DIARY
MONDAY: The people of South West Norfolk stand full-square behind the bold new initiatives of President Donald Trump and his equally formidable Vice President, JD Vance.
Fact: At the weekend, I spoke to a packed front row in the village hall, and when I praised President Trump’s brilliant handling of world affairs, I had to pause my speech for several seconds while someone applauded.
Fact: That “someone” was not just a huge MAGA fan but a much-valued member of the local community, who has bravely battled against not only left-wing neighbours but also severe mental health issues these past few years.
Fact: My groundbreaking village hall speech has gone totally unreported by the state-run BBC and by all the mainstream news outlets, both locally and nationally.
Talk about 1984! It literally beggars belief.
And people still ask me what I mean when I say “The Blob” is taking control of our lives!
TUESDAY: I joined our village book club a fortnight ago. They were delighted to have me. Not often that a former British Prime Minister joins a local book club! Nevertheless, in my opening speech I insisted they treat me just the same as anyone else. Then I set about handing out a reading list. I’d leave the final choice to them, I said, tactfully, but added that it would probably work best if we started with 1984, just to see what Keir Starmer has in mind for us, before moving on to Hillbilly Elegy by JD Vance. “I was privileged to put a call through to the Vice President when I was in Washington last month,” I added, chattily. “Understandably, he was busy, but his office told me they’d be delighted to take a message.”