Capital of Culture - the Vultures are Gathering

Categories: uncategorized

Date: 30 October 2002 23:00:00

Well, Bradford didn't make it through to the next round of this great competition (I don't know if we're allowed a wild card play-off against San Marino). For those of you who don't know what I'm talking about, we were trying to get elected "European Capital of Culture 2008". There was a concerted publicity campaign to persuade that this wasn't as batty an idea as it sounded. Our posters had strangely biblical phrases on them:

"Capital of Culture? Oh ye of little faith"

"Capital of Culture? Come and see!"

"Capital of Culture? The twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshipped God who was seated on the throne."

Ok, so I made that last one up. But they did have one that said "C.O.C? Ask Gareth!" I mean, what's the point of that? Can you imagine it?

Questioner: Gareth Gates - what do you think of Bradford as Capital of Culture?

Gates (for it is he): Wwwww---- ffff---ffffff---- mmmmmm---------

Turning to other matters of local government, I notice that councils' tendency to have little "mission statements" or "slogans" is getting out of hand. My previous favourite was a certain borough in Cheshire who declared that it was "Big enough to cope - Small enough to care".

Now I see that one council in the north east has - and I kid you not - decided that "Local services for local people" is a suitable declaration.

Hmmm. At least Rutland's was in Latin.