The Sketch: The Stanley Unwin of politics displays his verbal virtuosity
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Referred pain tells you that your hurting heel is caused by a damaged neck. Michael Portillo served the same function in the Commons yesterday.
Why was he attending a ministerial statement on firefighters? He's not interested in firefighters. He's not interested in Mr Prescott's views on firefighters. He was interested in observing David Davis in action against Mr Prescott on firefighters.
The referred pain tells us that Mr Thing's neck is damaged, possibly broken. His opponents are – if not mobilising – bestirring themselves. When Mr Davis, Michael Portillo's rival for the leadership, is attracting attention like that it can't bode well for the status quo.
Like some giant and unpleasant soufflé, Mr Prescott rose for, if not to, the occasion. His added to his rhetorical thesaurus with a variety of new terms. "The ployers", the question that "was erased", "this present in time" and called the union leader Mr Gilchrist, Mr Christ and Mr Crisp (as in burnt to a, from which God protect us all because Mr Prescott won't).
He gabbled. Pens poised over notebooks remained poised. It was impossible to render what he was saying. You see things written from his speech and they're like a cryptic crossword clue. I've got: "Goddesses of this age can't compete with this day fire machines." What does that mean? (Two words, 8-8.)
A transcript was typed from a tape recorder. The typing errors give a vivid impression of Mr Prescott, far better in print than in the flesh.
"Most publica uthorty negations have all ben twice the level of inflation and that agains they've had unde this goernment and not undr the pervious adminstraion so it would be most unsual for me to be aopposin ti in regareds if I was actually involved that would eb against common sense and actual recorded history inre grgard to whether the I refused a or attempteted on that date h e refered to I think it was in Bournemouth I was ther to mak aa speech that I did not interfere in any way with the prior negations that ti took place it is true we have bena skled ..."
Some say his speech impediment is a sign of sincerity. Others say a man who talks like that could tell the truth only by accident. Look, we've almost forgotten to say anything about Mr Davis, one of the contenders for the leadership of the Tory party. That's an oversight that must be corrected. Ought to be corrected. Would be corrected if there were more space.
But that wouldn't leave room for the Deputy Prime minister's last words on the subject: "I yhinlk min neither case aas I activelyinvolve n interferin with tho4ose negotitona." And there you have it, as unambiguously as he can put it. He had nothing to do with the negotitona.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments