The Staggers

The New Statesman’s rolling politics blog

Quote of the day

David Cameron on his chances of an Olympics poll bounce.

By New Statesman Published 30 July 2012 7:17

David Cameron with London mayor Boris Johnson.

Prime Minister David Cameron stands next to London's Mayor Boris Johnson and Marina Wheeler during the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games. Photograph: Getty Images.

People are too sensible to confuse a sporting event with their day-to-day lives.

David Cameron plays down Tory hopes of an Olympics poll bounce.

Special Offer: Get 12 issues of New Statesman magazine for just £12

Tags: David Cameron olympics Quote of the day

More from New Statesman

6 comments

Mon, 2012-07-30 10:18 — HillaryLOL (not verified)

Gee, I know what you mean! When I saw that some young girls posing as punk rockers are up in court in Moscow for parodying Putin, I thought, "This guy has no sense of humour!" Some people when they get into a position of power, lose all sense of perspective, they seem to get filled with a sense of their own importance, if you see where I'm coming from?

It was great to see your leaders Cameron and Clegg having such a great sense of humour on Downing Street lawn, when they formed the coalition. Cameron admitted that during the campaign trail, he hadn't said very nice things about Clegg and his policies, and Clegg feigned walking away, and Cameron shouted, "Come back... come back!" That's real British humour, we could all do with that in the world.

Word is that some major politicians may have split personalities, and all it takes is a word or catchphrase to trigger them into a different response or action, something weird like "pigs might fly" or "red cow over London". Did I say weird? Oh my! Oh, I think I'm going to get all weepy, oh .... my... oh, I'm outa here

Tue, 2012-07-31 02:03 — HillaryLOL (not verified)

Where's my Minnie Mouse comforter? Bill, where is it? Bill, what have you done with it? Bill, where in the world are you? Not bunkered down already? Who've you got there with you? Well, really!

Mon, 2012-07-30 10:06 — hugh markey (not verified)

Boris is not full of H2O - he and Dave are merely friendly rivals.

Fairytale

Mon, 2012-07-30 10:04 — hugh markey (not verified)

Boris is not full of H2O. Would you believe he and Dave are merely rivals.

Unbelievable

Mon, 2012-07-30 10:24 — New Stateswoman (not verified)

Merely rivals or merely friendly rivals, I think "A Laugh a Minute" was very much tongue-in-cheek humour. Didn't you get that, or have you lost your tickling stick too?

Mon, 2012-07-30 09:36 — Laugh a minute (not verified)

It's great that we can have a sense of humour in our country, and have things like "Quote of the day", where we can groan with sardonic mockery or just have a plain good old belly laugh. It's hard to see if Cameron and Johnson are standing with arms round each other in buddy fashion, or trying to outdo each other with pats on the back, in this photo, but it might also be a part of a pact, "I'll hold you up if you hold me up" - in case there's more than just water in the plastic bottles.

Boris Johnson is one of the wittiest men in politics today, and he "keeps coming out with them", as any good comedian might say. I lament that "Spitting Image" is no longer with us, because some of the politicians today would be ripe for a "send up" in good old Britsh style fashion.

It was terrific of our wonderful Queen to show her ever-present tongue-in-cheek humour at the opening ceremony of the Olympics, and the comical antics of "Mr Bean", showing that humour has not died out in this country, even if it was highly staged. Spontaneous humour is the best medicine, as they say, and aren't we the first country ever to have a Minister of Laughter, and to have a university course on it?

It was sad to see that someone could be taken to court for spouting exasperation of long waits at an airport - which isn't at all humourous, but venting on the internet to his girlfriend in a humourous deflation of pent up feeling obviously caught someone's paranoia. There's too much of it going around, paranoia that is, and until those in charge get a grip and a sense of humour, the world might actually be a better place. Those who can't have a laugh, especially at themselves at times, are scary people who perhaps should not be so much in control, both of their feelings and of a nation.