More heroes

As (I hope) a few of you know, I’m something of a socialist. Although very much in the ‘natural socialist’ mould, for I could be nothing else, there have of course been influences, people who helped me through my political puberty, who have guided me through the realisation that I am not alone, that my frustrating sense that there is a better way is something that I should harness and use. Top of the list is Billy Bragg.


Most of you will know Billy through his music. Those wonderful, powerful songs not just about politics, but about unrequited love, about loss and overwhelmingly about passion. But for the last two general elections he has campaigned (partly with Charter 88) for fairer elections and has also encouraged people to vote tactically. I’ve always resisted tactical voting as I consider it, generally that it is better to be for something and to vote for that rather than be against something. But I suppose the results can often be the same. Now Billy is a writer, with a proper book, The Progressive Patriot, looking at English patriotism, where it came from, what it means and what it has now become. It is influenced of course by the London bombings of last July and the hideous reaction to it by the tabloid media and shamefully, by the government.

I can’t gush about the man enough. Buy the book. Buy some CDs. He’s got a new album out next year. Await it like a child on Christmas morning. Oh, and there's a tour in November. I'll see you down the front.

Here's a message from us both.