January 2, England was getting back to work after what for most had been an 8 day break from work. Parliament was not in session and the right wing had nothing to grumble about. OK the King’s speech was a bit … slightly political with him showing all the charities the royals support that help those in need… because of the Tories. But they had already lined up their target. The big New Year’s fireworks display in London at midnight.
Up to the end of the last century (Lawd, that makes me feel old!) Londoners mostly saw in the New Year in Trafalgar Square, which is within sight of the clock on Parliament and earshot of Big Ben. After midnight there was either a desperate rush to get into the line for a club or wait for a night bus home. In 2000 the crowds moved to the North bank of the Thames, opposite the Millennium Wheel and a grand fireworks display was put on there. More fireworks along the river towards the Millennium Dome where Tony Blair was forcing the late Queen and Prince Philip to join hands to sing “Auld Lang Syne”. After everyone stopped laughing at the Millennium Bug and the government saw the bill, the newly created Mayor of London had to pay.
The fireworks have been joined by a soundtrack reflecting the events of the previous year as well as the music ending in what I think is a dreadful rendition of Auld Land Syne. A recent feature has been the use of drones to etch figure in the sky. Last year for example during a quiet session marking the death of E2R, her outline morphed into Charles’.
Without much else to report, the right wing media had little to do so they when they found out the programme for the show, they had lots to rattle their pearls at. Let me point out that this May there will be elections for the Mayor and Assembly in London so they have set their sights on the Labour incumbent, Sadiq Khan. Boris Johnson, a previous Mayor of London before Prime Minister, has jerrymandered the system for voting for the Mayor. Previously this was by alternative vote which allowed someone to vote for, say, the Liberal Democrat or Green candidate as first choice even knowing they were unlikely to win. The alternative vote allowed them to vote for (very probably) Sadiq as their second choice. The Conservatives made this a first past the post contest although they seem to have forgotten that British voters are quite sophisticated. If the choice is to elect a “not X” candidate, they are very aware of the polling situation.
Last year was particularly eventful with of course the Coronation. It was also (woke alert) the 75th anniversaries of the National Health Service and the arrival of the Empire Windrush, which started the large scale immigration from the “New Commonwealth”. The two are intimately linked as the NHS depended on nursing staff from the Caribbean and doctors from India. 2023 also marked the 10th anniversary of the legalization of same-sex marriages. [The woke bit starts at 03:35]
The chorus of the Anti-wokerati was led by GB News, which skates close, if not over the edge of the conditions of its broadcasting licence. It is relegated to a minor spot in the News section of the guide. Its audience is primarily right wingers and ardent royalists. The fire was lit by a “royal correspondent” for Fox News USA on his YouTube channel beforehand. GBNews duly reported the response with the headline on its web page
Leftie woke take over of New Year Eve fireworks sparks fury 'In future, NO WOKE commentary, just music and fireworks'