Brighton politician claims he's not posh (From The Argus)
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Brighton politician claims he's not posh
5:00pm Tuesday 1st December 2009 in
A Brighton politician has hit back at the suggestion he shed his double-barrelled surname to sound less like “a toff”.
Simon Kirby, or Radford-Kirby, yesterday responded to an article in The Mail on Sunday which named him as one of several Conservative parliamentary candidates allegedly ordered to split their name by party leader David Cameron.
In a blog, Mr Kirby said his double-barrelled name was the result of his marriage 17 years ago and not a “posh” background.
The politician, who will stand in the Brighton Kemptown constituency, said he was raised in a Hastings council house and went to local state schools.
He said he had used the name Kirby when first elected to represent Kemptown on East Sussex County Council in 1992 and kept it.
He said it fitted on to posters better.
Comments(32)
Andre Spooner
says...
5:42pm Tue 1 Dec 09
I dropped it when I met my mighty horse. On a similar note, I would not trust Simon Kirby, not because of his double barreled name, but because he is a cruel man. Just the other day I was eating an ice cream on the seafront whilst sitting on my Mighty Horse, and who should come along, riding on the Volks light railway and cursing and swearing in the most foul mouthed manner, than prospective Tory MP Simon "Potty Mouth" Kirby, waving something that looked very much like a shepherd's crook. I was shocked, and so was my mighty horse, who muttered to me "Has the man no decorum?".
As I considered a good response to this very pointed question, Kirby took a swipe at my ice cream with his "shepherd's crook" and sent it crashing to the ground, to be devoured by a gang of juvenile herring gulls. Has this man no shame?
Wow, my security word was "shepherd's-crook". Wow.
stan bailey
says...
5:52pm Tue 1 Dec 09
Tye
says...
6:50pm Tue 1 Dec 09
Even Mrs Cherir Blair "down shifted" she talks of herself as a Liverpudlian - normally people born on the Wirral as she was are not considered scousers
TheInsider
says...
7:22pm Tue 1 Dec 09
Mr Kirby-Posh clearly was born in a time when double barrelled meant you were posh.
However, it's a nonsense this obsession with class. Most Labour MPs are champagne socialists while Tories are just socialites who like champagne.
And theft via expenses crossed all parties and class divides.
pbbrighton
says...
7:39pm Tue 1 Dec 09
Andre Spooner wrote:and this just proves that Brighton has a drugs problem!
I used to be called Andre Ice-Cream-Spooner, this was because my parents, Andre Spooner and Suzy Ice-Cream used to mock me because I ate so much sorbet.
I dropped it when I met my mighty horse. On a similar note, I would not trust Simon Kirby, not because of his double barreled name, but because he is a cruel man. Just the other day I was eating an ice cream on the seafront whilst sitting on my Mighty Horse, and who should come along, riding on the Volks light railway and cursing and swearing in the most foul mouthed manner, than prospective Tory MP Simon "Potty Mouth" Kirby, waving something that looked very much like a shepherd's crook. I was shocked, and so was my mighty horse, who muttered to me "Has the man no decorum?".
As I considered a good response to this very pointed question, Kirby took a swipe at my ice cream with his "shepherd's crook" and sent it crashing to the ground, to be devoured by a gang of juvenile herring gulls. Has this man no shame?
Wow, my security word was "shepherd's-crook". Wow.
Christophe Hawtree
says...
8:26pm Tue 1 Dec 09
What do the parents-in-law make of that?
Perhaps he should have called himself Simon Radford?
Billys back
says...
9:13pm Tue 1 Dec 09
"Those whom the Gods wish to destry they first make mad!"...............
........our country crumbles, unemployment rises, our leaders have their snoughts in the trough and all the papers and prospective MP's can talk about is whether to use one name or two! It reminds me of that scene from Carry on Up The Khyber where they are having "tiffin" whilst the building is being attacked around them.
Dear God please send us another Cromwell....by return if at all possible.
Pat Smith
says...
9:27pm Tue 1 Dec 09
Incidentally, it seems to me that you attract some 'strange' people to your comments section. I hope I haven't let you down by being normal.
Christophe Hawtree
says...
9:44pm Tue 1 Dec 09
Billys back wrote:Yes, the end of that Carry On is worthy of Bunuel. Especially the bit with the platter.
"Those whom the Gods wish to destry they first make
mad!"...............
........our country crumbles, unemployment rises, our leaders have
their snoughts in the trough and all the papers and prospective MP's
can talk about is whether to use one name or two! It reminds me of that
scene from Carry on Up The Khyber where they are having "tiffin" whilst
the building is being attacked around them.
Dear God please send us another Cromwell....by return if at all
possible.
Billys back
says...
10:07pm Tue 1 Dec 09
Pat Smith wrote:
Having known Simon for around 20 years I can confirm that he isn't posh but believe me he is first-class. He will be an excellent MP for Brighton Kemptown. Incidentally, it seems to me that you attract some 'strange' people to your comments section. I hope I haven't let you down by being normal.
Not at all Pat, not at all.......the more the merrier on here.......having myself put up posters and delivered leaflets in copious quantities for nice Mr Bowden in the 1970's and the 1980's (where I think I might have met you Pat) I'm sure young Mr Kirby will do VERY well next summer - have no fear!
(Lets face it the Tories could put up Baldrick here after the mess this Governments made and he would win!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)
Rostrum
says...
9:14am Wed 2 Dec 09
I'm more interested in what he thinks and believes than what he's called.
lee paul
says...
9:41am Wed 2 Dec 09
JKW
says...
10:50am Wed 2 Dec 09
lee paul
says...
10:55am Wed 2 Dec 09
JKW wrote:errr you're not a relative are you?
