a fair question and the answer is: we ... Read more »
Election Notes 23/04/10: Can you tell what it is yet?

Election Notes 23/04/10: Can you tell what it is yet?

Courtesy of my friend Neil. Here's a drawing. One of my favourite spoonerisms: it's a voting floater. ... Read more »
Election Notes 22/04/10: Before 1997, before Iraq

Election Notes 22/04/10: Before 1997, before Iraq

The retiring MP for Brighton Pavilion, David Lepper, is a good man. I've told him off about voting for the Digital Economy Bill. Fear not. But he worked hard to get to parliament and there are very few folk who'd say he hasn't been a great local MP since 1997. David has been clearing out his ... Read more »
Election Notes 21/04/10: I voted Green once

Election Notes 21/04/10: I voted Green once

Not many years ago, when I lived in London, I was voting in the Mayoral election or the like. It might have been an MEP election. I can’t recall. But it was a PR election because I’m certain I voted Green as my second preference. Why did I vote Green? I couldn’t tell you that exactly. A ... Read more »
Election Notes 20/04/10: What does the LibDem surge mean in Brighton Pavilion?

Election Notes 20/04/10: What does the LibDem surge mean in Brighton Pavilion?

It’s one of those mysteries: why isn’t Brighton and Hove a Liberal Democrat stronghold? Next door Lewes has had the services of the extremely diligent Norman Baker since 1997 but any Seagulls fan will spit at the very mention of his name. Brighton got its first MP in 1832* with the Great ... Read more »
Election Notes 19/04/10: Civil Partnerships

Election Notes 19/04/10: Civil Partnerships

A few weeks ago I was thrilled to go to the Civil Partnership of my chums David and Sune. David is a Tory and a high earner. He frequently has a go at me about the new higher rate of income tax and how Labour is ruining him. So when it came to sign the Guest Book on the big day I couldn’t ... Read more »
Election Notes 18/04/10: Doorstep Gems

Election Notes 18/04/10: Doorstep Gems

I've been out and about canvassing for Labour on the doorstep the last few weeks. Anyone who's done it before will attest to the amusing things you see and hear as your peek into people's lives and homes. These ones tickled: “What election is it? Oh, a General Election. I thought we hadn’t ... Read more »
Election Notes 17/04/10: The last FPTP General Election?

Election Notes 17/04/10: The last FPTP General Election?

We’re staring a hung parliament in the face. It’ll be the first one in my lifetime (although not the first minority government: remember Major in the dog days of his administration) and it will surely be the first of many. The thirst for electoral reform is growing and that is a good thing. ... Read more »
Election Notes 16/04/10: The PM came to town

Election Notes 16/04/10: The PM came to town

The PM came to town last Friday on the campaign trail and it was fascinating to see him in action at close quarters. I was also glad to shake his hand and share a few words with him. What a nice man. He arrived at BHASVIC to a rapturous welcome. The students from all over Brighton were on ... Read more »