It has just been announcd that the former leader of Sheffield City Councill Clive Betts (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/mpdb/html/393.stm) is to be commemorated in bronze. A statue of Mr. Betts, standing 15 high, will be placed on a plynth at the top of Fargate (where the Goodwin Fountain used to be.)

The statue is expected to cost around £350,000 and will be financed entirely from council funds (ie Councill Tax). However, critics of the plan say this is a serious under-estimate and the real cost will be considerably higher.

Councill leader Jan Wilson said she was certain the people of Sheffield wouldn't be so small minded as to complain about the cost and that they wouldn't begrude one penny of the money. She added that the statue was a fitting tribute to a great man and that it would be enjoyed by Sheffielders for many generations to come. "A thing of beauty is a joy forever", she said.

Several designs have been submitted. The favourite one depics Mr. Betts smilling broadly, with his right arm outstretched as if waving to the people of Sheffield. Clive Betts himself is said to favour this design as it illustrates his warm and close relationship with Sheffielders who, he says, are forever in his heart.

The statue will be officially unvailed early next year by Mr. Betts himself. Several prominant politicians and celebrities are expected to attend including the former snooker player Willie Thorne who use to live in the Whirlow area of Sheffield. Officials are refusing to confirm or deny that Prince Charles and Camilla Parker-Bowles (by then the Duke and Dutchess of Cornwall) will attend. Clarence House has refused to comment.

So what do you think.

You are joking now aernt you??
This is the guy who was suspended fron the commons for bringing his gay lover from abroad to stay with him and he also fiddled his visa status.
And now are stupid council want to honour him? I know what id like to do to him.
This council never cease to amaze me with the way they throw tax payers money at stupid causes this being the latest.:mad:

With you on that one. £350K could be spent on much more useful things I'm sure.

Originally posted by slimsid2000
So what do you think.
I think you posted this 8 hours too early. ;)

This is so obviously a wind-up.

I hope so ,but you never know with this council.:thumbsup:

They wouldn't dare do it.

Ugh, why?! Just WHY?! :loopy:

The Council are clearly retarded if they think the Electorate are going to let them spend 350 Grand on a STATUE when there's other far more deserving stuff they could and SHOULD be spending that kind of money on.

Which fool voted for the statue??
Hey might be clive himself.:hihi:

I assume this is an early april fools then. Who on earth is clive betts anyway?

He is a labour MP who has been caught fiddling his gay partners immigration status,you know the kind they love in the council.:hihi:

Will his hair be cut like a Brazilian :P

Originally posted by owdlad
Will his hair be cut like a Brazilian :P

He will be wearing a bikini ?

Why not a statue of Blunkett's dog, cocking it's leg up on a pile of red-painted boiler spares, liberally coated in old chewing gum and fly posters?

Must be worth £350,000 of MY money!

It could be called "SCC Taking the P*ss"

Well he likes his brazillians does our clive.:D

They could make a replica of this (http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm_1338901.html) statue! :D

K x

Isn't Michael Portilo's boyfriend from Brazil too, is there some kind of "gay brides for MP's" service running in Brazil ?

I volunteer to fly to Rio and find out.

Originally posted by Kristian
They could make a replica of this (http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm_1338901.html) statue! :D

K x

Good to see Roy & Kristian doing the Derek & Clive double act.

Also I am well pleased that this erection is getting the publicity it deserves :thumbsup: :D :D :D

Well you have heard about the film called boys from brazil,well now you know why:heyhey:

lol I love the link K seems at bit like me,you know much bigger in the morning:hihi:
ooops better behave.:P

Originally posted by owdlad
Good to see Roy & Kristian doing the Derek & Clive double act.

Also I am well pleased that this erection is getting the publicity it deserves :thumbsup: :D :D :D

I'm not biting Monkey Man! :D

K x

Originally posted by royjames
lol I love the link K seems at bit like me,you know much bigger in the morning:hihi:
ooops better behave.:P

It made me smile too Roy. Shame there's no picture though. :blush:

K x

Ah, I get it now. Statue of Clive Betts = Statue that looks like a big pr*ck. The association is clear now.:clap:

I do hope this is an april fools day joke a day early

Given lack of link to an actual story, plus not likely to be a cut and paste job from a news site (eg "unvailed") then I think a wind - up or somebody's calendar is a day out.

Yes it sounds loke a wind up,will the person who started this thread plz come forward and admit it is a joke.

I vote for a Maggie Thatcher Urinal.

Slimsid2000

What a fantastic post!

I congratulate you on your sense of humour. Comedy genius etc.

I can just see the broad smile and the raised arm (Nazi salute?) lording it over Fargate!

I've no idea who you are or where you live but I'd like to buy you a pint for that post.

It made me laugh out loud. Literally!

I'm presuming this is a wind up.
It's got to be-----£350,000 for a statue---waving.

Cliive Betts sat next to me in a school meeting and swore he would do all he could to keep our school open.
4 days later I sat in the public gallery at the Town Hall and saw him vote to close it.
Not such an honourable man.
hazel

Please tell me this is an early April fools day story? Should've saved it for tomorrow AM. ;)

Surely, it would be bonkers to have a statue of him in sheffield if he wasn't dead yet, even if he has done a lot to improve the city.

Well , this takes the flippin' biscuit !
The next thing you know there'll be a statue of Owdlad at the bottom of the Moor.

I thought if you did an April Fools early, isn't it you that is the fool? Not that I know what I'm talking about, but that's what I was told once...

;)

Ah. As most people realise by now this was an April Fool joke.

There is no planned statue of Clive Betts (although who knows, the councill may yet think of it.)

Not entirely untrue though - Willie Thorne did used to live in Sheffield.:hihi: :hihi: :hihi: