Nothing wrong with the Blenheim Nazis
Widdecombe
THE people that I expect to be at the back of the queue when it comes to taking offence, finding sources of grievance and embracing political correctness are veterans. They are normally too resilient, too sensible and have too proper a sense of proportion to become embroiled in spats over nothing. They fought for a free Britain not a nanny state.
How disappointing therefore that some of these sturdy characters are in a tizz because a director making a film about the Second World War has chosen Blenheim Palace, Churchill’s birthplace, as the location of the Nazi HQ. Why has he done that? Because it is reported Hitler himself had planned that when he invaded the UK this was where he would base it and the director is simply following that theme. Churchill of course saved Britain from invasion and Blenheim from misappropriation.
Churchill’s own grandson Nicholas Soames says the objections are misplaced. Actually he says they are “absolute nonsense”. If neither the great leader’s family nor the managers of Blenheim have a problem then why should anybody else? Yet Tony Hayes of the Veterans Association UK says the decision will appal those who fought in the Second World War. Colonel Richard Kemp, who commanded our forces in Afghanistan, chimes in to add that it is disrespectful to Churchill.
The director Michael Bay says that Churchill is a very big hero in the film and that he would be smiling and not, as Kemp dramatically claims, turning in his grave. Yes, I bet he would grin from ear to ear at a film yet again lauding his magnificent efforts and would probably chuckle at a swastika-daubed Blenheim as the failed dream of a madman, for such sobering images show what in reality we avoided thanks to him.
Much of the outrage concentrates on the grounds being full of actors in Nazi uniform. So in a film about the Second World War what are they expected to wear? Roman togas?
Blenheim has been the set for both James Bond and Harry Potter films. By hiring it out for film-making the Dukes of Marlborough have ensured its upkeep as a lasting memorial to Churchill.
Meanwhile there are enough real invasions going on in the world for military minds to stop worrying about fictitious ones. ANGELINA JOLIE and Brad Pitt were never going to be able to divorce without taking up acres of newsprint but the sheer relentlessness of the saturation coverage is wearying.
They are not royalty and their split has neither historical nor constitutional interest. It is a private war between two individuals.
They should just be left to get on with it and the kids spared the headlines. ED BALLS should not worry too much about being bottom of the leader board on Strictly. I was never anything else and lasted 10 of the 12 weeks. Furthermore I also danced the waltz for my first performance and he scored better than I did.
Nevertheless as I watched the two performances side by side I was struck by how serious he looked.
Ed, if you are to take the public with you, you need to look as if you are enjoying it. Viewers want fun. For goodness sake give it to them next week. A HARD shoulder on a motorway provides a place of refuge for drivers who have broken down, where it is safe to stop without being hit from behind and safe for motorists to get out and walk to phone points. Now large stretches of our biggest motorways are to have the hard shoulder converted into driving lanes. What utter madness and how many accidents will there be, especially in bad weather and reduced visibility, before someone wakes up and reverses this barmy decision?