Meet Gordon’s Pet Shop persecutors

25 March 2009

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Mary Wakefield meets the successful pop duo the Pet Shop Boys, and finds them eloquent critics of New Labour, staunch defenders of civil liberties — and fans of Vince Cable

‘You know the politician I wish was Prime Minister? Vince Cable. You like him too, don’t you, Chris?’

Chris nods, says: ‘Vote for Vince.’

‘Vince Cable destabilised Gordon Brown in one joke [likening him to Mr Bean] and he has been right about all the economics. He should definitely be the Lib Dems’ leader, then at the next election I reckon they would do amazingly well. At least he’s got more to say than just: keep shopping.’ From now until I leave in a few minutes’ time, the 1980s soundtrack is back in my brain: ‘Our gain is your loss, that’s the price you pay, I heard it in the house of commons: everything’s for sale, We’re s.h.o.p.p.i.n.g., we’re shopping.’

‘Actually our current single, “Love Etc”, is about shopping as well,’ says Chris.

‘Yes, it turned out like that by accident,’ says Neil. ‘It’s because we don’t seem to have an ideology other than shopping at the moment, and that to me seems a worrying thing. All politicians tell us is that we’re not buying and selling our houses enough, but I don’t think one’s role is simply to consume. I think we need more meaning, more philosophy to our life, wherever you find it.’

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David Short

March 26th, 2009 12:56pm Report this comment

I like the Pet Shop Boys about as much as anyone my age; they're OK, I can take them or leave them, but they are lightweight pop in the end and I understand why they are taken so seriously or feted so much, and why on earth they are being interviewed by The Spectator.

Well, at least you didn't lower Matthew D'Ancona's dignity any more after having him write about the potty-mouthed Lily Allen, and at least it's better to send Wakefield along to see them, rather than anyone serious, after she was suckered by Hamas in Gaza.

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