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You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/shortcuts/2013/apr/21/comic-character-david-miliband-lee-nelson
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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Comic character stands for parliament in David Miliband's old seat | Comic character stands for parliament in David Miliband's old seat |
| (6 days later) | |
| Age: Unknown. | Age: Unknown. |
| Appearance: Baseball-capped, loudmouthed London geezer. | Appearance: Baseball-capped, loudmouthed London geezer. |
| What about him? He is standing for parliament in the upcoming byelection in South Shields, David Miliband's old seat. | What about him? He is standing for parliament in the upcoming byelection in South Shields, David Miliband's old seat. |
| Labour, Tory or other? Decidedly other. He is representing Lee Nelson's Well Good Party. | Labour, Tory or other? Decidedly other. He is representing Lee Nelson's Well Good Party. |
| Ah, a single-issue crank. What are his policies? He wants to scrap the euro, ban traffic wardens and make all education voluntary. | Ah, a single-issue crank. What are his policies? He wants to scrap the euro, ban traffic wardens and make all education voluntary. |
| Are you sure he's not a Tory? He also wants half the cabinet to consist of people who left school at 16, and promises to decriminalise crime. | Are you sure he's not a Tory? He also wants half the cabinet to consist of people who left school at 16, and promises to decriminalise crime. |
| Is this bloke for real? No. | Is this bloke for real? No. |
| Oh. Isn't he? No, he's a comic "chav" character played by Simon Brodkin, from a series called Lee Nelson's Well Good Show. | Oh. Isn't he? No, he's a comic "chav" character played by Simon Brodkin, from a series called Lee Nelson's Well Good Show. |
| Never seen it. It ran for two series on BBC3. | Never seen it. It ran for two series on BBC3. |
| That would explain it. How was it received? A reviewer for this newspaper described it as "almost the exact scientific opposite of well good". | That would explain it. How was it received? A reviewer for this newspaper described it as "almost the exact scientific opposite of well good". |
| I try to keep up with the latest developments in election reform, but just remind me: is it now possible for fictional characters to run for parliament? Probably not, but Nelson has apparently filed his nomination papers and plans to make a speech on the steps of South Shields town hall. | I try to keep up with the latest developments in election reform, but just remind me: is it now possible for fictional characters to run for parliament? Probably not, but Nelson has apparently filed his nomination papers and plans to make a speech on the steps of South Shields town hall. |
| Why would he do that? He's in the middle of a standup tour, and has a new show – Lee Nelson's Well Funny People – running on BBC3. | Why would he do that? He's in the middle of a standup tour, and has a new show – Lee Nelson's Well Funny People – running on BBC3. |
| So it's just a publicity stunt? Or possibly part of the show itself. Another character from the series, footballer Jason Bent, was arrested in March for sneaking on to the pitch at Goodison Park to warm up with Manchester City players before a match. | |
| Is it now possible to charge fictional characters with crimes? No, on this occasion it was Brodkin, 36, who received a six-month conditional caution. | Is it now possible to charge fictional characters with crimes? No, on this occasion it was Brodkin, 36, who received a six-month conditional caution. |
| Tell me something about Brodkin that will make me like him a little bit. He's a qualified doctor who gave up medicine for comedy. | Tell me something about Brodkin that will make me like him a little bit. He's a qualified doctor who gave up medicine for comedy. |
| Do say: "If it gets young people interested in politics, this stunt's painful unfunniness will have been worth it." | Do say: "If it gets young people interested in politics, this stunt's painful unfunniness will have been worth it." |
| Don't say: "First, do no harm." | Don't say: "First, do no harm." |
| • This article was amended on 26 April 2013. The original said Jason Bent (ie Simon Brodkin) was arrested when he went on the pitch at Goodison Park "to train with Liverpool players". |