All round to Downing Street ‘the most famous street in the world’ for new British PM Sir Keir Starmer’s election party.
Lots of smiles, hugs and glad-handing with Labour helpers to be continued, no doubt, inside.
Now elections everywhere give themselves over to hyperbole.
But the British do self-congratulation better than almost anywhere in the world.
There’s probably a clue in the name ‘Great’ Britain.
Top of every tourist’s list
Now those of us who have lived a lifetime (and that’s nearly three score years in my case) are well used to this.
The ‘seat of modern democracy’, the ‘mother of all parliaments’, we’re all familiar with the boasts.
And there’s no doubt that the rest of the world has bought the English in-built ability for self-promotion.
With Downing Street, the Houses of Parliament and Buckingham Palace at the top of every tourist to London’s list.
Drink it in
Now while only those, those such as those, and those who look after those get into the PM’s workplace, or that of his neighbours.
Although it was not always so.
As Downing Street housed The Rose and Crown pub back in the 19th century.
Something that was repeated in kind during Covid under Boris Johnson.
Although then it was more of an open house and BYOB with, of course, those who clean up after those putting out the recycling.
You can, of course, look down Downing Street through the gates aspiringly for Sir Keir and Larry the Cat and get your selfie.
By George, Downing’s St
All of which would, no doubt, have pleased Sir George Downing, who served as a soldier under Oliver Cromwell and King Charles II.
And who purchased the land ‘within walking distance of parliament’ to build townhouses for ‘persons of good quality to inhabit’.
Now while you and I clearly aren’t to be considered ‘persons of good quality to inhabit’ or even visit London’s most famous street.
House about that?
We are allowed to pop into the Houses of Parliament and take a tour.
The standing joke is that they allow anybody in there.
But, of course, that does a disservice to the best of our politicians and statesmen and women.
And to that number can be added my old newspaper boss, John Cooper, new MP for Dumfries and Galloway.
Who I’ll just need to put pressure on to use his new influence.
To get me inside Downing Street ‘the most famous street’ in the world.
