Fast Fiction: Talkabout
So what do you do on a talkabout? In a few sentences, Richard Mallinson’s story says a lot about contemporary politics.
'I call it my talkabout,' said our New Labour MP.
'As opposed to walkabout?' I asked.
'No, in conjunction with walkabout.'
'Ah, you should call it your walkabout, then.'
'I hadn't thought of that,' he said, with a slight gesture.
'So what do you do on these walk . .. these talkabouts, apart from talk?'
'Mostly, I listen ... to feel the pulse, so to speak. It keeps me in touch with the grass roots, popular moods and all that, the worries and fears of ordinary voters .. . Vital, you know, to hear it all at first hand and not rely on focus groups, though they too have their uses.'
'Well,.I said, 'I'd better not keep you ... As a matter of interest, where will you be doing your, er, talkabout today?'
'Oh, in the shopping mall. Lots of people there. Of course they don't all want to talk to me ... It's a free country, isn't it?'
'Hm, it used to be ... Isn't that where you met your wife?'
'Where? In the shopping mall? Yes, during the general election campaign. She was handing out leaflets.'
'Yes,' I said, 'for the Tories.'
He laughed. 'Oh, what's the difference?'
