It's amazing that generations of seasoned politicians have never come to terms with the fact that the vast majority of the general public have much more sense than they presume.

The classic current example is the government's bemusement that the country is not clamouring for deeper links with the mainland of Europe.

The simple fact is that, despite our involvement with the beast formerly known as the Common Market for over 25 years, most people would be hard pressed to find a single positive benefit to their own lives. I don't mean economic tests or vague political theories, but genuine tangible benefit.

In fact, when many people go across the Channel for a holiday in the next few months, the lack of common advantages will be all too apparent. If our "common" market has been running for over a quarter of a century, why is a simple journey beset by long and dire warnings about what you can bring home, and how much? Why are hundreds of police officers and customs officials tied up in hunting booze and fags runners? It's simply because generations of politicians who promised a simplified and beneficial system have been found to be sadly lacking.

In fact, the typical Brit in the pub or supermarket will have a good stock of Euro gripes rather than benefits. There are other factors involved, sure, but it's not a good area to tell steel-workers, fishermen, or farmers that Europe now is useful, never mind Europe-plus in the future.

If the government really is planning a touring roadshow to tell us all about the glorious Europe which lies ahead, I wish them luck. Unless they can show practical benefits to the man and woman and in the street, they can save their breath.

Talking of practicalities, if you suffered a power cut during the electrical (!) storms early on Tuesday morning, you may wonder why the industry keeps on resisting the idea of putting cables underground instead of at the mercy of the elements on pylons.

The accountants will tell you why of course, but, apart from the visual advantages, burying of cables would also end the problems which many rural areas still get in winter far too often.

Let's end on a positive note with a crop of good news for fellow Queen fans. You might have seen the impressive pictures the other day of the installation of a statue in tribute to Freddie Mercury on the front of house canopy of the Dominion Theatre. Standing over 26' in height the statue was originally intended to have a permanent placing in one of the London Boroughs in which Freddie lived. To date every council approached has declined permission, so for the time being the statue will have a temporary home at the theatre where the Queen musical We Will Rock You continues to play to standing ovations every night.

I purr every time that musical is mentioned as I raved about it just after it opened last year. Some of the grander critics were rather sniffy, but the public have given it massive support. It celebrates its first London anniversary today (June 18th), has now played 405 performances to 405 standing ovations, been seen by more than 800,000 people, grossed close on £25 million, and We Will Rock You remains London's top selling musical. On top of that, productions open in Australia and Spain this year, and the London production is booking through to January 2004.

If you'd like to re-live a legendary Queen performance, I can hotly recommend a newly released two-DVD set which shows Queen's final London concert in its entire 75 minutes for the first time, along with much previously unseen footage from rehearsals and backstage. It sounds amazing in DTS 5.1 surround sound and you can even visually remix the concert for yourself. I'm off to watch it again!

Published: 18/06/2003