Express & Star

Mark Andrews on Saturday: How anger doesn't put food on the table

SHOWING an uncanny finger on the pulse of what concerns people in his tough inner-London constituency, Tottenham MP David Lammy launched a blistering attack on Comic Relief, and particularly presenter Stacey Dooley who apparently needs educating about her ‘white saviour’ and ‘colonial era’ mentality.

Published

"Can't we inspire anger, as well as donations?" he added.

Now had Mr Lammy merely voiced his distaste for minor celebrities using the world’s poorest citizens to promote their careers, I would have found myself in agreement. There has always been something about the enforced jollity and attention-seeking of Comic Relief and Children In Need that makes me a little uncomfortable.

But, by needlessly making the issue about race and colonialism, Mr Lammy is doing exactly the same. Making it all about him.

He says Comic Relief shows an outdated portrayal of impoverished countries in need of handouts.

If that really is the case, maybe the whole thing does need to be reviewed. Perhaps the focus should be on other regions with greater need. However, I would feel more confident about that argument had it come from the African people themselves, rather than a superannuated British MP living a comfortable life in London.

I can’t help but think that if I were a poor person in Africa, I would much rather see a minor celebrity – even one as obscure and white as Stacey Dooley – raising money to improve my quality of life than a posturing fat-cat politician from Westminster doling out lectures about colonialism.

And anger doesn't put food on the table.

THE Royal family has survived a fair few scandals over the past few years, from the marital infidelities of Charles, Diana and Fergie, through Harry’s naked pool tournaments to the recent car crash involving the Duke of Edinburgh.

However, I fear the latest one involving Charles’ stepson Tom Parker-Bowles could be a bridge too far. A few years ago Tommy announced declared war on imported pork scratchings, launching his own range of patriotic pig products.

His Mr Trotter range, proudly displaying a pig in a Union Jack waistcoat, became a firm favourite on the shelves of Fortnum & Mason, Selfridges and Harvey Nicholls.

We know our pork in the Black Country

Now, it emerges that the company has been importing its fatty fittle from Germany, Holland and Denmark, but still passing it off as British. Director Karyn Walker insists the products are still British because they are cooked and seasoned in the UK.

“It becomes British,” she says. “If you’re born in India because you are on holiday there it doesn’t make you an Indian.”

Good luck explaining that in Tipton. You might get away with that among the London hipsters, but in the Black Country we know our pork.

And we know a pig in a poke when we see one.

Repairs to Wolverhampton Civic Hall are due to be completed in autumn 2021, five years later than planned.

Assuming, of course, there aren't any more delays. There seem to have been more stoppages than a Manchester United game under Alex Ferguson.

Still, hopefully it will be ready for when we leave the European Union....

Dudley is a town 'on an upward trend' apparently. Can't say I noticed when doing my shopping, but it must be true because Councillor Keiran Casey says so.

The council says the tram link to the Merry Hill centre, due to open in 2023 (barring any delays, of course), will 'act as a catalyst for regeneration in the town centre'.

And there was me thinking it would just lure the last few shoppers to Merry Hill.