Tag Archives: tony blair

Why I Love Cricket By Rory Bremner

Posted on by

BREMNER BRINGS ‘SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT’ TO THIS YEAR’S FLt20 FINALS DAY

One of Frost Magazine’s favourite comedians, Rory Bremner, has teamed up with the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and is fronting a comedy festival campaign which has seen a host of comedians visiting Friends Life t20 games across the country. This has all been a part of Rory Bremner’s ‘Stand Up for Friends Life t20’ tour – and now it’s Rory’s turn!

Comedians Jimmy McGhie, Paul Sinha, Rob Beckett, Stu Goldsmith and Chris Martin have all visited First Class county clubs across the country on the tour which brings together two of the nation’s favourite pastimes – cricket and comedy. However on 25th August Rory Bremner himself will be on hand to bring ‘Something Completely Different’ to the Friends Life t20 Finals Day at Glamorgan’s SWALEC Stadium.

Like the other comedians involved Rory will interact with the crowd, pose for pictures with fans and inject fun and laughter into the match-day experience. Rory will be slipping in and out of character as he gets involved with a variety of activities throughout the day.

This season’s Finals Day will be hosted by two celebrity presenters, and Rory will be alongside them commenting on the matches, aiding the coin toss, inspecting the crease, commenting on the famous Mascot Race and much more in a variety of flawless celebrity impressions.

In the run up to his highly anticipated appearance at Finals Day Bremner has recorded some exclusive content for the ECB which to date has seen him impersonate some of the biggest characters in cricket including David “Bumble” Lloyd and Geoffrey Boycott. The final video ahead of the season finale see’s Rory impersonate a variety of names including David Gower, Henry Blofeld, Tony Blair as well as everyone’s favourite cricket fan Stephen Fry:

The comedy tour spearheads a wider marketing campaign around the Friends Life t20 2012 season by the ECB entitled ‘Something Completely Different’. The campaign has seen the Friends Life t20 competition being promoted in a fun, fresh and exciting way from the use of ‘Balldogs’ to ‘Wiggle Wicket’ to comedy match day hosts. The aim is to bring even more fans to the competition – which celebrates its 10th anniversary this year.

Rory Bremner, the curator of the tour, said:

“Twenty20 cricket has been one of the games great success stories in the last few years and I can’t wait to host the FLt20 Finals Day, interact with the fans and showcase some of my cricketing impressions. Finals day is a great day out for cricket fans, sport fans, groups and families alike and I can’t wait to be involved later this month.”

Steve Elworthy, ECB spokesperson, said:

“The ‘Something Completely Different’ theme aims to put the fun of being with your friends and family and leaving with some great memories at the heart of your summer. We couldn’t think of a better way to do this than to bring comedy to cricket to enhance what is already a fantastically unique matchday experience, and we have had some great comedic names on board touring the grounds. We are extremely excited to have Rory on board and are thoroughly looking forward to having him at Finals Day.”

The Week in Syria

Posted on by

There seems to be no let up for the people of Syria after another brutal week. Even Foreign Secretary William Hague described the situation as “bleak” and said that a peaceful resolution to the 17-month conflict looked “unlikely”. Kofi Annan quit as United Nations’ envoy to Syria.

Hague spoke as Syrian forces clashed yet again with rebels in Aleppo. Hague has yet to persuade Russia and China to back any international efforts for a path to peace.

Hague did not dismiss talks of Tony Blair to replace Kofi Annan. Annan said that his mission had failed.

Hague told Sky News: “It is a bleak time for Syria. This is, I’m afraid, the situation we warned about for some time. We won’t give up on the diplomatic work but given the situation we will of course step up our humanitarian assistance.

“We don’t want the situation to be resolved by violence. We want a peaceful transition in Syria. Sadly, we do not have the unity in the [UN] Security Council to put the decisive pressure on the Assad regime.

“Kofi Annan will be carrying on with this work until the end of August. Whoever takes on that role, it is going to need some change in the circumstances on the ground for Russia and China to change their position.

“If persuasion and argument was going to achieve a change of position, we would have done it by now.

“It might only be a further change of the circumstances – the further collapse of the regime, greater bloodshed – which brings Russia and China to change their mind.”

Hague said that the support Britain has given to Syria so far has been “non-lethal” and that Syria is now in a full-scale civil war.

“Here is regime that for 17 months now has waged war against its people. It has in many cases driven people to warfare and conflict.

“The prime responsibility for this situation lies on the regime. We are on the side of people who seek their freedom anywhere in the world.

“I do think it is right to support democratic movements in favour of the people.”

Meanwhile things have gotten worse in Aleppo as more than 20,000 government troops amassed around Syria’s second city, as the government warned the “main course” was yet to come.

Government artillery bases have fired mortars and rockets into the rebel held districts and in rebel-held Saheddin district, jet planes dropped bombs.

“The battle for Aleppo has not yet begun, and what is happening now is just the appetiser… The main course will come later,” a senior government security figure warned.

“All the reinforcements have arrived and they are surrounding the city… The army is ready to launch its offensive, but is awaiting orders.”

