Tony Blair spoke at the Labour party conference today. I hear that his speech was well-received, except for a few hecklers who were impolitely shown the door by security. Heckling in British politics is a fine art, and is often followed by eggs or overripe fruit and veg. It’s a shame that Tony can’t take the heckling.
An article in the Grauniad this morning has disclosed that our Tone is a secret mackerel-snapper. (Roman Catholic). I can imagine the Revd Ian Paisley’s reaction to this news–the spluttering and shouting about the Scarlet Whore of Babylon would be heard from Belfast to Westminster. Of course, since I’m certain that Paisley doesn’t read the Grauniad, he probably isn’t aware of the news. We can take off the earplugs, then. I am annoyed that a Roman Catholic is now in a position to dictate to the Church of England who it should have as its bishops. Disestablishment is long overdue. Unfortunately, the only high-ranking proponent of it was Bishop Colin Buchanan, now mercifully retired from the See of Woolwich, the suffragan see to Southwark in which I have the honour to live. He is an outspoken figure of fun, always good for a larf at General Synod. It’s said that Rowan Williams is also in favour of disestablishment. However, given his timidity on any given subject other than the Simpsons, on which he can wax prolix, I don’t expect that he will say much about it anytime soon. Most of the clergy of the C of E are convinced antidisestablishmentarians, as they are certain that only the might of the State will ensure that those in a C of E parish will drop by for hatches, matches, and dispatches (baptisms, weddings, and funerals) rather than going to the register office or having a secular service at the crematorium. I think that disestablishing the church and ensuring that its canons state explicitly that all are welcome regardless of membership or attendance would do just fine.
Oh, and for those who thought that I was talking about disposing of Tony Blair, HWMBO disposed of the dead rat this afternoon. My hat is off to him: he’s so determined. I would probably have fainted.