Twitter

This story about Neil Kinnock being mistaken for Arthur Scargill is an absolute delight

Normal Bates. Updated November 13th, 2017

Freelance journalist Marie Le Conte has spotted this great little quote from Neil Kinnock about being mistaken for mining enthusiast Arthur Scargill.

Do you still get recognised?

Yes, mainly it’s a pleasant experience. But I’ll tell you a really funny one. In the late 1970s, I went to lunch with Alan Watkins, political editor of the Observer and a great journalistic figure. We came out after a lengthy lunch and a little old lady with an umbrella and said ‘“hey you’re Arthur Scargill’. And I said ‘no, no, I’m not. You may have seen me around talking about miners but I’m not Scargill.” “Yes, you bloody are,” she said. “I’m sorry, but I’m not. For a start, he’s from Yorkshire and I’m from South Wales”. She insisted “You’re bloody Scargill”, so I said ‘ask my friend,’ and Alan said “What’s that Arthur?” She hit me with her umbrella. Bloody Watkins, bastard!
Source: https://www.politicshome.com/news/uk/political-parties/labour-party/house/house-magazine/90498/unparliamentary-language-neil

Lovely pay off.

Source: Twitter/@youngvulgarian