Friday favourite 71

With the House of Lords looking certain to remain unelected this week's Friday favourite could only feature one artist - the only Lord who has sought a public mandate and according to Wikipedia has gained 15,657 votes in his political career.

It is, of course the late lamented Lord Sutch.  Sutch has been arguably more successful than the Liberal Democrats in changing the UK - his campaigns (once considered 'loony') have included votes for 18 year olds and all day pub opening.  I've met him twice before his tragic suicide and all I can say is if only Nick Clegg had his mojo...

Winchester's Friday favourite 15 (and an apology)

Had some business in Winchester today - the first time I had been there since the by-election in November 1997.

I came across this not inappropriately posh busking puppeteer on the High Street:

But as it's Friday it's time for my Friday favourite.

So this week's favourite is in honour of the Winchester by election and my last visit.

The by-election was won by Mark Oaten by nearly 22,000 votes on 20 November 1997. It was sadly the last election outing of Lord Sutch before he committed suicide and the election where Labour scored less than 2% of the vote - their worst ever score and lower than the Lib Dem share in the recent Inverclyde by-election.

So for your delectation here is the UK number one for that week in late November 1997.

And for it I can only apologise...