We cant help borrowing a line from John Steinbeck's amiable depression era halfwit Lennie Small to open this write-up in relation to Leonard Singer - who many readers will be aware declared this week that he will once again stand in Ramsey at the General Election.
3fm News: Leonard Singer to stand for Ramsey:
As those familiar with Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men will recall Lennie always fantasised of some future dream life tending rabbits on a farm with George his self appointed carer. But equally Lennie was prone petting the animals just a bit too hard and as a result often accidentally killed the objects of his affection. And this is perhaps the perfect analogy with which to chart the return of Mr Singer to the Ramsey centre stage.
As some readers will no doubt be aware former Ramsey Town Commissioner Mr Singer has stood for Ramsey in every single general election since 1996. In 2003 he subsequently moved to the role of MLC before standing down to once more contest Ramsey as MHK. He failed to get back in as MHK in 2006 but succeeded again in 2011 before ultimately losing to Lawrie Hooper in 2016 by a good 500+ votes. Since then the only thing of note that seems to be linked to him online are claims of a general attempt at mooching a subsidised roof over his head at Kings Reach.
With such a long and chequered history of representing the people of Ramsey we wonder what has been the catalyst for seventy-eight year old Mr Singer to announce his interest in a role that if elected would see him through to the age of eighty-three. In all likelihood it will be opposition to the proposed Ramsey Marina which he will no doubt be able to milk locally in order to split the vote between Lawrie Hooper and Dr Alex Allinson who were, until Mr Singer's announcement, the only two candidates seeking [re] election in Ramsey. Although we might also suggest that like his namesake Lennie its been clear for many years that Mr Singer has been dreaming of ending his days contentedly tending that Ramsey small holding full of rabbits to pet and perhaps he simply can't let go of the dream?
Whatever his reasons as with all candidates we wish Mr Singer well and we look forward to reading his manifesto in due course. Doubtless though its likely to be a near one-issue manifesto centring around a small number of hyper-local issues that will concern a hardcore of Ramsey voters.
Pictured: Mr Leonard Singer in Dumbledore's Chair at Warner Bros Harry Potter Land
