539. Embezzlement, the Mandelson Texts, and Hasan Piker’s UK Ban
4 June 2026
Mental health and the Carling Cup Final
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Post
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1 March 2009
The two are not directly related, but sum up the day ahead. Off shortly to the BBC to film a piece for Comic Relief on mental health. Comic Relief are one of the big backers of the Time to Change campaign aimed at ending mental health discrimination.
Some have suggested that kind of money would be better spent on direct patient care. But many mentally ill people say the discrimination is worse than the illness, so it is worth breaking down, and it is to Comic Relief's credit that they see this as a worthy cause. And if Jo Brand can dress up like Britney and do 'hit me baby one more time,' the least I can do is film an interview about the campaign.
Then later, despite my usual agonising about watching non-Burnley games, I have decided to go to the Carling Cup Final. These last few days have not been easy for Burnley fans. Virtually every media report on Spurs has mentioned how they got there, with an extra time winner after we had hammered them at Turf Moor. Every time I have been near the North Circular, I have looked at that stunning arc across Wembley stadium and thought, it coulda shoulda been us.
Last night, when the Manchester United team coach rolled up at their hotel, and the players walked through to the astonishment of a wedding party getting their pictures done, I thought again, just how close we were to a United-Burnley Cup Final, which will probably never happen now in my lifetime.
Even with the Man U players, so used to these grand arrivals at big hotels before big matches, you could feel the special tension a Cup Final creates. How fantastic would it have been for Burnley?
I was at the hotel to see Alex Ferguson and to do an interview with MUTV (yes, they have their own TV station) about a documentary they're making on the treble win in 1999 (for the reason for their interest see pages 395/6 of The Blair Years, and if you don't have one - why not, I say?)
It is impossible to spend much time in Alex's company without being enthused about football, and he was in a particularly good mood, news of Liverpool's defeat having reached him as their train pulled into Euston. So by the time I left he was sorting out tickets for myself and my Man U supporting son Rory. For him and Alex, and for the way Spurs broke our hearts on a rainy night in Burnley a few weeks ago, I'll be hoping for a United win today. And when he said his last remaining selection issue was whether to start with Rooney or Ronaldo, you kind of felt it might happen.
Do not adopt the mindset that Burnley will never make it again – “probably never in my lifetime”. Not only may this become a ‘self-fulfilling prophesy’, but negative resignation may pervade other campaigns in your life.
Whilst something is possible, one must never give up. Having done ‘it’ once, I venture that future success is MORE likely for Burnley.
As for Labour’s Go 4th ‘cup run’ – ‘belief’ and ‘confidence’ represent a valuable, nay essential currency!
Do not adopt the mindset that Burnley will never make it again – “probably never in my lifetime”. Not only may this become a ‘self-fulfilling prophesy’, but negative resignation may pervade other campaigns in your life.
Whilst something is possible, one must never give up. Having done ‘it’ once, I venture that future success is MORE likely for Burnley.
As for Labour’s Go 4th ‘cup run’ – ‘belief’ and ‘confidence’ represent a valuable, nay essential currency!
Yes i think you are correct on the discrimination point. The public are in fear of the mentally ill, the unknown. I dont think people mean to be it is a different form of discrimination to other ethnics,hopefully one that can get better.I see it a lot on the streets. Carry on good work all the celebs being “silly” your right Jo Brand is a star being able to laugh at herself
Paragraphs, mate. The world has tried them and likes them, why not give it a go?
Alister,
When you had your 7th birthday, the same saw the emergence of of a COMMUNIST Commonwealth Country, what Mr Sleter in his research calls ,The African CUBA off the coast of KEYA and TANGANYIKA. The island got its indendence from Britain 2 days before Kenyal
It wnet communist with a bloody revolution, 12,OOO plus people killed in 3 days-a month after its independence.
12 January, 1964l
Mr WILSON and the labour Party cam to power a few months later
A Statute Amended to honour Britain obligations in Ratifying the UN conventions was passed.
The Amended Statute was British Nationality Act 1964l
Suppose you were caught in the malstorm and the British Gov and that a labour one threw up its hands and told you that you were a national of that Communist Country, so no longer British—even though you are not born or descended from any body born in that country ie you do ot belong to that country.
What would be your reaction ?
and mind you the Amendment of 1964 of br N A 1964 covered this very scenatio and gave you your rights back as a BRITON
By the way they celebraed a Modern Libety Convention and 60 years of ECHR
this INCIDENT IS AN EXACT REPLICATION OF WHAT THEY LATTER DID TO THE CHAGOSAN people, BUT this was the template which they used, exactly/
Were these Asian origin people lesser /unrqual to you and other citizens.
What was their Crime ?
OR it was fine abondoning them in a COMMUNIST Caoldron
Communism is not bad for them and their human rights ?
You good friend Mr Tony did do one god hing, HE undid the injustice perpretrated by the Immigration Control Act of 1967/8.
BUT THIS SMALL group from ZANZIBAR PROTECRORATE, was overlooked. th
iese were the one who were wrongfully denied their rights and this is componded when one comes to know that the Amendment of 1964 in fact restores their rights.
Y E T THE OFFICIALDOM REFUSED TO INFORM THEM OF THEIR ENTITLEMENT to rights undr the Act and the RATFIED UN CONVENTION tll to-day.
Here is ware the verbal racial abuse by prominent people close to power centres makes the mind sets dangerous for the nation,
It was these mind sets so brazenly opely airedby the like of mr POWELL pose a danger to every body
Institutional Racism is what is really the worst one
IT EXISTS. as shown by recent incidnets in Solicitors Reg Authority or the Mayors seeming outrage about racism in the force.
What about this double standards in the Goct at the highest level. DID YOU EVER KNOW ABOUT THIS?
Now that you know, how about showing solidarity and giving us the space to get our view point on this blatant
discrmination to the light of dayand let all know about it and get us some action to ratify tis violation of one of the most profoud Judgements of 1966 still being violatd. Unser another judgement/autority that came in 1967, the fig leaf of a cover of legality ceased to exist
could get us THE STRATEGY AND COMMUNICATIONS HELP, YOU ARE A mASTER OF bOTH.
oF COURSE WE CANOT PAY ANYTHING SIMPLE BECASUE WE DON’T HAVE THEE MEANS TO DO SO
COULD WE ASK YOU TO STAND UP BE COUNTED IN THIS AUDOCITY TO HPE THAT OUR JUST CAUSE WILL SE LIGHT OF DAY THROUGH HELP AND SOLIDARITY FROM PEOPLE LIKE.
tHANKS
m.
Thumbs up to Comic Relief for supporting Time To Change. Yes the stigma can be worse than the illness but we’ve got to get out of hours support sorted out. We’ve also got to stop this epidemic of depression. There’s a suggestion it’s caused by lack of sleep impacting on our ability to dream and clear away emotional debris. Whatever, we must look to protect the next generation by helping them to look after their mental health, eat well, exercise, and mental health and footy are connected, supporting a team brings a sense of belonging and so does playing, whoever you support may the right team win today (audere est facere) and I’m not bothered about paragraphs it’s the content that counts 🙂