Potter for President--er--Prime Minister?

[John Walton]

No: HPFGUIDX 8709

This from the BBC:

<<It seems the fictional schoolboy wizard, Harry Potter, could be working
his magic on the Labour Party by the time of the general election, according
to the Sunday newspapers.

The Independent on Sunday reports that the Chancellor Gordon Brown has made
a personal appeal to the millionaire author J K Rowling, asking her to lend
her support to his party's campaign.

The newspaper says that if the "publicity coup" comes off it could embarrass
William Hague, who named Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire as his book of
the year. 

The Sunday Telegraph, which also carries the story, says "the biggest prize
of all" would be if Rowling allowed the image of Harry Potter to be include
in party posters. 

But, it says, the author is "known to be her own woman" and her publishers
want her to remain neutral.>>

http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/uk/newsid_1104000/1104822.stm

Here's a clipping from the Independent (slightly left-of-center)

<<It has emerged that, in the rush to support Labour before the election,
Chancellor Gordon Brown and his wife Sarah have been actively wooing the
millionairess author of the Harry Potter books, J K Rowling.

The Browns met Ms Rowling, a single parent, at the annual meeting of the
National Council for One Parent Families. Labour sources said the party had
hoped to secure her personal support for a publicity coup in the run-up to
the election. A donation was not ruled out.

"There are discussions going on with her. She is someone who potentially is
going to be very helpful to us, particularly nearer the election," said a
Labour source. Her support for Labour could embarrass William Hague, the
Tory leader, who named Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire as one of his
books of the year. >>

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/UK/Politics/2001-01/fixerfront070101.shtml

And from the Sunday Telegraph (distinctly right-wing)

<<GORDON BROWN has made a personal appeal to J. K. Rowling, the author of
the best-selling Harry Potter novels, to endorse the Labour Party during the
next election.

(Attractive picture of JKR)
Major prize: the public support of JK Rowling is much desired by political
stratagists [sic -- John]

The Chancellor's approach follows moves by the Tories to associate
themselves with Ms Rowling, a multi-millionairess and single mother whose
public support is regarded by strategists as a major prize. Last month
William Hague, the Tory leader, disclosed in The Telegraph that he had read
all four of the Harry Potter books and selected the most recent, Harry
Potter and The Goblet of Fire, as his book of the year.

According to Labour insiders, Mr Brown made his pitch to Ms Rowling on
December 5, when they both addressed the conference of the National Council
for One-Parent Families. One senior party insider said: "The Chancellor and
Ms Rowling got on extremely well. It is no secret that Gordon greatly
admires Ms Rowling and how she has overcome adversity in her life.

"The conference was a perfect opportunity for him to suggest to her that she
should come on board." The author, who struggled against poverty before her
first book was published in 1997, is known to be sympathetic to certain
Labour policies. 

She is, however, also known to be her own woman, and her publishers are
believed to be keen for her to remain neutral. The Chancellor's approach was
made as both parties bid to boost their election funds and gain the
endorsement of personalities.

Labour is casting around for high-profile supporters amid concerns that
donors have been put off by leaks from party headquarters. Disclosures in
The Telegraph last week forced Labour to identify three donors who each gave
£2 million.

Ms Rowling's fortune is believed to be more than £30 million, but Labour
strategists believe that a personal message of support would be even more
valuable than money. The biggest prize of all would be if she allowed images
of Harry Potter, the schoolboy wizard, to be included in party posters. >>

http://www.telegraph.co.uk:80/et?ac=002549632124328&rtmo=fslaYoYs&atmo=rrrrr
rrq&pg=/et/01/1/7/nlab07.html

(you may have to fiddle with the above link as it's quite long. Sorry!)

Thoughts and comments, folks (and goats ;)? (oops, and Hedwig :)

--John
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John Walton     john at walton.to

One Person, One Vote (may not apply in certain states)
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