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  1. Politics
2 February 2007

Poor old Blackpool

The decision to deny Blackpool the Supercasino leaves bloggers baffled, whilst others take a stab at

By Owen Walker

The decision not to award the super casino licence to Anschutz Entertainment Group had Iain Dale eating his hat this week. With his tongue firmly in cheek, he added: “I now realise I was completely wrong and would like to make clear that this government is a ‘pretty straight kinda government’ and is ‘whiter than white’.”

As a Dodo was sparing a thought for Manchester’s Lancashire neighbours: “The people of Blackpool are today jumping up and down on their “Kiss Me Quick” hats and snapping their little sticks of Blackpool rock in two as they remember their dreams of building a new Las Vegas on the shores of the Irish Sea.”

While many in the blogging community were scratching their heads at the decision, Blair Watch put it down to Blackpool being the epitome of Old Labour with Manchester representing New Labour. Nick Barlow suggested because Manchester had been the 16-1 outsider, the Government were sending out a warning to gamblers that favourites don’t always win.

When it was revealed Tony Blair had been secretly interviewed by the police last Friday it prompted many bloggers to, yet again, predict his departure date. Paul Linford admitted even dreaming about it while Guido Fawkes went for July. Prague Tory has even created a sleazewatch sidebar on his blog as he is having trouble keeping up.

With so much coverage in the national press on the Birmingham terrorist plot, and so little devoted to a exposed BNP bomber, Chris Paul asks: “Are the British Press institutionally racist?”

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Meanwhile, in response to the Government’s proposal to change PE in school to tackle obesity, Dizzy Thinks ponders how much fat does learning about obesity burn off?

Finally, A Big Stick and a Small Carrot has got sick and tired with the bitchiness and point-scoring of the blogosphere. He summed it up thus: “I’m inclined to believe that it wasn’t a great day for standards of openness and transparency in political life on the interwebs. I am, rather, inclined to think about pots and kettles, glass houses and dirty tricks.”

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Select and enter your email address Your weekly guide to the best writing on ideas, politics, books and culture every Saturday. The best way to sign up for The Saturday Read is via saturdayread.substack.com The New Statesman's quick and essential guide to the news and politics of the day. The best way to sign up for Morning Call is via morningcall.substack.com Our Thursday ideas newsletter, delving into philosophy, criticism, and intellectual history. The best way to sign up for The Salvo is via thesalvo.substack.com Stay up to date with NS events, subscription offers & updates. Weekly analysis of the shift to a new economy from the New Statesman's Spotlight on Policy team. The best way to sign up for The Green Transition is via spotlightonpolicy.substack.com
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