Sussex on Leith
New member
Respect due to my mum...
She was shopping in Newcastle on Saturday, and was sitting having a coffee with her sister when someone mentioned that John Prescott was outside. She asked where he was going and found out he was doing a press conference later that day. Thinking to herself that her husband and son would never forgive her if she passed up the chance, she trooped along and asked Prescott's PA if she'd be able to ask him a question at the end.
Then it went something like this:
PA: Yes, can I ask what it's about?
Mum: Well, it's not exactly local...it's about Brighton's new stadium...
PA: I don't believe it...you people are everywhere.
Mum: But I can ask him?
PA: Erm...yes, of course...
[Time passes. Eventually the last of the hangers on moves away from JP.]
Mum (to JP): Excuse me, do you mind if I ask you a question?
JP (expecting some question about school closures in Northumberland, or such like): Yes, of course.
Mum: When are you going to make a decision on Brighton's new stadium?
Prezza was obviously taken aback, but very courteous with it, and told her that "the Minister will be announcing the decision shortly". Apparently he didn't give any clue as to what the decision would be, and of course "shortly" could mean any time between now and 2007, but then you wouldn't expect him to give anything away in advance of the announcement.
On the plus side, the awareness-raising initiatives from NSC and others have obviously had an effect, and Mum could tell that he was personally familiar with the case - which is no small achievement, given the number of planning decisions he is responsible for. And, as Mum was leaving, Prescott remarked to her on the amount of correspondence he'd had from supporters - "I got a great big Valentines card from 'em, you know..."
Anyway, nothing new to report really, but fair play to my mum for making the effort, and it's always good to remind JP that Falmer matters a great deal to a lot of people, in Sussex and beyond.
She was shopping in Newcastle on Saturday, and was sitting having a coffee with her sister when someone mentioned that John Prescott was outside. She asked where he was going and found out he was doing a press conference later that day. Thinking to herself that her husband and son would never forgive her if she passed up the chance, she trooped along and asked Prescott's PA if she'd be able to ask him a question at the end.
Then it went something like this:
PA: Yes, can I ask what it's about?
Mum: Well, it's not exactly local...it's about Brighton's new stadium...
PA: I don't believe it...you people are everywhere.
Mum: But I can ask him?
PA: Erm...yes, of course...
[Time passes. Eventually the last of the hangers on moves away from JP.]
Mum (to JP): Excuse me, do you mind if I ask you a question?
JP (expecting some question about school closures in Northumberland, or such like): Yes, of course.
Mum: When are you going to make a decision on Brighton's new stadium?
Prezza was obviously taken aback, but very courteous with it, and told her that "the Minister will be announcing the decision shortly". Apparently he didn't give any clue as to what the decision would be, and of course "shortly" could mean any time between now and 2007, but then you wouldn't expect him to give anything away in advance of the announcement.
On the plus side, the awareness-raising initiatives from NSC and others have obviously had an effect, and Mum could tell that he was personally familiar with the case - which is no small achievement, given the number of planning decisions he is responsible for. And, as Mum was leaving, Prescott remarked to her on the amount of correspondence he'd had from supporters - "I got a great big Valentines card from 'em, you know..."
Anyway, nothing new to report really, but fair play to my mum for making the effort, and it's always good to remind JP that Falmer matters a great deal to a lot of people, in Sussex and beyond.
