When it comes to Great National Treaures, the ongoing discussion in British life the shortlists are sometimes slightly crude, obvious, not to say questionable. Putting aside what the criteria for this label should be it seems to provoke kneejerk votes fot the likes of Morrissey, Mark E.Smith, Michael Caine and Stephen Fry whose names are cast intantly into the ring with nary a moments consideration. Well OK maybe not Morrissey anymore. That boy seems to have well and truly burned his bridges once and for all.
But being anti-establishment is the oldest trick in the book and is not in itself an admirable quality. Neither is being a Lovie. Sorry Fry has many great qualities but also flaws which he himself would be the first to own up to. Caine has become worryingly Right Wing in his dotage as you might expect. Well that's an East End upbringing for you. But how about casting the net a bit wider sometimes. How about Ian Curtis? Tracy Thorn.
Thorn is a particular character on the English Pop scene. And one worthy of particular respect. She's always remained a very dignified figure. Her politics are good. Well OK. They're the same as mine. She's made no end of wonderful records. And diverse ones too. She's a woman. It's nor always easy to be a woman in British Cultural life. There's an ugly misogynist edge just below the surface of British public discourse. Never mind the racist one.
She's also grown to be has an almost figure of letters in recent years. She writes a brilliant column for the Spectator and has a couple of excellent books under her belt. Notably her fabulous Lindy Morrison memoirs which cut incredibly deep. Bringing me to the verge of tears on any number of occasions.
And also she and Ben Watt are responsible for Eden. Which alone qualifies them both for peerage and damehood nods in my book.
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