Unhelpful of McCririck to sound that bitter note in his eulogy for Robin.

[non sociopath skin]

I was very unhappy that Blair didn't show up, but that was not the way to do it.

Otherwise, a moving and thought-provoking ceremony. I admired the way that the Minister was able to conduct what was in essence a very spiritual ceremony while respecting Robin's rejection of organised religion.

Gordon Brown was excellent and the readings and music were just right - I am a strong believer in the idea that a good funeral is one where you go out humming the tunes.

A fitting tribute to a great man. Sleep well, Comrade.

The Skin

[Anarcho-Socialist]

1. I agree. That sort of thing is for a newspaper column afterwards

rather than during the service itself.

[Mr Creosote]

4. I also disagree

There are some warped values out there when Peter Hain thinks that it is worse for Big Mac to point out that Bliar is a petty vindictive man with no sense of duty, than it is for Bliar actually to be a shiftless vindictive twat. Same as the Tories were criticised for calling Bliar a liar in the election campaign. But he is a liar, and tens of thousands have died as a result. There's plenty of things to have a go at the Tories for, but that isn't one of them. We seem to live in a country where it doesn't seem to matter what you do, it's what you say that matters. The Prime Minister is a liar - BUT DON'T MENTION IT and somehow it will be alright. Iraq is a disaster - SO LET'S SAY WE'RE PUTTING IT BEHIND US and somehow that will sort it.Some British muslims are disaffected - let's not work out why and what we should do about it - we'll just REBRAND them and they'll be happy.

[Anarcho-Socialist]

6. I am not sure you understand my position

I happen to think the service should have been about solely Robin Cook rather than Blair as a subject being brought into it. I too think Blair a liar and don't disagree with what McCririck said, just rather the place he said it.

[Mr Creosote]

7. No I understand perfectly well. I just think you are wrong in this case.

This was the funeral of a very senior politician, generally regarded as the finest parliamentarian of his generation, and I think it was entirely correct for the absence of the Prime Minister from his funeral to be remarked on at the funeral itself. The story is not that someone, for once, spoke out about the true nature of Bliar's character, it is that Bliar lacked the decency or balls to attend. If McCririck had said it elsewhere, who would have listened? Why the fuck should Bliar get away with it because it's not quite the right form?

[malaise]

2. I disagree

It was a politician's funeral and Cook would have found the comment tres appropriate. Bliar showed yet again that he has no class.

[ben_packard]

3. What was the Thatcher comparison?

Was it a specific parallel, or was he referring to thatcher being there (was she?). Perhaps it was just an opportunity for him to use her name and slag labour a bit?

[Mr Creosote]

5. It was a reference to the fact that

despite their long emnity, Thatcher nevertheless attended Heath's funeral. Despite there being much less emnity between Bliar and Cook, Bliar (the great courageous hero) didn't have the balls to go to Cook's funeral. And I don't think McCririck was attacking Labour, after all plenty of seniour Labaour politicians did attend, he was merely pointing out that Bliar is a very petty man.

[LeftishBrit]

8. If I were Cook, I wouldn't want Bliar there!

And I think if I'd been Heath , I'd have been much more offended by Maggie being there, than if she'd stayed away. I practically expected him to jump out of the grave and give her a knock and make her go hipperty-hop .

[non sociopath skin]

10. I heard the whole of McCririck's remarks and that's exactly what it was ..

... a chance to slag off not just Labour, but Robin's own views.

McCririck made no bones about the fact that, rather than speaking as a racing buddy, which had been the game-plan, he was speaking as "Someone on the right."

He actually made the point that Blair's absence showed how inferior to Thatcher he was, and went on to say that everything Cook had believed was wrong, to his mind.

He then talked about how he had worked with Robin on reform of the Racing Tote, how "ironically" Europe had blocked what they were doing and that proved how Evil Europe was.

I have strong views about funerals. They are meant for catharsis, on the one hand, and celebration of a life on the other. They are not about scoring points, political or otherwise. To do so is disrespectful to the family of the deceased.

I repeat: I am unhappy that Blair stayed away but the funeral was NOT the place to say it.

The Skin

[moggie]

12. Isn't he a kook?

Not being a gambler I know little about him, but more or less by osmosis I'd already formed the impression that he's a few things short of a collection of things.

[lockdown]

9. McCririck being a publicity hound as usual

He was just on Channel 4 News defending himself, saying members of the family and politicians had thanked him for what he said. Members of the family certainly didn't look pleased at him in the clip they showed of his comments.

He's a big Thatcher fan if I recall, how wonderful for him that he managed to fit praise for her into Cook's funeral. On C4 before he also declared that Cook was wrong on Iraq and that history would prove the invasion right. Well that's all the critics told isn't it, I mean who could argue with that. McCririck is a fuckface, his comments were tackily inappropriate.

[Benbow]

11. McCririck deteriorated on Big Brother last year - if he is the person

I think he is. I haven't seen any of Big Brother this year, and only a little of last year but the way he nearly fell apart last year held me in horrified fascination. On him, the veneer of civilised conduct seems to be extremely thin. He seems to be a one-trick pony with absolutely no idea of how to behave when anywhere else but on the race course.