A Political Football.

Hey,

So, I was on twitter the other day, as you do, when I noticed this tweet, regarding Chelsea winning the Premiership. It read like this;

"Congrats to Chelsea tho Im just not sure First Past the Post is the best system for the Premiership any more".

A funny tweet it was, but it made me think (which is worrying in its own accord). Sporting clichés and metaphors have been exhausted in this campaign. In his opinion piece in The Times Frank Skinner suggested that undecided voters should imagine the Conservatives as Chelsea and Labour as Portsmouth in the FA Cup final. Days before the election Sir Alex Ferguson compared it the end of season race for the Premiership.

I'm guilty of using these clichés; in a previous blog entry I likened the resurrection of Labour (or the fall of the Conservatives, depending on your outlook) with a Rocky movie. The coverage of the events, in particular the debates, has been equal to that of a Champions League match, with the option of even watching it in HD (thanks, Sky). I can't quite see the appeal of seeing Adam Boulton's bead of sweat fall down the right side of his face. But it's nice I have the option to do so. Monday night football has been replaced with Thursday night debate, albeit it may be temporary. The last time I had stayed up to watch TV before the election was when England were playing in Australia. In many senses politics went through a sort of "sportification" if you will during this election; parties were seen more as "teams" as such. Could the Liberal Democrats break into the Champions League places? Could the Tories win thanks to their millionaire backer, Roman Abramashcroft? Will the BNP ever change their transfer policy regarding foreign players?

But what is interesting is that, despite this, sport hasn't really been the focus of policy scrutiny, when perhaps it should of been. The next Government, regardless of who it is, will have the Olympics, the Commonwealth Games, an Ashes series and a Champions League final at Wembley. All of these events have impacts on people and the economy; after all, what will the new Olympic Stadium be used for post-2012? West Ham might buy it, but that's only a might. Does Glasgow really need a velodrome in the east end of the city? Should the Ashes be screened on terrestrial TV, the way Wimbledon is and the way it used to be?

Now I know you will argue that there were other priorities in this election, such as the economy, the NHS, the deficit. And you are right. They are more important. But in an election in which a woman who doesn't know where Eastern European's are "flocking from" (the clue is in the name, Mrs Duffy) it should have been given greater precedent. Duffy-gate, ironically, could be compared to a third-round FA Cup upset away to Rochdale for Manchester United, if you are still lapping up the Sun-level puns on show. You are? Grand.

DC

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