Tributes to ‘Bus Pass Elvis’ – the man who shook up local politics
SATIRIST, CAMPAIGNER AND POET DAVE BISHOP, AKA LORD BIRO, DIES AGED 78
TRIBUTES have poured in for a Nottinghamshire satirist who added “entertainment and charisma” to local politics.
Dave Bishop, also known as Lord Biro, died aged 78 on Sunday after a short illness.
He was best known for his many comedic runs for office, which spanned across Nottinghamshire and beyond, standing under the banner of his Elvis-themed parties.
They included the Bus Pass Elvis Party, Militant Elvis Anti HS2, the Elvis Defence League and the Militant Elvis Anti-tesco Popular Front.
Among his career highlights was finishing above the Liberal Democrats in a council by-election in Clifton North in 2014.
One of Mr Bishop’s closest friends, Ian Pickering, his media and nomination officer, said he was a “fun-loving” and “lovely” man.
“He was a local personality. He put smiles on a lot of people’s faces,” the 58-year-old said. “He was fed up of sitting around moaning in the pub. He was a politico, he loved his politicians and so did I, mainly the left ones. It was great fun putting together the manifestos, coming up with policies and gags. If there was a gag to be had we’d go for it.”
Their manifesto policies ranged from the serious to the downright absurd, and were aimed at “making a point through comedy and ridicule”.
Notable pledges included scrapping HS2, keeping public toilets open, banning builders’ bums and nationalising brothels, with a 30 percent discount for OAPS.
As well as standing in Nottinghamshire, Mr Bishop, of Forest Fields, went further afield, running in elections in Sleaford, Hull and Birmingham.
He was not just a politician but also a poet and artist. Mr Pickering said: “He called himself an amateur politician but he was also the best poet Nottingham ever produced. His poetry was superb.
“Everyone sees him as a clown but like many people it’s a mask for someone who was a quite lovely man. He didn’t have a bad word for anyone.”
Since the news of Mr Bishop’s death broke, tributes have poured in from across the local political landscape. Lilian Greenwood, Labour MP for Nottingham South, said he “brought warmth and humour to every election he stood in”.
She said: “Whilst Dave’s art and campaigns were often very funny, he did use the opportunity to raise serious issues too.” Conservative Clifton councillor Andrew Rule, who also stood on the day Mr Bishop shocked the Lib Dems, said he “added entertainment and
charisma to the various by-elections he took part in”.
“We ran into each other in the 2018 by-election in Clifton North and shared a couple of pleasant drinks at the Ferry Inn and The Shed social club at Clifton,” he added. In his final shot at political office, Mr Bishop stood for Broxtowe MP in the 2019 election.
The man who won that seat, Tory Darren Henry, said Mr Bishop “left behind a strong legacy of political engagement and some truly unforgettable political platforms”.
Matt Turpin, who worked with him as a “very unofficial election agent”, said Nottingham had become “a little less bright” after his death.
“I ended up running bits of his campaign that year – almost accidentally – and got to know that behind the daft shades and eccentric manner there was a guy with a big heart, a kind, gentle man who wanted to shake up things with absurdity, but in a generous manner,” he said.
“He bought colour to an often bland scene.”
Mr Pickering, who met Mr Bishop 22 years ago, added: “The business of politics is so dry, it’s like crackers without cheese and Dave was the cheese. When he was dying I said ‘Dave, has it been a life well lived?’ and he said yes. I took comfort from that.”