Corrie's truths, Campbell's cretinism

Iain Dale proves that Ming Campbell is an utterly contemptible figure - because he doesn't watch Coronation Street.
In this great piece, Johann Hari said that he could never love anyone who didn't love Corrie. I can't even respect someone who doesn't - especially if they're a politician.
Corrie demonstrates the greatest political wisdom of all - that the poorest he that is in England hath a life to live, as the greatest he.
In Corrie, people are not simple ciphers, to be boxed, stamped, labelled and managed as managerialists think. They are real, multi-dimensional people. Take Roy Cropper, the mocked and bullied geeky, autistic loner, with his Christ-like humility. Or his wife Hayley, who has done more than almost anyone to show that trans-sexuals are not freaks. Or Eileen, showing that single parents aren't feckless scroungers, but battlers against adversity. Or the sadly-departed Sunita, showing that the mousy Asian shopgirl has an intelligence and sensuality beyond the cultural stereotype. Or Steve MacDonald, showing that ex-cons can come good.
What's more,  Corrie, more than any TV programme, embodies a tradition. It's hinted at by that prominent but never discussed poster in the Rovers advertising Wilfred Pickles, the homage to Donald McGill within Jack and Vera and Les and Cilla, and the distinctively Northern character types represented in different ways by Emily, Ken, Norris and Blanche. In all this we see an embodiment of a part of English - Northern - history, a history we are in danger of losing.
Being non-political, Corrie also contains an important political message - that politics, or at least managerialist party politics, isn't that important. People try, and often fail, to control their own lives - and no-one, not even Les and Cilla, looks to the state very much.
And then, of course, there is the peerless writing. Here's an exchange from a few months ago:

Sally: "Sophie - eat your breakfast. There are children starving in Africa."
Sophie: "Name one."

Was ever such truth spoken in Westminster?
All of this should reveal just how contemptible Campbell and his like are. They think the petty manoeverings of the Westminster village - a soap with all the characters, wisdom and dignity removed - are more interesting than Corrie.

Comments

[Justin]

So... you're saying we should pack up the blogs and go and write for TV Quick?

[Backword Dave]

I think he's saying we should pack up the blogs and write for Emmerdale, because Corrie wouldn't have us.

[Phil]

Hmmm. You young urban singles with your wireless digital iPods and your busy social schedules and your, your evenings dammit... It's different when you've got children (or, in Ming Campbell's case, grandchildren). Corrie was one of the many habits which went out the window when parenthood hit - I did wonder about getting into a routine of taping one episode a week (you wouldn't miss much) but never did.

So, how are Kevin and Sally getting on? Little Rosie must be walking by now. And is Tracey still playing tapes in her room, or has she got a CD player? That's the great thing about Corrie, you just know the storylines are going to keep going...

[james]

That's the great thing about Corrie, you just know the storylines are going to keep going...

Even so, the principle is right - these sorts of things are far more important than Westminster.

[Dave]

Thanks for this thoughtful post. I've just been directed here from Corrie Blog (www.corrieblog.tv) so it's good to see you've given us something else to witter on about/reflect on apart from which panto or Miss Marple mystery ex Street actors are 'starring' in these days!

[asian singles]

Corrie was one of the many habits which went out the window when parenthood hit - I did wonder about getting into a routine of taping one episode a week but never did.