Making a Mockery of Democracy - Al Murray 

A talk by an intelligent, educated man who is a comedian by trade on any topic he chooses to orate about, I want to hear. He never lets me down.

To those critics who accused him of making a farce out of politics - Noone make a better job of this than the top politicians themselves do. The best any comedian can hope to achieve is to highlight this fact for those who can't see it for themselves.

The confusion of citizenship with consumer has perhaps been a theme of the last 40 years.

Have done two parachute jumps myself. Solo, static line and a long time ago... Respect to Al's honesty. I love the way he reads this as an honest essay without trying to deliver it 'in character' as a comedian. Love it. AND absolutely spot on.

A great insight into the mind of Al Murray... respect

A fascinating tale. Thanks to Al for standing and telling his story.

Democracy is based on the assumption that a million men are wiser than one man. Autocracy is based on the assumption that one man is wiser than a million men. - Robert A. Heinlein, Time Enough for Love.

Enlightening. Great post.

With an utter hatred of politics, since first watching Brewster's Millions I always fancied setting up a joke candidacy with some friends. The thing that has always stopped me from following up is not wanting to be the front man. Fun to hear about Al's journey. It must have been such a laugh, albeit a little frustrating and exasperating at times.

Brilliant, all hail the Al :) Thoroughly enjoyed that.

Thank you, AL for the words She loved you and will make sure you will be seen!

Delightful view, nicely done.

As an Australian having the "old mother country" political system I found the whole exercise 😂 good onya Al

Excellent!

Excellently presented. A very clever and engaging lad. Thanks Al!

Got to say, that was legitimately fascinating

Thank You, Al. Gawd Bless Ya, Guv.

it would be great to see the Q&A if possible.

Since the end of WW2 common sense has been on the decline and the popularity of Hamburgers has been on the increase. This clearly shows that eating Hamburgers destroys common sense so if I was an MP I would ban Hamburgers so restoring common sense ....

You got me for the next one

Love it, politics needs the piss taken out of it as often as possible.

it is kind of fascinating how politicians act when someone "invades their turf". they automatically assume you're as crooked as they, and you can't convince them otherwise.

I am glad that this was about the whole process and all parties

A very clever man all round. As Pub Landlord he’s genius. How he can just spew facts about history , geography, wars and any subject. When he asked that blokes name on the front row ( Luke) even though he said he wasn’t going to do anything I thought he was just about to. Some folk just don’t get Al Murray Pub Landlord. Some think he’s real I think and not a parody. Great talk here. Comedy genius.

The difference between the parties was fukp was the most honest and gave the public the best opportunity to vote for the best party without mind games

Fair play to the guy, the healthiest thing for democracy and politics in any country is as much competition and as many independent parties as possible. Also, its amusing that so many people cant differentiate between the man himself and his fictional comedy character alter ego...

Tbh, he looks better now than when he was younger

Always liked him - even more now.

I was never confused

Let's hear it for the beer!

Some of the comments here reflect my observations from seeing Al in his Pub Landlord persona live. He touches on it in his talk when he references satire. It seems that many in his audiences don't realise that the persona is a satirical construct of a no-nothing, blow-hard, always able to offer an opinion pub bore. They connect with his "common sense" outlook, and think he's for real - someone that can articulate their outlook in an interesting and funny way. I see comments in here that show the same - they don't get that he's taking the piss out of them, even when he's said as much in the video they just watched.

It's amazing the mental gymnastics people will go through to try and discredit an opponent.

For your own health, do NOT try to eat while watching this at the same time. Nearly choked to death!

beautiful

I used to work in the Eagle back in the 80’s. Amazing history

Loved that. Free crisps😂

Mint. A very clever bloke.

He is a legend . the pub Landlord !! Genius

Ive always liked Al. First saw him for £4 (on a full bill no less) around 1998 and a year later on his own at £20 in the west end. Followed his career.. Also enjoyed his Planet Rock radio show. Great to see him out of character.. Seemed even slightly nervous to start with here!?

Very interesting, and if nothing else, reminds people just how bright this man is!

The pure definition of satire!👏🏼😂

Thanks for sharing that fascinating insight into your experiences in Kent, Al.It personally lifted my spirits when I first read that you were standing, which was sorely needed in what was quite a dark & unsettling period in UK politics. Of course, considering what's kicked off ever since then & looking with the benefit of hindsight now, perhaps it really was more of a happy, halcyon days time, or is that just my inner ukipery putting on rose coloured specs, I wonder? Having always kept an eye on your comedy career since being in the year above you at The Hall, I found the whole episode of your standing intereswting & thank you again for sharing this talk online.

Able to sense the world quickly, superior memory, what do you expect, a charmed life. He is thanking the wrong things, see above.

ALL HAIL THE ALE!!! CHEERS TO THE LEGEND AL MURRAY !!!!!!!

Bloody love Al Murray!

Love Al Murray, whether as himself, or as his alter ego. The sad thing is, that I've met many people who think that he means what he says as The Pub Landlord and they agree with him! 🤪

Someone please tell me he will run again at some point. Please.

Funny to see him in and out of character☺️

wow, so many salty comments. OK not the best presentation but engaging and witty and well written. I'm surprised he toned down the pub landlord character for the campaign. In for a penny, in for a pound...

I am wondering at how Al is presenting. Seeems to me he’s usually more. Fluid But so glad to have seen this. AL I’m stuck in Spain for a while. Can i take you to lunch in the autumn? Anywhere you like in London or Paris Rgds Kevin Scott

Were the 318 voting for Al, or The Pub Landlord? We just don't know.

