Splashing out

Minister for Bread and Circuses, Andy Burnham has a new idea. He’s dipping his toes into populism to see if it’s warm enough:

England’s swimming pools could be free to use by the time of the London 2012 Olympics, the government has signalled.

Fair enough, I suppose, we all like something for nothing. Mind you, I bet the operative word in that sentence is the ‘could’. That this is an aspiration rather than a target is something I’d bet a kidney on.

The thing is, what about people who can’t swim, or like me, can’t stand it? To get into my local piss-pot of a swimming pool – which they’re demolishing, incidentally – costs the equivalent of a couple of pints.

(There is wildlife there as well which you can view for free but your enjoyment will vary depending on how much you actually like cockroaches.)

I’ve absolutely nothing against Mr Burnham’s and hope it makes a lot of people happier, but couldn’t I have the beers instead?


Posted on June 6th, 2008 at 4:59pm under Eye Catching Initiatives, New Labour

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7 Comments

7 Comments

  1. AMX on 06.06.2008 at 17:45 Permalink | Reply

    Agreed: could, yeah, not will.
    Something for noting? This country? Stroll On.

  2. bbm (9 comments.) on 06.06.2008 at 18:40 Permalink | Reply

    It’s the wildlife in the pool that you can’t see which you should be worried about.

  3. Beau Bo D'Or (31 comments.) on 06.06.2008 at 19:25 Permalink | Reply

    ‘England’s swimming pools could be free to use by the time of the London 2012 Olympics, the government has signalled.’

    Both of them ?

  4. Demon on 06.06.2008 at 20:09 Permalink | Reply

    The Nazis enjoyed the sight of the proles engaged in bracing physical activities also.

    1. Justin on 06.06.2008 at 20:29 Permalink | Reply

      Oh, for fuck’s sake. I really hope that was meant as a joke and wind-up and not another tediously serious Labour/Nazis comparison.

    2. Sim-O (92 comments.) on 06.06.2008 at 23:09 Permalink | Reply

      I would assume pretty much every capitalist government enjoys “the sight of the proles engaged in bracing physical activities”.
      It means the proles are healthier and so can work harder and longer.

      Sim-O’s latest blog post… Candygram for Obi!!

  5. Jennie (16 comments.) on 07.06.2008 at 11:32 Permalink | Reply

    Could happen: museums are free now, after all.

    Jennie’s latest blog post… BBC Politics Coverage Minutiae

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