We have had Simon Kirby call on us in Whitehawk and he was a smashing fella, we have also seen him down at Whitehawk FC following our club..good man
thucydides
says...
11:03am Wed 2 Dec 09
JKW
says...
11:32am Wed 2 Dec 09
lee paul wrote:not at all just take as i find, he has supported the Boxing club at Whitehawk and the Football club and think credit is due
JKW wrote: We have had Simon Kirby call on us in Whitehawk and he was a smashing fella, we have also seen him down at Whitehawk FC following our club..good manerrr you're not a relative are you?
Alison Smith
says...
12:10pm Wed 2 Dec 09
thucydides wrote:I don't think he was married to Martin Webb...although you often end up spending more time with your business partner than you do with your wife! Good luck next June Mr Kirby.
I always thought he was called Webb-Kirby.........
-Rob-
says...
2:26pm Wed 2 Dec 09
Rostrum wrote:Agreed. Who cares what he is called, or if he was brought up in a coucil house or went to the best private school? Britain really needs competent leadership, and it would be nice to think that politics attracted the creme de la creme of the British public, keen to serve their country! Sadly, this is not always the case.
He could be called anything. I'm more interested in what he thinks and believes than what he's called.
Baldseagull
says...
12:32pm Thu 3 Dec 09
pancaker
says...
11:45am Mon 7 Dec 09
When the Leaders Debate happens on TV bear this in mind: it was said on Radio 4 that Gordon Brown refused initially because he wanted three debates knowing that over an extended debate he'd destroy Cameron because Cameron offers nothing of depth. Cameron wanted just one debate because he knows he'll win the shallow soundbites a single debate will give.
What we need is for someone decent to win the election, but sadly the options don't give us anyone.
The over-confidence of the Tories posting on here tells you everything you need to know about their complacent attitude to power. Tories tend to think it's a divine right to rule and it's where they belong, not something they have to earn.
Alison Smith
says...
2:09pm Mon 7 Dec 09
pancaker wrote:You know what Tories think do you? Well I need not tell you what I think of your post then !
Billy's Back is right, sadly. Anyone could defeat this Government and as such the country will get more years of disaster when the Tories win. If someone can point me to any David Cameron policy with substance or to any way at all in which he represents the ordinary man or woman of Britain I'd like to see it. When the Leaders Debate happens on TV bear this in mind: it was said on Radio 4 that Gordon Brown refused initially because he wanted three debates knowing that over an extended debate he'd destroy Cameron because Cameron offers nothing of depth. Cameron wanted just one debate because he knows he'll win the shallow soundbites a single debate will give. What we need is for someone decent to win the election, but sadly the options don't give us anyone. The over-confidence of the Tories posting on here tells you everything you need to know about their complacent attitude to power. Tories tend to think it's a divine right to rule and it's where they belong, not something they have to earn.
Billys back
says...
9:27pm Mon 7 Dec 09
pancaker wrote:
Billy's Back is right, sadly. Anyone could defeat this Government and as such the country will get more years of disaster when the Tories win. If someone can point me to any David Cameron policy with substance or to any way at all in which he represents the ordinary man or woman of Britain I'd like to see it. When the Leaders Debate happens on TV bear this in mind: it was said on Radio 4 that Gordon Brown refused initially because he wanted three debates knowing that over an extended debate he'd destroy Cameron because Cameron offers nothing of depth. Cameron wanted just one debate because he knows he'll win the shallow soundbites a single debate will give. What we need is for someone decent to win the election, but sadly the options don't give us anyone. The over-confidence of the Tories posting on here tells you everything you need to know about their complacent attitude to power. Tories tend to think it's a divine right to rule and it's where they belong, not something they have to earn.
I hope you're not calling me a Tory Pancaker...I "used" to put up posters for Mr Bowden...as an ex Tory come election night in June you will find me glued to the TV set watching the Dagenham result come in and sitting next to me will be my very good friend who is an old Labour supporter!
I say the Tories will win in June not because I want them to ... just because they will!
With a little bit of luck, an unbiased media (some hope) and a good Dagenham result we won't stop laughing until next Christmas!
Pat Smith
says...
9:57pm Mon 7 Dec 09
Jimmy Stewart's Imaginary Rabbit
says...
7:56am Tue 8 Dec 09
Jimmy Stewart's Imaginary Rabbit
says...
8:00am Tue 8 Dec 09
Pat Smith wrote:Quite agree Pat, also with you earlier comment about the loonies and nutters who post on this comments section. Fortunately there are quite a few sane and sensible people here and after a while you learn to look at the posters name and just skip the post as you know it will be rubbish.
Why is it some people do not have the courage of their convictions and attach their own names, or at least their initials to their comments?
PS - Obviously being a pookah I don't have a real name.
Pat Smith
says...
8:35am Tue 8 Dec 09
Billys back
says...
1:15pm Tue 8 Dec 09
A pookah is a giant six foot white rabbit Pat...as in Jimmy Stewarts film.
dpgsussex
says...
10:33pm Thu 10 Dec 09
tpebop...
says...
1:15am Fri 11 Dec 09
Tye wrote:Love it ! "not considered scousers" scumbags maybe ?
Remind us please what Tony Blairs full name was and which public sKool he went to? Even Mrs Cherir Blair "down shifted" she talks of herself as a Liverpudlian - normally people born on the Wirral as she was are not considered scousers
King from Hove
says...
8:12am Sun 13 Dec 09
Is it a crime in this Country to bettering yourself by education and having moral standards and ambition.
Typical Champagne Socialists trying to stir things up.
Warren Morgan
says...
5:19pm Sun 13 Dec 09
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pbbrighton says...
5:21pm Tue 1 Dec 09
Good luck to him in his campaign to win Brighton Kemptown. He will make an excellent MP.