The weather forecast for Sunderland this morning is terrible. The BBC weather app gives 100% chance of heavy rain and a temperature of 5°C. I mention this because Leave means leave are planning a march from Sunderland to London over a two week period starting today. It's described on their website (HERE). Core marchers (whatever they are) have to pay £50 per head for the privilege. The march is to be headed by Nigel Farage and is a protest at what they say is the 'betrayal' of Brexit and will end in Parliament Square on March 29th presumably anticipating wild celebrations.
I do hope they are wearing waterproof clothing otherwise they are going to be very damp by the time they reach Hartlepool later. One might almost conclude the gods are against them but I wouldn't be so unkind as to suggest that. What I would say is if anyone local intended to go and wants me to spray them from head to toe with water until four o'clock this afternoon, I'm doing a special 'gammon' rate today of just £35. Contact me through this website. Always happy to help save money.
Of course, the march was all arranged before it looked like there will be a delay to March 29th anyway but never mind.
I do hope they are wearing waterproof clothing otherwise they are going to be very damp by the time they reach Hartlepool later. One might almost conclude the gods are against them but I wouldn't be so unkind as to suggest that. What I would say is if anyone local intended to go and wants me to spray them from head to toe with water until four o'clock this afternoon, I'm doing a special 'gammon' rate today of just £35. Contact me through this website. Always happy to help save money.
Of course, the march was all arranged before it looked like there will be a delay to March 29th anyway but never mind.
From their website:
"June 23rd, 2016 was a historic victory of the people against the establishment. The Westminster elite have had over two years to implement Brexit, and instead have done everything in their power to prevent it. It is time to show MPs, civil servants and Brussels bureaucrats we will not sit by whilst they betray the referendum result. That’s why we are organising a core group of marchers, who will travel the length of the country from Sunderland to London, to stop the Brexit betrayal.
"We are now at full capacity for our core marchers, however you can still join the March to Leave at the link below".
Sounds good doesn't it? Unfortunately, the Sunderland Echo (HERE) report the Council appear to be totally mystified about the event:
"However, Sunderland City Council's Deputy Leader, Coun Michael Mordey, said it had not been approached by march organisers to close any roads.
"Coun Mordey said: 'The City Council has not been approached by the march organisers to close any roads and would expect the organisers to ensure that their event does not disrupt the local traffic network; so that the people of Sunderland can go about their daily business on Saturday without any disruption.' "
The march seems to have been organised in the same way as Brexit - without a plan. The paper spoke to the organisers and their report, published at 15:36 on Thursday 14th (two days before the event mind you) says:
"Organisers of the March to Leave event, which will be led by former UKIP leader Nigel Farage, say it will leave central Sunderland at 9am on Saturday - but have yet to confirm the starting point location or its route".
The South Yorkshire Times (HERE) are reporting it as if it's all going ahead as normal but I don't see any reports of Farage travelling up to Sunderland or any coverage at all in the national press.
The South Yorkshire Times (HERE) are reporting it as if it's all going ahead as normal but I don't see any reports of Farage travelling up to Sunderland or any coverage at all in the national press.
It is timed to begin when this post is published. I do hope it goes well - especially on the weather front. If not I shall report on it here.
Stand by.
Stand by.