Alister you are beautifully eloquent.

Nailed jingoism.

And yet this man, who the elite types think so deserving of mockery, has arguably had a bigger impact on British politics than anyone since World War Two. Starting pretty much by himself, with little to no funding, he spent 23 years campaigning tirelessly - through ridicule and smug opprobrium from all sides - for the UK to leave the EU, and bloody hell, he ended up doing it. Even if you disagree with him, dislike him.. whatever.. it's quite a story, and quite an example of perseverance, and having the strength to carry on against the tide. Al Murray: great comedian, decent documentary maker, preachy, self-righteous and just dull when it comes to politics.

clearly... they were arguing that you were 'mucking up the voting levels whilst not being a legitimate or serious political agent".. as they clearly saw it.

28:59 He's answered his own question, there...

Opening the public's eyes to how they are being scammed is a necessary service which education does not do enough to expose. Thus keeping power in the hands of the scammers.

This comments section is fascinating. Several interesting points: 1.) He's already acknowledged that he was trying to take votes off UKIP, as he was off Labour, Lib Dem, Tories etc. that's how politics works. 2.) If you are a UKIP voter and can't tell the difference between Al Murray and your party's candidate then maybe you really are as thick as people think you are, plenty of UKIP voters managed the perfectly simple task of checking the box next to the UKIP candidate, because actually they're not that thick (a lot of them are just pissed off with the mainstream parties), so if you're the one sat there going "He's just trying to dupe the stupid plebs" what does that say about your views on UKIP voters? If you genuinely think he's a threat to UKIP's voter base then you obviously hold the exact same opinion of those voters as you're accusing him of holding. 3.) If you're complaining about him being unfunny why are you watching him? Also why are you watching him give a talk at a university where he's clearly out of character and then expecting him to deliver a comedy routine?

Its hilarious that people couldnt understand that Al, a nationally famous comedian, is rich and able to blow a good few thousand quid for a good gag.

I can't believe how much friendlier Al looks with a beard and his hair grown out a bit.

I wish I didn't know what my first cousins politics were.Thank you Facebook memes.

I'm curious about the origin of the Cornish Chough bird on the St Edmund coat of arms.

I’d vote for him,just because of the honesty! Oh! And the 10% increase in the pound.😂😂😂

So someone "stopped the steal" in Thanet South!

Would love to see him on Question Time

very interesting politics so dirty a game same here in Ireland

Great talk, very enlightening. Seems like a weirdly tough crowd.

So true to form. breaking into the two party system is a very hard objective. Al-Murray spoke a lot of sense in this video. At least he went on to be a great comedian. He also pointed out some truths about our Medea.

I have a new view of Al having watched this ..

Really interesting account.

The Ed stone became Ed"s Head stone

Why was this recommended to me, and why was his tweet about leaving the EU in 2025 so prescient.

That's the hardest audience I've ever seen

Brilliant. Insightful and satirical.

It is genuinely crazy hearing Al in his “none-character”

Reading out the world's longest blog article...

AL Murray is an intelligent man. Who obviously researches his topic. Just look at any of his live performances. I Pity he lives near Thanet & not more people on this silly planet.

I think everyone should watch this. Its a lesson in just how absurd the whole system including the media circus is.

Ahhhh democracy! 4 wolves & a sheep deciding what to have for dinner! Yes I nicked it & can't remember where but it's the best definition I've found? 🤡

It's so weird hearing his voice when hes not playing the pub landlord.

I am not joking when I say he would make a good Prime Minister, although he might do more good helping the politicians not take themselves too seriously!

The Pub Landlord was brilliant, but I liked his other comedy characters the best

If Al was to live up the title of this clip he should have included multiple political parties and all their follies.

Just goes to show that the more you know, the more you can find amusement in.. The way it all works is the best comedy of all - life...whatta joke it really is :)

Bring back the Gov'nor . He's funny!

"I pledge to leave Europe by 2025" …….. Looks like someone beat you to it.

My late father was convinced that all the good comedy came out of the top universities, I see nothing here to contradict him.

They were only notes/bullet points. You fail to realise that his stand up stuff was not strictly scripted. It was riffing/ad lib . The general idea and some lines were written but it was largely freestyle.

I wonder if Al after not getting elected is heartened, by how well our current crop of leaders have picked up his batten.

This is a funny concept and talk. Sad Mr Murray was so unamusingly (for the destitute, homeless, disabled, the NHS etc) ostensibly sincerely against Labour when it used to be a little bit social-democratic instead of just a Tory understudy, notwithstanding this is good stuff.

I love Al Murray but I think his mockery of UKIP was a bit easy. Comedy is always funnier when you mock the powerholders and the powerholders at the time were the EU, the big companies and their political representatives labour and tories.

I had no bloody idea that behind the Pub Landlord - which I still find hilarious - is this remarkable person. I thought I'd never be surprised in my life again, but this certainly is one. Hell, it's comedy of the highest level imaginable, the likes of which we haven't seen since Spitting Image and Alan B'stard.

We get it. He's a posh kid who looks down on those whose parents couldn't afford to send their kids to private school.

Any politician who is not interested in power, should not be in politics.

The pub landlord is the view of the people

I think Boris is running his campaign based on this :D

As they say, what good is the truth when no one wants to hear it.

Imagine planning this as a night out with your new date? How's it going? You don't need to apologise

I admire Al Murray for his determination to keep going at it after all the bullshit he put up with, so if you've any skeletons in the cupboard you've got to have thick skin to run for politics.

Spike Milligan ... spot on..