Bibby Stockholm, Billy Bragg and Football
Dave & Vinny
Vinny sat down next to Dave at their usual table in the Rampant Horse. He released Scrapps lead and the little dog padded across the pub to lie under the Old Pete memorial table.
Dave was looking thoughtful.
"What do you make of all this immigrant stuff Vin?"
Vinny sipped his pint.
"For starters I don't think segregating people just to make a political point in some floating fucking shanty town helps anyone or anything. But that's not the real issue is it."
Dave sipped his pint.
"What is?"
"It's classic distraction technique. You know when you're in a big city and some dodgy bastard asks you the time whilst his mate gets behind you and has away with your wallet."
"Right."
"That's what this is. Whilst the government's billionaire mates who own the fucking papers are frothing up all the ding-a-lings...."
"Ding-a-lings?"
"You know the stupid, the ignorant, the racist, those lacking empathy or human kindness, the selfish."
"Right."
"Whilst they're focussing the ding-a-lings saying ‘look it's their fault coming over here blah blah blah…’ no one is asking why they're eroding human rights or where all the covid money went to their mates down the pub who had never seen PPE much less manufactured it. No one is asking why the water companies are dumping sewage in our seas. No one is asking why Fishy Sunak is granting oil and gas licences not long after his wife has just done a major deal with one of the oil companies. The biggest distraction of them all though? That cunt thirty pence Lee fucking Anderson."
Vinny paused for breath and sipped his pint.
"Furthermore I'd like to quote Billy Bragg lyrics at these people."
"Oh, which ones?"
"Your life has lost its dignity its beauty and its passion. You're a dedicated swallower of fascism."
There was a sudden ding-a-ling at the bar.
Ken pointed to THE sign. "No Politics!" and scowled at Vinny.
"Another word from you Vinny and you're buying a round for the whole pub. You know the rule."
Without missing a beat Vinny turned to Dave and said, "Did you see the game last night?"
(c) Darren Sant 2023
