Tom Hark Preston Park
Will Post For Cash
- Jul 6, 2003
- 71,885
Well... turns out I wasn't the only Albion fan at the Gordon Brown gig, tho I may well have been the only one wearing the colours, or at least the Palookaville top. Limited room for asking the Falmer question - they had to be submitted in writing 15 minutes before kick-off and were vetted by chair-person Anthony Minghella (he introduced the session as 'director of The English Patient talking to a VERY patient Scotsman'). Your man in seat V37 Rear Stalls (Centre) never had his Falmer question pulled out of the hat. And that was that, or so I thought.
However...
There was time for three or four open mic questions from the floor. The one's about the decision to renew the UK's nuclear deterrent and the fate of Brighton resident Omar Deghayes' ongoing incarceration in Guantanomo Bay were swiftly fielded, and the Labour activists were suddenly queueing up to score cheap self-serving points, mostly for the satisfaction of hearing their own voices one suspects. Then, out of the blue came a very familiar voice: yup, the clipped clear tone of Paul Samrah. YESSSS!
Having gained the soapbox, Paul's question went something along the lines of 'Mr. Brown you've waited 10 long years for your new home, just like the fans of Brighton and Hove Football club who are looking forward to moving into their new home at Falmer. Can I ask that you ensure Ruth Kelly reached the correct decision in July.' That was the gist of it (I wasn't taking notes. Obviously).
And would you believe, it sounded for all the world like the Prime-Minister-In-Waiting was about to give the game away. With a wide grin he came back with: 'As a Raith Rovers fan myself, I know all about the struggle of a local football team to survive, and look forward to returning to Brighton... when the decision has been made.'
Maybe I eas reading WAY too much into it, but got the definite feeling that he would have LOVED to have announced a Yes decision there and then. Even Minghella announcing he was 'Portsmouth Til I Die' couldn't spoil the moment.
Knighthood for Samrah - Albion HERO!
However...
There was time for three or four open mic questions from the floor. The one's about the decision to renew the UK's nuclear deterrent and the fate of Brighton resident Omar Deghayes' ongoing incarceration in Guantanomo Bay were swiftly fielded, and the Labour activists were suddenly queueing up to score cheap self-serving points, mostly for the satisfaction of hearing their own voices one suspects. Then, out of the blue came a very familiar voice: yup, the clipped clear tone of Paul Samrah. YESSSS!
Having gained the soapbox, Paul's question went something along the lines of 'Mr. Brown you've waited 10 long years for your new home, just like the fans of Brighton and Hove Football club who are looking forward to moving into their new home at Falmer. Can I ask that you ensure Ruth Kelly reached the correct decision in July.' That was the gist of it (I wasn't taking notes. Obviously).
And would you believe, it sounded for all the world like the Prime-Minister-In-Waiting was about to give the game away. With a wide grin he came back with: 'As a Raith Rovers fan myself, I know all about the struggle of a local football team to survive, and look forward to returning to Brighton... when the decision has been made.'
Maybe I eas reading WAY too much into it, but got the definite feeling that he would have LOVED to have announced a Yes decision there and then. Even Minghella announcing he was 'Portsmouth Til I Die' couldn't spoil the moment.
Knighthood for Samrah - Albion HERO!
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