Mark Thomas serves papers on speaker of house of commons

[rich!]

No idea what happened with Ch4 all those years ago. It'd be great to see the comedy product back on tv.

He said afterwards that the reason they packed it in was that the pressure of the schedule on a weekly TV show meant that they missed an email from an arms dealer so incriminating they could have got him jailed, ISTR.

 

[mauvais]

I went to see him in Eastleigh. Pretty funny, although it was weird because it relied so much on the manifesto stuff rather than straight stand up. Still top stuff though.

 

[teuchter]

Saw him in brockwell park a couple of years ago.
There's no doubt that some of the stuff he does is worthwhile but I've never been entirely sure about Mark Thomas. Somehow I'm a bit uncomfortable about mixing comedy and serious political stuff. I think it's because it can kind of shut out discussion of things. It's easy to oversimplify stuff to make it into entertainment - and by setting stuff up the way he does, it makes it difficult for people to challenge him. Effectively you'd have to come back at him with a comedy/entertainment value response which is a bit unfair if it's a complex issue, the counterargument of which doesn't lend itself to being presented in that way (or which you don't have the comedy skillz to present it with).
He's like Michael Moore in this regard. Or (to a lesser extent) any number of musicians who use their popularity to get an audience for their simplistic political messages.
Also, ignoring the political bits and viewing him purely as comedian, I'd he's fairly mediocre.

 

[mauvais]

I don't agree with that. Political comedy opens it up to a lot more people than straight delivery ever can. Standup isn't a forum for debate but then neither is a political speech.

Not everything he does is funny but 'The Night War Broke Out' is excellent.

 

[Kid_Eternity]

He said afterwards that the reason they packed it in was that the pressure of the schedule on a weekly TV show meant that they missed an email from an arms dealer so incriminating they could have got him jailed, ISTR.

Oh rite, first time I've heard that...makes sense though.

 

[sorearm]

just booked tickets to see him at manchester dancehouse tue 2nd june

 

[Mrs Magpie]

He said afterwards that the reason they packed it in was that the pressure of the schedule on a weekly TV show meant that they missed an email from an arms dealer so incriminating they could have got him jailed, ISTR.

I don't understand. Surely there wasn't just a one week window in which to get him arrested? Why didn't they just use it when they read it? Incriminating is incriminating.

 

[AnnO'Neemus]

His book about the arms trade 'As Used on the Famous Nelson Mandela' is really good.

 

[quimcunx]

Saw him in brockwell park a couple of years ago.
There's no doubt that some of the stuff he does is worthwhile but I've never been entirely sure about Mark Thomas. Somehow I'm a bit uncomfortable about mixing comedy and serious political stuff. I think it's because it can kind of shut out discussion of things. It's easy to oversimplify stuff to make it into entertainment - and by setting stuff up the way he does, it makes it difficult for people to challenge him. Effectively you'd have to come back at him with a comedy/entertainment value response which is a bit unfair if it's a complex issue, the counterargument of which doesn't lend itself to being presented in that way (or which you don't have the comedy skillz to present it with).
He's like Michael Moore in this regard. Or (to a lesser extent) any number of musicians who use their popularity to get an audience for their simplistic political messages.
Also, ignoring the political bits and viewing him purely as comedian, I'd he's fairly mediocre.

Not really sure where you're coming from on this, tbh.

Politicians do it all the time. Prime Minister's Question Time seems to consist of a battle of wit. Rubbish wit usually, but still.

Much of the information the general public make their political choices on are simplified versions of the truth presented by politicians, newspapers, television, NGOs etc. Why should he be held to a higher standard?

There is substance and research behind his stunts. He has addressed parliament, about the arms trade, IIRC.

And I'm not sure why he shouldn't use his skills to make his point just because someone taking an opposing view hasn't got those skills. I think he uses his humour very effectively to distil and disseminate information.

 

[London_Calling]

New allegation: The Speaker looks blown

MPs' expenses: Officials colluded over mortgage claims:

Parliamentary authorities, overseen by Michael Martin, the Speaker, gave secret permission for some MPs to over-claim for thousands of pounds in home loan interest in deals that led to the systematic abuse of the taxpayer-funded expenses system.

Ben Chapman, a Labour MP, admitted last night that he was allowed to continue claiming for interest payments on his entire mortgage after repaying £295,000 of the loan in 2002.

Over 10 months the arrangement allowed Mr Chapman to receive £15,000 for the part of the home loan which had been paid off. Last night, he said he would not give back the money.

Permission to claim “phantom” mortgage payments is understood to have been offered to several MPs before 2004. It was stopped after Commons officials admitted it should never have been allowed. Michael Martin has been Speaker since 2000 and was therefore ultimately responsible for the arrangements – which has never been independently investigated.

He will make a statement today on the growing expenses scandal after a sustained attempt by MPs to unseat him.

I can't believe anyone would smear to that extent; if it's correct - and I suppose we'll have to wait for insightful commentary - that reads to me like an intentional breach. Whoa Nelly.

Game over, Mr Speaker. You're out the door in the morning.