Ding Dong! The witch is dead song all discussion in here please

[caparo]

So despite the years of planning, the massive hype, and the internet campaigns the record had a mere 52,000 downloads. That's about 0.1% of the number of folk who voted for her to be PM in general elections.

 

That's the trouble with these fringe groups. They seem to think that others share their bad taste and lack of respect.

[Bonzo77]

So despite the years of planning, the massive hype, and the internet campaigns the record had a mere 52,000 downloads. That's about 0.1% of the number of folk who voted for her to be PM in general elections.

 

That's the trouble with these fringe groups. They seem to think that others share their bad taste and lack of respect.

 

That's not the issue. I share their dislike of Thatcher. I just don't share their taste in music!

 

Stupid campaign.

 

Still got to No 2 though!

[caparo]

That's not the issue. I share their dislike of Thatcher. I just don't share their taste in music!

 

Stupid campaign.

 

Still got to No 2 though!

 

Of course it's the issue. The campaign was carefully co-ordinated to make the record number 1 not number 2. In the circumstances 52,000 is a bit pathetic. The campaign probably started more threads than it actually had supporters.

 

Gary Glitter managed to sell over 20 million records, and he's not exactly everyone's cup of tea either.

 

I bet the organisers expected to get rich out of their little stunt. Problem is it turned out to be an even smaller stunt than they imagined.

 

I note that Thatchers autobiography is one of the fastest selling books on Amazon at the moment. I didn't buy one but I'll hazard a guess that it and the biography that comes out this week will sell rather more than 52,000 copies.

[Bypassblade]

So despite the years of planning, the massive hype, and the internet campaigns the record had a mere 52,000 downloads. That's about 0.1% of the number of folk who voted for her to be PM in general elections.

 

That's the trouble with these fringe groups. They seem to think that others share their bad taste and lack of respect.

 

I also share their dislike of Thatcher, but as I said no interest in buying the download. I seem to notice that all through this thread the impression is that only miners hated her, people could not be so wrong she ruined a generation.

[caparo]

I also share their dislike of Thatcher, but as I said no interest in buying the download. I seem to notice that all through this thread the impression is that only miners hated her, people could not be so wrong she ruined a generation.

 

But they still voted for her. Odd how someone as unpopular as you seem to think had so much support that she could win 3 election, and yet when Scargill stood for parliament he lost his deposit. :hihi:

[francypants]

But they still voted for her. Odd how someone as unpopular as you seem to think had so much support that she could win 3 election, and yet when Scargill stood for parliament he lost his deposit. :hihi:

 

Yes and he wouldn't even give the mineworkers a vote because he was frightened he'd loose that too !!!! All he was bothered about was himself and still is.

[Blackbeard]

Snip

I note that Thatchers autobiography is one of the fastest selling books on Amazon at the moment. I didn't buy one but I'll hazard a guess that it and the biography that comes out this week will sell rather more than 52,000 copies.

 

How times have changed!

I can remember when her books were piled high in the remainder book shops, nobody wanted them then.

[BadTime]

It's stupid that the BBC Radio refused to play the full song. It is down to the publics choice no matter what the reason is behind it. Thats my personal opinion anyway

[llamatron]

I also share their dislike of Thatcher, but as I said no interest in buying the download. I seem to notice that all through this thread the impression is that only miners hated her, people could not be so wrong she ruined a generation.

 

This can't be true, if it were she would have a lot less support than she appears to have.

[caparo]

Yes and he wouldn't even give the mineworkers a vote because he was frightened he'd loose that too !!!! All he was bothered about was himself and still is.

 

This is quite funny particularly when you see the names involved.

 

http://icnorthwales.icnetwork.co.uk/news/walesnews/2003/02/13/king-arthur-lives-on-but-only-as-a-legend-50142-12634534/

 

King Arthur lives on - but only as a legend

 

Feb 13 2003

 

Kirsty Buchanan Political Editor Kirsty.Buchanan@Wme.Co.Uk, The Western Mail - The National Newspaper Of Wales

 

 

IT may come as some comfort to veteran socialist Tony Benn that even after his embarrassing inter-view of tea-sipping dictator Saddam Hussein, he is still not the most "vilified" man in politics.

