It's completely pointless for the UK to enter. At least it is if we actually think there's a fair chance of us ever winning again.
The whole thing is based upon voting for your political friends; there's very few countries who have enough time and respect for the UK these days to bother giving us a point – this shouldn't matter if it were based on the music, but of course it's not.
Even the great Terry Wogan is thinking of quitting. If he does, there will be no point at all watching it.
Just for the record, it's not the biggest thing in the world, or even in my life. I can't stand the music, but it is a bit of fun to watch with the kids, and give points to see who our winner would be. Of course, we never agree with the actual winner, but that's because our votes are based on the song, tune, dancing, costumes etc – not on what political favours are being done to each other. What was once a bit of fun, is now a waste of time and effort.
Sir Terry even said at the beginning this year that Russia would win as it was their turn – and he was dead right. Our entry, Andy Abrahams came last – and we've had a lot worse songs than that over the years.
I know they say it's the taking part that counts, but it's got to be a level playing field, or the whole thing is just pointless.
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What price Loyalty?
Can you believe Avram Grant has been sacked as manager of Chelsea? Unbelievable!. To come second in the Premier league and runner up (by 2 inches) in the Champions League Cup, and that's not good enough. What price loyalty?
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Q - When is a free vote not a free vote?
A - When the deputy leader of the Labour party stands in the wings and insists that her MPs vote the way she wants.
That's exactly what happened on the votes on the embryology bill last week in the House of Commons. In addition to this there was a 3 line whip on Labour MPs to be in the House of Commons, to ensure they voted (bear in mind many of them were campaigning in the by-election in Crewe and Nantwich). They had to be there for a vote when many of them wouldn't normally have wanted to vote on. And the previous day the Prime Minister let it be known through a newspaper column exactly how he would vote. So no pressure at all then.
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Have a great bank holiday!