Britain just got Weller: meet the Jam Generation

Michael Taylor

Sorry, I don't get it. So loads of politicians are about my age (41). So what? Cameron and Osborne were on the wrong side of Eton Rifles. I clearly remember Jam gigs from 1979 to 1982 and it was like being at a football match, I just can't imagine Ruth Kelly and Yvette Cooper being part of that. It was also very working class too and very non-political. Can't see the earnest Millibands and Nick Clegg there at all. Caroline Flint maybe, she sounds a bit Wellerish and is about the right age (46), and quite an unlikely looking politician. But as the great main once said: And as it was in the beginning, so shall it be in the end That bullshit is bullshit, it just goes by different names

Richard Hare

I grew up opposing state control in the 80s but now I can see that where a state is well run for the people, by the people high tax and spend can work for society as a whole. I was misled by inefficient Labour government and badly run unions into the belief that socialist ideas were de facto doomed to failure. Why have I changed my views? Because I have been living in Scandinavia for 7 years bringing up kids and making no use of private health or education. They say you become more of a realist the older you get, but unless you experience different realities you just become a reactionary. Please visit Scandinavia, there are many problems here, but there are solutions too.

David Watts

I find it hilarious that some of these MPs pretend to even know who the Jam were. I'm guessing most of them were Duran Duran types. Of course confessing to having been a Duran Duran fan wouldn't give you much politicl street cred. If any of the aforesaid MPs actually know any Jam songs it would only have been becasue the songs had knocked Duran Duran off the top of the hit parade. Or, equally likely, they have recently downloaded a few songs from itunes in the vain hope that they can drop some of Weller's lyrics/soundbites into conversation to give their musical upbringing some gravitas. MPs and music - never the twain should meet - we all remember that excruciatingly embarrassing clip of Blair with his Strat as he tried to promote "cool Britannia".

mark. chapman

We don't need politicians - they should get a job that does something (like nursing) rather than theorising, wishfully thinking they are changing things. Weller has distanced himself from politics in recent years, as many in The Jam Generation has over time. That's because he does music. Politics is just hot air: working alongside people in their day-to-day lives would be better for politicians. Think they don't like that idea though because they lose their expense allowances and somewhat fat cat salaries - which is where their current corruption within 'The Establishment' comes in.