The Project
The highlight of my week has to be "The Project", last seen 20 years ago, and apparently (although no sources and solid evidence is available) a TV show which Alastair Campbell tried to block. Nowadays, with Rory Stewart, he is the statesmanlike voice of reason, but back during the Blair years of Labour's power, he came across as very much something of a spin doctor.
The first part, "Opposition", was first shown on 10 November 2002, with the second part "Government" shown the next night (divided into two parts), both on BBC One
The story is told through the eyes of two activists, played by then unknown actors Matthew Macfadyen and Naomie Harris and their friends. In "Opposition", Clips from TV news show the public drama being played out, but the focus is on the drama behind the scenes, looking firstly at Kinnock's failure in 1992, and the build up to the Labour victory in 1997.
"Government" shows how the idealistic hopes are lost, and how brutal the Whips can be in persuading recalcitrant MPs to vote - both physical violence, and bullying. Having read the diaries of Chris Mullen, you can see the pressures on individual MPs (although he never had physical violence threatened), and how a non-conforming MP will end their career if they don't vote for the party's measures, and how the government was constrained for two years by a promise to keep to the Tory spending limits. Here, Naomie Harris's MP Maggie (MP for Wroker) faces the threat of the Whips to keep in line.
The highlight of my week has to be "The Project", last seen 20 years ago, and apparently (although no sources and solid evidence is available) a TV show which Alastair Campbell tried to block. Nowadays, with Rory Stewart, he is the statesmanlike voice of reason, but back during the Blair years of Labour's power, he came across as very much something of a spin doctor.
The first part, "Opposition", was first shown on 10 November 2002, with the second part "Government" shown the next night (divided into two parts), both on BBC One
The story is told through the eyes of two activists, played by then unknown actors Matthew Macfadyen and Naomie Harris and their friends. In "Opposition", Clips from TV news show the public drama being played out, but the focus is on the drama behind the scenes, looking firstly at Kinnock's failure in 1992, and the build up to the Labour victory in 1997.
"Government" shows how the idealistic hopes are lost, and how brutal the Whips can be in persuading recalcitrant MPs to vote - both physical violence, and bullying. Having read the diaries of Chris Mullen, you can see the pressures on individual MPs (although he never had physical violence threatened), and how a non-conforming MP will end their career if they don't vote for the party's measures, and how the government was constrained for two years by a promise to keep to the Tory spending limits. Here, Naomie Harris's MP Maggie (MP for Wroker) faces the threat of the Whips to keep in line.
Chief Whip: We're very pleased with you. You feel passionately about certain issues and we want to use that. So it comes down to a very simple choice. Take your name off the motion and vote with the government and you will be.....a Junior Minister in the Department of Transport after the next election. Or vote against us and your career is over. When a new hospital is awarded, it will not go to Wroker. When a bypass needs approval, it will not be given in Wroker. When Nissan want government grants to build a new factory, they will not be forthcoming for your constituency. We'll make you unelectable. It's what'll happen to you.
Given that Labour are now facing potential rebellions with a large majority but unpopular measures and keeping to spending limits - taking away the winter fuel allowance for pensioners being one - this is incredibly topical.
Sherwood Season 2
Bad blood and simmering tensions erupting into violence. Not perhaps as rooted in the past with flashbacks as the previous series, this is still compelling drama as past trauma and present conflicts bubble away beneath the surface.
Grace
Meanwhile on ITV, Grace continues with quality and murder, with twists and turns along the way. Shot mostly around Bristol and Hove, and headed by John Simm, this series shows why Peter James is a best selling crime writer. Last week had what for me was an unforseen twist at the end, very cleverly done. The friction between the political - go public with a serial killer and it may effect business and tourism - is also quite believable.
The Writing on the Wall
And finally, something completely different - Mike Read (one of the "Footage Detectives" from the wonderful Talking Pictures show of the same name) has for Talking pictures produced a fascinating documentary series on the Blue Plaques on buildings commemorating famous people, telling their story with interviews, photos, archive footage. A real gem.
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