This Month's Magazines; September: Adele Takes Vogue Cover, Angelina Jolie Takes Vanity Fair.

Posted on by

This Month’s Magazines; September: Adele Takes Vogue Cover, Angelina Jolie Takes Vanity fair.

This month’s magazines are a bloody good read. It has taken me hours to get through them, here is my monthly round-up.

[Note: Magazines are published a month in advance, so September’s magazines are actually October.]

On the cover of British Vogue is the beautiful and gifted Adele is breaking boundaries and stereotypes. Glamour magazine previously had her on the cover. There is a good interview with Adele inside where she states that: “I’ve seen people who want to be thinner or have bigger boobs, how it wears them down- I don’t want that in my life”.

There is an article on legendary designer Azzedine Alaia and Silvia Fendi. Christa D’Souza writes about crying and Alexandra Tolstoy writes about finding the right couture for the Royal Wedding,

Good articles on David Hockney and Ceclia Birtwell’s collaboration and a good Lara Stone editorial.

There is a now infamous interview with Wendi Murdoch, where she revealed that Tony Blair is godfather to one of her and Rupert’s daughters. The interview gives a good snapshot of a women who rarely gives interviews, and clears up some of the rumours about her.

Vogue has a special on the English women and her style. Of course, Kate Middleton, The Duchess of Cambridge features, so does Diana Athill, the England Cricket Team, Amy Childs, Jane Birkin, Tacita Dean, Felicity Jones, Julia Sarr-Jamois, Florence BB (Brudenell-Bruce, Prince Harry’s ex).

Also: how to get ride of freckles and lots of Autumn clothing.

Vanity Fair has one of my favourite actresses on the cover, Angelina Jolie. Jolie interviews well and talks about her directorial debut, In The Land of Milk and Honey. She also wrote the screenplay. Jolie says: ‘I have never felt so exposed. My whole career, I’ve hidden behind other people’s words.”. She also says that she is ‘not pregnant, I’m not adopting…[there’s] no secret wedding.” and says that she doesn’t really watch films and falls asleep watching them; “There is some of my own I have never seen.”

There is a interview with Scott Schuman and Garance Dore of the Sartorialist show Vanity Fair their cool stuff, Elizabeth Olsen and Jane Lynch are interviewed in the Vanities section, There is articles on Comic-Con, the News Corp/Murdoch Hacking Scandal, Vivi Nevo, The 2011 New Establishment is a brilliant annual list and is very interesting reading this year; lots of change.

Conrad Black talks about his experience of being in prison, the amazing Joan Didion has written another book, this one on the death of her daughter, there is a very good article on publishing, China and Ernest Hemingway.

Tatler have Zara Phillips on the cover and a post-wedding interview. She denies that the Duke of Cambridge sang Bon Jovi records at her wedding reception and talks of her love of horses.

Angela Missoni gives her mood board (design influences), Morth models watches (yes, really), The Serpentine Summer Party is covered – with lots of pictures, there is an article on the ‘thinking girl’s crumpet; Nouriel Roubini and Alain De Botton feature on it, Balthazar Fabricius talks about launching bookies Fitzdares and being in debt to Zac Goldsmith to the tune of £50,000.

Film producer Stephen Evans is interviewed, and riders are photographed with their favourite horses. Elon Musk and Talulah Riley talk of their love, One Direction are interviewed (weird choice for Tatler) How the Rich stay safe bodyguards and mercenaries apparently) and how to clear up bad skin. Tatler also comes with their annual Schools Guide.

Glamour has Britney Spears on the cover and a comeback interview inside.

Lara Stone is interviewed, there is article on the horrendous London riots, how to tweet proof your career, how Cameron Diaz gets her body, the Truth about Fashion Week, a message to the Norway victims from a Columbine survivor, there is a big section on dating and finding love, Rob Brydon interview, the Downtown Abbey girl’s are interviewed; as are the Made in Chelsea and The Only way is Essex girl’s and Sofia Vergara.

Orlando Bloom, James Cordon, Matthew Macfayden, Luke Evans, Taylor Lautner are also interviewed in the TV special.

The new style bloggers are interviewed, stars give their beauty secrets, Eddie Campbell and a good article on when it is the right time to have a baby.

PART TWO IS HERE

 

<img border=0 src=’http://banners.affiliatefuture.com/538/7891.gif’>

Tony Blair On The Rack Over Iraq

Posted on by

Tony Blair is to be heavily criticised for his role in leading the UK to war in Iraq, according to the Mail on Sunday.

The paper points to a number of damning points, saying:

    • The Chilcot inquiry will criticise Mr Blair for failing to admit a secret pact he made with former president George Bush in 2002.
    • Mr Blair apparently withheld vital information from cabinet colleagues, preferring instead, a ‘sofa style government’ with a close knit group of allies.
    • He was also be heavily criticised for failing to come up with a post war plan for Iraq.
    •  The inquiry is thought to be most damning regarding Mr Blair’s claim to parliament that Saddam Hussein’s possession of WMD was ‘beyond doubt’. Blair claims to have misunderstood the infamous 45 minute claim dossier, in which it was argued that Saddam Hussein could launch WMD in 45 minutes. This claim was later found to be nonsense.

