David Cameron has been publicly barred from a Salford pub by ex-Housemartin and Beautiful South frontman Paul Heaton – despite the Prime Minister praising his band.
Speaking to the House of Commons yesterday Mr Cameron lauded Hull for being named Capital of Culture 2017 and gave special mention to the city’s musical heritage.
Mr Cameron reminisced fondly about the Housemartins’ 1986 album London 0 Hull 4.
Outspoken musician, Paul Heaton, who leases the Kings Arms in Salford, piped up on Twitter.
He said: “Well, apparently David Cameron likes London 0 Hull 4. Which part of the attack on his policies and rich friends did he like best???”
The Twitter account of the pub tweeted: “David Cameron you f****** imbecile. You might think The Housemartins are great but you are BARRED for life from The Kings Arms. SCUM.”
The title of the album refers to the band’s home town of Kingston upon Hull.
It also apparently refers to Heaton’s assertion that the Housemartins were only the fourth best band in Hull yet still better than any of the bands from London.
Paul and Zena Barries took over the pub’s lease in 2011 and since then a greater emphasis has been placed on artistic endeavors, regularly accommodating art exhibitions, fringe festivals, gigs, and poetry nights.
Paul himself calls it a community pub catering to community activities. The Kings Arms also has a number of performance and studio spaces and has been in the Good Beer Guide for 10 years.
Many twitter followers have taken to the site to commend the singer for his comments.
One follower wrote: “@PaulHeatonSolo @Hammergts paul U sound like you’re a decent landlord-may your bar always be full of thirsty customers.”
The frontman and landlord replied: “When I took over my pub in Salford, the first people I barred was Cameron and Osborne. That ban still stands.”
He also added: “I can’t stop Cameron liking one of my albums, but who can stop him and his mates destroying the NHS?”
Cameron’s speech at the Commons also praised a number of other Hull greats while at the same time managing to fit a humorous jibe about Peter Mandelson.
“I wish to join everyone in Hull and around the country in celebrating this great award of the City of Culture to Hull,” he said.
“I think it is a very exciting opportunity for Hull. They are able to celebrate the birthplace of Wilberforce, the fact that Andrew Motion lectured in Hull, Philip Larkin was the librarian. Slight more incongruously Peter Mandelson is the High Sheriff but every city has its burden to bear.”
Once voted worst place to live, Hull was a sad story of unemployment and disrepair yet the award for City of Culture 2017, signals a huge change in direction.
Image courtesy of BBC via Youtube,with thanks
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