Der Hammer

[Chris Smith]

I think Dunn's article is a decent piece, trying to put some context into the debate. Cameron is no Villa fan or of football in general, he's just using the occasion to score a few political points.

As the article says: "Instead, Cameron and his like stay silent on the real outrages of how ordinary football supporters are being stitched up, day in, day out." Can anyone argue against that?

[Toronto Villa]

Maybe I'm missing something here, but why can't Cameron be a Villa fan? He claimed he was before all of this didn't he? I'm not contesting the angle on this issue but irrespective of his political allegiance is he not allowed to be a fan of the club? I don't agree with his politics but I really don't see why anyone would object to him being a fan of our club. When it comes to that subject, the more the merrier.

[Chris Smith]

Maybe I'm missing something here, but why can't Cameron be a Villa fan? He claimed he was before all of this didn't he? I'm not contesting the angle on this issue but irrespective of his political allegiance is he not allowed to be a fan of the club? I don't agree with his politics but I really don't see why anyone would object to him being a fan of our club. When it comes to that subject, the more the merrier.

He's using football, just like Blair before him, as a vehicle for self promotion. If he had shown some interest in some of the issues raised in that article then perhaps I might believe him, until then I'll stick to my belief that he's an opportunist using it for self promotion. He's in his late forties, so how many of Graham Taylor's promotion team do you think he could name?

[dave.woodhall]

Cameron said in the Commons that he had no interest in football. Later he said he had a passing interest but not much. Then he said he was a Villa supporter. I've also been told that apparently he's been 'advised' never to go into any detail to avoid a Blair/Wor Jackie-style gaff.

[Pete3206]

He once referred to the Albion as "WBA".  If only his people had only done their research, they could have furnished him with the correct terms such as  'Stripeyfith', 'Tesco Bags' or 'Olbiyun', with references to how much he hates Adrian Chiles, Skinner and that whining twat who phones up Tom Ross to ask "where's the money gone, etc...."

Anyhoo, nice to see Der Hammer's last minute winning goal on the OS front page today.
 

[dekko]

Sorry to continue the derail but Cameron is not a Villa fan, or a football fan:

Many of those who have spoken in the debate or have written about the subject are either lawyers or football fans, but I have to confess that I am neither

http://www.theyworkforyou.com/debate/?id=2001-10-15.1006.0

[Clampy]

I think Dunn's article is a decent piece, trying to put some context into the debate. Cameron is no Villa fan or of football in general, he's just using the occasion to score a few political points.

As the article says: "Instead, Cameron and his like stay silent on the real outrages of how ordinary football supporters are being stitched up, day in, day out." Can anyone argue against that?

You could question whether a Mirror reporter would write such an article saying the same thing if Ed Milliband was in power.

[Dave Cooper please]

Obviously not, for the same reasons that the Telegraph, Sun, Heil and Express haven't written anything similar but would have done if Milliband was in power.
 We know where these papers stand, no point being surprised about it.

[brian green]

I think you can tell which inhabitants of the Westminster village are genuine football fans by the teams they claim to follow.   Back in the day I did some work for Harold Wilson.   The pipe and the Gannex and the mateyness with Mike Yarwood were all PR props but he really did support Huddersfield.   Likewise Campbell's support of Burnley is just as genuine as Blair's support of Toon was fake.

[dcdavecollett]

Shame the sexed=up dossiers weren't as genuine, then half a million people needn't have died.

[rob_bridge]

Was it Mellor who started this whole Mainstream Politician being overtly 'interested' in football as a way of arse licking Major?

Dennis Howell was a genuine fan IIRC and it is a while ago. But others not sure when it comes to Villa. Norman Fowler tried a bandwagon jump on QT about 20 years ago. Completely unconvincingly. Dunno about Jeff Rooker and today's current crop.

[saunders_heroes]

Former Home Secretary Jacquie Smith is definitely a Villa fan. No question about that.

[pauliewalnuts]

Obviously not, for the same reasons that the Telegraph, Sun, Heil and Express haven't written anything similar but would have done if Milliband was in power.

RALPH MILIBAND - THE MAN WHO HATED FOOTBALL

[PeterWithesShin]

We probably all know people who have nowhere near the passion or even interest in football as much as we do, rarely if ever go to games, but if pushed who they supported would say Villa (or whoever). Most of them won't have a connection to that club like Cameron and Dugdale.

[Chico Hamilton III]

Was it Mellor who started this whole Mainstream Politician being overtly 'interested' in football as a way of arse licking Major?

Michael Foot was on the board at Plymouth and Harold Wilson a big Huddersfield fan.