Now let me deal with the other side of the argument as the holder of a British Passport who, like 5 million other citizens of this country, has several pints of Irish blood in his veins. So I'm a "Brit" with Irish roots on my father's side, a Catholic, a supporter of Lancashire County Cricket Club, Arsenal and Newcastle Football Clubs, a Tory, once a ............ and now a.......... - a mélange of loyalties and identities. I have no difficulty balancing them, accommodating them, living comfortably with them. Balfour said much the same a century ago though I don't believe he supported Arsenal.

-- Anonymous, June 28, 2001

Answers

A Person

-- Anonymous, June 28, 2001

Eh? you wanna explain what your getting at...

-- Anonymous, June 28, 2001

OOps.

Extract from a speech made yesterday. Identify the speaker.

-- Anonymous, June 28, 2001

Gavin Herron perchance???

-- Anonymous, June 28, 2001

Welcome back screachy! I've missed your(cough)humour. Guess what game is being shown at the Abbey on the 26th. You wouldn't happen to be coming over in September would ya?

I reckon it's Ariel sharon, he was talking with GEEEEdubalya yesterday and I guess that got to talking about crazy periods in their life

-- Anonymous, June 28, 2001

Not September Syme - a bit sooner than that. In fact, a week on Friday ;-) Now, it appears I might have 4 or 5 hours to kill in O'Hare. I don't suppose you know anybody who might fancy a beer or 6 at the airport that day, do you???

-- Anonymous, June 28, 2001

You mean july 6?? if so, I think I'd be up for whetting me whistle.

-- Anonymous, June 28, 2001

Kenneth Clarke, Pat Rafter, Pope John Paul, Michael Portillo, Rik

-- Anonymous, June 28, 2001

the right one's in there, macbeth, but which one is it?

-- Anonymous, June 28, 2001

Must be Portaloo cos he's a fairy....

-- Anonymous, June 28, 2001

Aye Syme. 6th July it is. Flights to be confirmed but expect to arrive on AA67 from H'row at 15:05 and leave on AA755 at 20:33 for MN. Will that give you enough time to whet your whistle (and mine and Barb's and anybody else who fancies joining us??) We can swap house moving stories/plans - it might might make you decide to stay put ;-)

-- Anonymous, June 28, 2001

I'm feeling slightly nauseous with dread, should the answer be Portillo. I suspect it's Black&White and Red all over true blue Ken.

-- Anonymous, June 28, 2001

Right you are bonny lad, prepare to be whetted?

-- Anonymous, June 28, 2001

It wouldn't be Port-a-loo 'cos his old man is a Spaniard. Must be cigar smoking, whiskey drinking, rotund Tory leadership candidate Kenneth Clarke.

-- Anonymous, June 28, 2001

Kenneth? I thought you were talking about Alan ;-)

-- Anonymous, June 28, 2001

Hoy you, Screacher man - just cos you're rolling your r's in Northumbria these days. Nee need ti get bliddy lippy!

-- Anonymous, June 28, 2001

As long as I'm only roling my "r"s and not worrying sheep........

-- Anonymous, June 28, 2001

That would be quite an achievement to have both the PM and the leader of Her Majesty's opposition supporting the lads. I look forward to the "Keegan vs Dalglish" debate in The House sometime soon. And surely if Blair was to suggest that £400m of lottery cash be given to NUFC, Ken could only applaud the excellent use of public money.

-- Anonymous, June 28, 2001

Screacha might I suggest you jumping on the el and coming downtown, I'll meet you off the train and buy ye yer dinna with bevvies aplomb stick ye in a cab and send you on yer way. Or if you want to be stuck in some nasty airport bar with expensive knarly food and poor service that is fine too.

-- Anonymous, June 28, 2001

Who is this famous toon supporter?

http://www.europa.eu.int./rapid/start/cgi/guesten.ksh? p_action.gettxt=gt&doc=SPEECH/01/317|0|RAPID&lg=EN

-- Anonymous, June 29, 2001

nice link....shame it just takes me to a search page?!?!?!

-- Anonymous, June 29, 2001

Chris Patten? I thought he was within those listed - unless Rik is Chris Patten ;-)

-- Anonymous, June 29, 2001

OK - I'm not spoddy enough to give you a link with one of those fancy blue lines underneath (or for thah matter, to figure out why this one won't work).

But the answer is

> > > >

The Rt Hon Chris Patten

European Commissioner for External Relations

«Who do they think we are? Being British»

British Council Independent Lecture

Palace of Westminster, London, 28 June 2001

-- Anonymous, June 29, 2001

He's Honorary Chancellor of the University of Newcastle. Just keeping the freebies coming when he's in town.

-- Anonymous, June 29, 2001