Give a vote to anyone who can make an ‘X’

WITH the popularity of MPs measuring up alongside, the plague, the taxman and piles, you’d have thought that they would welcome with open arms any Tom, Dick or Harriet who was prepared to vote for them.

Increasing numbers of people would rather walk over hot coals to Diggle or even see more pictures of Mark Alcock than they would turn out to vote for politicians. There’s no X-factor for MPs, either on the ballot paper, the telly or in the letters pages of the Chronicle.

So, come the general election, who’s going to vote for them apart from family (some of them are not so sure) and friend (providing he’s allowed out from secure accommodation for the day)?

David Heyes the least picture-posing and publicity seeking of our three venerable members, believes that the age barriers should be removed to allow 16-year-olds to vote. And looking round at some of the folk who are allowed a vote these days, who can argue with the proposition.

If the binge-drinking, underwear flashing (assuming they are wearing any) Friday night loons and the wastrel scroungers, hangers on, benefit cheats and crooks are allowed to vote why on earth bar people simply because they have not reached the age of 18?

They might not understand all the nuances of fiscal policy or why we waged war on Iraq (who does?) but they have minds largely unclouded by alcohol and drugs (unless there’s a resident cannabis dealer in 5D) and feel passionate about things (Cheryl Cole in a some cases), believe in saving the planet and should have a say in what is happening in a world they will inherit.


DIVORCE is in decline. Yes, really. Now whether this is because more people are shacking up together to avoid the stress of relatives punching one another’s lights out at family weddings or that more people are honouring their vows and commitments for longer than two weeks is hard to say.

Older people stick together (habit or because no one else will have them) as do more couples with kids and divorce now is mainly among those less ’til death do us part couples than ’til someone sexier comes along couples in their 20s and 30s.

The record, though, surely belongs to France where a couple exchanged their vows before excited family and friends, left the ceremony beneath a shower of confetti for a reception, fought on the town hall steps and the bride dashed back inside demanding a divorce.

C’est la vie!

FINAL WORD: Will Adam Crozier, who is to take over ITV, do for the station what he has done for the Post Office? Fewer programmes, missing programmes, late starts and an early finish?