A good neighbour.....

I was driving through mid Wales a couple of weeks ago with Radio 5 as my front seat passenger. The mountains a towering contrast to the ‘studio audience’ that were being encouraged to comment on the Conservative Party Conference.

It was nearly time to stop for a roadside coffee when the presenter asked the assembly to compare the leadership qualities of David Cameron with those of Gordon Brown.

A young Manchester Uni law student, at a guess, was the fastest to the microphone….’well the best you can say about Cameron is that he would make a great neighbour’. He sat back and waited for the laughter that would confirm in his own mind the power of his thought.

I stopped alongside a tea bar and sat back and considered his view. Brilliant, after too many years of working with politicians, Government and Ministers at last I have a measure to determine my own vote. ‘Would I like him/her as a neighbour?’

Politicians are, after all analysis, the same….a change in political party leading the Country only resulting in a different set of losers. From Community Charge to local Income Tax no more than a shift of the sand, and a new cohort of those worse off.

And all Politicians have the same in-built survival kit. The one that would guarantee a place in a lifeboat on the Titanic.

But to be my neighbour would demand something that would lift them above the political killing fields.

Peter Mandelson is a survivor and someone to sit next to on a cruise ship, if icebergs are about but, ‘come round for supper Pete’. No, I can’t see it working. Ken Clarke however would do a great Bar-B-Q and with real ale no doubt….and Boris Johnson…perhaps a bit noisy but I think I could trust him with my collection of Aldershot Town programmes. I sense honesty in his behaviour not evident in Mandelson and, with breaking news, Sarah Palin….

Last Saturday Aldershot Town failed to get out of the trap and League leaders Bury cruised to a 3v0 lead without breaking sweat.

Rob Elvins scored a consolation goal with about 20 mins to go just as my thoughts were turning to the long drive back to Wales.

Then a penalty in front of the East Bank….the usual scrummage and a booking for the Bury goalkeeper, Brown. Now I have to say I didn’t see the incident that led to the booking, but television and my brother confirm that he appeared to be taking his horticultural NVQ seriously and was attempting to plant daffodils under the Recreation Ground penalty spot……Scott Davies scored. Danny Hylton made it 3v3 and the cheating Brown would not be welcome as our neighbour.

Tom and Laura’s wedding today means that I will be in Lapworth as the team run out at Macclesfield…..good luck to everyone.