Have we always had so many messages?

So Corbyn's new year message - he is taking the centre ground ! Is this where the many are?

GracesGran, just did a search for your question, and Richard Coles tweeted a similar question last year, but about when did politicians start doing a Christmas speech.
One of the responses was 'about the same time members of pop bands became vicars'.
It's a cheerful read.

It's quite simple. If you employ all these advisors and speech writers you have to give them something to do and as nobody has a clue about Brexit or what is really happening writing a meaningless speech with a few platitudes in it is all they can manage.

Why was it mocking?
It's true.

I regard her speeches as bedtime stories; they are all fantasy.
If she thinks she stands up for the ordinary person, she's living in fairytale land.

Perhaps it's time, Annie, that you stopped pretending you stand for the ordinary working class person, as you seem to stand up for anyone who supports May.

It would be good Chewbacca but the first reply set the tone for the thread , yes I know no need to join in but somethings such as mocking childlessness is sinking so low

Let he who is without sin cast the first stone'
' walk a mile in my shoes, before you criticise & abuse'
'We are all an accident of birth'
The new year is always a good time to reflect on our own shortcomings & perhaps cut others some slack !!

This! It would be great if we could have a proper discussion without barbs and spiteful ripostes. But as it's not even noon yet and the knives are out already, it's looking unlikely.

Jen after your nasty comment on May not having children I thought I would join you . Being childless is rarely a choice, three marriages are always a choice .

Don't like all the messages? Don't watch or listen. As far as I am aware it is not compulsory - yet.

'Let he who is without sin cast the first stone'

' walk a mile in my shoes, before you criticise & abuse'

'We are all an accident of birth'

The new year is always a good time to reflect on our own shortcomings & perhaps cut others some slack !!

I seem to recall you saying you don't make jibes, Annie.

Much prefer Murphy's Quiz of 2018.

www.taxresearch.org.uk/Blog/2017/12/29/the-2018-quiz-of-the-year/

I listen to queenies speech and The Arch Bish at New Year, not the others, realised Corbyn has to speak of the many not the few, includes all his wives and Diane A ?

I don't mind the Queen giving a speech at Christmas; it's tradition. Just as long as we are not made to watch it.

I don't see why May has to have an extra party political broadcast, particularly as she won't do anything she says she will for the poor or the homeless. She'd be better off spending her time sorting out Grenfell, or going to her local foodbank to reassure her own constituents.

I wasn't even aware of May's Christmas speech but her New Year headline annoys me too much to read the rest.

I didn't watch the Queen's speech either Jen but caught the bits on the news and I know that for some people it is still part of their Christmas day - that's why I quite like the fact that she still does it. Politics and Christmas/New Year is quite another thing imo,

So you are telling us all to stop getting het up, are you, Elegran?
Or are we just opening our mouths to let our bellies rumble?
Or is that May, or the Queen?

Even though I watch lots of politics, I admit to not watching either the Queen's speech or May's speech, or even reading them in the papers.

I see no point. They are not real. If May had actually done one thing that she said she would for ordinary people in this country, I might, but her speech on the doorstep of number ten is so far removed from the way she has treated the people she said she wanted to help, that I see no point in watching her tell lies again.

That was a general post, GG, to everyone.

I am not 'het up' Elegran. You do seem to perceive other people intentions in an extreme manner and I just wish you would stop commenting on mine.

There is no need to watch, listen to or read all these messages. The ether is full of people opening their mouths just to let their bellies rumble, just as the media and "public life" has always been full of people pontificating. Don't get het up about them, let them waffle on to empty air and ignore them.

Totally GK - so why so many to spoil our holidays? When did this happen?

Does anyone actually pay attention to these 'messages'? They will have been written by an army of "Comms" staff. Completely meaningless waffle IMHO.

The Queen and Mrs. May have plenty in common with 'any ordinary women'.
They both have a huge sense of responsibility, commitment to what they perceive as their duty, the ability to keep going after disaster, either imposed or self-inflicted, and an immense capacity for hard work.

I feel the need to defend the people giving the messages. If we have to have two from each of the politicians - which is really what I was commenting on - they will not be from people who live the lives that are the same as the rest of us. We have put them in leadership positions and given them the trappings that go with that so they do not - cannot - live lives in common with the rest of us. However none of us lives a life in common with everyone else and what I want from a political leader is the ability to look outside their own lives and understand others. It is surely not impossible.

Does this mean that May then has to give two 'messages' in such short space of time? The only reason the other parties do is because she does. When did two messages actually start?

Mrs May and H M the queen have nothing in common with any ordinary women, with or without children.

No mocking, just fact.