 

According to Mr Benn, that honour belongs to fellow left-wing fire-brand Arthur Scargill, the man who carved out his career with Cassandra-like predictions for the future of mining, then saw his reputation decline faster than the industry.

 

Mr Scargill stood down as President of the National Union of Mine-workers last year in a low-key ceremony that failed to do justice to his 20-year reign as one of the most challenging public figures of the late 20th Century.

 

Mr Scargill, who retains a £1,000-a-month consultancy post with the NUM, now concentrates on building up the Socialist Labour Party, which he founded in 1996.

 

But so far no-one in the Welsh Labour Party is "rushing for the Valium bottle" at the news of his intention to stand in the South Wales East list, one of 20 top-up seats in the May elections.

 

There is quiet confidence that First Minister Rhodri Morgan has manoeuvred the Welsh Labour Party away from Westminster with his "clear red water" speech.

 

It is believed that dissatisfaction with the UK Government will not translate into protest votes against the Labour-led administration in Cardiff, which is increasingly pursuing a more socialist agenda.

 

But what Labour fears most, and what currently remains the great unknown of the May election, is the consequences of a long and possibly unsanctioned war with Iraq.

 

If Blair backs Bush in a conflict without the support of a second UN resolution, it could have devastating consequences for Labour in terms of protest votes.

 

But Roger Scully, lecturer at the International Politics Department of the University of Wales, Aberystwyth, believes it will be Plaid Cymru, which has set itself against the looming conflict, that has most to gain. He puts Mr Scargill's chances as "slim to none - with none looking like the hot favourite".

 

Mr Scargill would need at least 8% of the vote in the eight constituency seats which make up the region to stand any hope of success and that would fly in the face of previous election results and against a backdrop of his slim resources.

 

After creating the SLP in 1996, Mr Scargill's first challenge was in the 1997 General Election against Tory defector Alan Howarth.

 

Mr Howarth polled 57% of the vote, Mr Scargill achieved 5.2%. He lost his deposit.

 

In the 2001 General Election, Mr Scargill turned his attentions to the quintessential New Labour man, Peter Mandelson, and decided to fight in Hartlepool.

 

The SLP manifesto called for a

 

massive injection of cash into the NHS by a huge cut in defence spending and withdrawal from the European Union. It also sought a four-day week to tackle unemployment.

 

Mr Mandelson branded it a collection of "madcap policies" and its main author "an extremist".

 

Mr Scargill polled just 912 votes,

 

2.4% of the turnout, and lost his deposit.

 

Announcing his aspirations to fight again this week, Mr Scargill reminded voters he had been right when he predicted in 1997 that Llanwern steelworks would close.

 

Thousands of former miners in Wales cannot deny that Mr Scar-gill's predictions for their industry

 

in 1984 proved chillingly accurate but their feelings for their former president remain ambivalent.

 

Thatcher may have dealt the hammer blow to mining, but it was the union leader's tactics which many believe handed her the weapon.

 

Tyrone O'Sullivan, chairman of Tower Colliery, has known Mr Scar-gill for more than 30 years, is a close friend and describes him as a charismatic man and powerful orator.

 

But Mr O'Sullivan appears in equal measure both angry and sad that those talents are not at the disposal of the Labour Party.

 

"He is such a talented man and it's such a waste," said Mr O'Sullivan. "What can you really achieve with these little splinter groups for ordinary working people? I would rather work from the inside than stand on the outside to criticise."

 

It is ironic that on the day Mr Scargill announced his intentions, the Department of Trade and Industry announced £60m of aid for what remains of the deep pits.

 

The days of open warfare against a Government seemingly hell bent on driving an industry into the dust have given way to arguments about how best to support what remains of UK manufacturing.

 

No one doubts the passions of men like Mr Benn and Mr Scargill, but their vision increasingly seems to belong to another age.