Jim smells of roses, Trump just a pong

THE FRIDAY THING: WHILE there is overwhelming satisfaction at the elevation of Jim McMahon to Labour’s Westminster benches, we should perhaps spare a thought for the supporters of some far less likely candidates for places in Parliament.

And I don’t only assume Nigel Farage got his full desserts for his bizarre notion of what makes a genuine political leader.

Nigel is what they used to describe as a “bit of a card” but there are probably other names that have a comedic edge to them, even though Nigel seems to think that everything in the UKIP garden smells of roses.

It could be worse. Just look to the States, where Donald Trump is planning to run for president. He has dominated US polls to such an extent that even those who thought he was something of a joke, albeit a very, very rich joke, have had their confidence shaken that he could indeed become president, thanks in no small part to the confusing turmoil that dogs politics in the States.

I cannot see Jeremy Corbyn adopting such a strategy, but some close to the Labour party are pretty confident their new leader will work very hard to unseat some of his party colleagues because they refused to oppose air strikes on Syria.

There will be a price to pay for going against the steely gaze of Mr Corbyn. Political pundits have made it clear that they fancy that Mr Corbyn will purge his shadow cabinet and probably rid himself of senior Labour figures.



FINAL WORD: Nigel Farage has, it seems, suddenly decided to send a message to the good folk of Oldham West and Royton, though it is difficult to understand why Nigel thinks that his message will finish up anywhere except the bin. Maybe Mr Farage thinks the good people of Oldham West and Royton are as delusional as he is.

To be fair, Mr Farage, or one of his small bands of fantasists, has come up with the notion that, since January, 265,000 immigrants from the European Union have come to work in the UK.

Unfortunately there does not seem to be any real evidence (even Donald Trump can come up with some fantasy so-called evidence) to convince us all that we believe every word he says.

I think that Donald and Nigel would make a good team, but please don’t take them seriously.