A spokesman for Tony Blair said: “This is a deliberate attempt to pre-judge a report that hasn’t even been written yet. We’re not going comment until it has been published.”

Spin doctor Alistair Campbell and former Foreign Secretary Jack Straw are also thought to come in for heavy criticism.

If the allegations prove to be true, what justice will the British public now demand? Some of the criticisms are the result of incompetence or lack of foresight. However, others, such as failing to disclose the secret war pact and the WMD claim, raise a vitally important question. Was there a deliberate attempt to mislead the British public?

We will have to wait until Autumn for the full Chilcot inquiry to be published.

Blair Accused of Hushing up News of the World Hacking Scandal by Brown's Friends; Meanwhile Blair Slams Brown's Record in Office

Posted on by

 

According to friends of Gordon Brown, Tony Blair urged Brown to put pressure on his fellow Labour MP and friend Tom Watson to back off the News of the World. A spokesman for Mr Blair has said, ‘The allegation is categorically untrue’.

Watson has played a major role in uncovering the hacking scandal. His two year campaign was a major reason for the closure of the News of the World. Watson used commons legal protection to make damning allegations against the News of the World and News International executive chief Rebekah Brooks. According to the dailymail.co.uk Watson was threatened by NI in the early stages of the investigation. He was said to have been told by someone in the company, ‘Rebekah Brooks will pursue you for the rest of her life’.

But Watson carried on regardless. He successfully called for, former news of the world editor Andy Coulson, to resign as prime minster David Cameron’s communications director. He has subsequently said in the commons that, ‘Rebekah Brooks was not only responsible for wrong doing, but knew about it’.

Tony Blair became a long-time friend of Mr Murdoch after they made a famous alliance in 1994. Ever since that point News Internationals papers supported Blair until he left office. The support was pulled from Labour when Gordon Brown took over the party, with Murdoch’s papers switching support to the rival conservative party. Whilst Mr Blair has denied the allegations a friend of Mr Brown said, ‘There is no doubt about it, Tony wanted Gordon to intervene’.

Mr Brown himself has refused to comment.

In a remarkable coincidence two days ago Tony Blair came out and attacked Gordon Brown’s record in office. Blair warned Labour against returning to its traditional left wing support. According to the independent.co.uk Blair tore into Brown’s time in office during an address to a progress campaign group. Blair said, ‘We lost the driving rhythm which made us so successful’. He accused the party of no longer being New Labour.

 

Al-Qaeda – the New Christians by Ian Hare.

Posted on by

Human memory is a fragile thing. Experiences of a lifetime shimmer and blur with the passing of the years. Embellished and edited, sometimes fiction can completely replace fact, even in our limited span.

So why is it that roughly a third of the world’s population place their faith and actively worship on the basis on a 2000-year-old adventure story? Especially one that has been rewritten countless times to suit the individual author’s needs.

The Bible. Missionaries have sought to drive its message of the one God into the ‘savages’ of the world, believing that their own centuries-old ways of worshipping were pagan, only fit to be trampled and discarded to make way for the Truth.

Given the message of Brotherhood, wars have been fought, lost and won over its words. And even the Christian churches have been split into factions over the interpretations contained within its pages.

It’s difficult to understand why this is. The Old Testament reads like the collection of Brothers Grimm style folk tales it is, handed down over countless generations. And the New Testament? Either the greatest edit – or PR spin job – there’s ever been.

There’s no reason to doubt the existence of a carpenter’s son named Jesus. In the context of the Roman Empire, it’s plausible to imagine the rise of a charismatic, eloquent speaker, capable of inspiring and influencing a great following.

Given the growing threat to their governance in the Middle East, it’s equally credible that Pontius Pilate, perceiving the growing discord, authorised the crucifixion of the man to snuff out the threat of uprising.

So begins 2000 years of Chinese Whispers.

Whether by accident or by the design of dedicated disciples – allied to constant retelling or rewrites – the story of the life and death of Jesus has taken on mythical proportions.

It’s understandable why the great executed leader could not be allowed to die along with his dream. What better way to keep the fire alive with a convenient resurrection, explained away by elevating the status of the man to nothing less than the Son of God?

Interesting then, that churches have continuously glossed over Joseph and embraced Mary’s virgin birth, courtesy of the Holy Spirit.

Frankly, it’s difficult to think of another anthology with so many contradictions, plot holes and loose ends.

The truth is that extraordinary men can ignite a fervour and passion in ordinary people. The simple, but unpalatable truth to many Christians is that while Jesus Christ was such a man, he was just a man.

Two millennia on, Tony Blair and George Bush reportedly prayed to God together before launching their crusade as the War on Terror.

Meanwhile, a man called Osama Bin Laden continues to fan the flames of revolution in thousands in the Middle East, with the Western powers cast in the role of Rome.

One can only condemn the atrocities committed in Bin Laden’s name, but if these events had happened 2000 years ago, with the distortion of time, it’s ironic that Al-Qaeda may well now be the new Christians.