Britain would be all the Richer for doing more 'Gary things'

POLITICIANS often use working-class names to show that they are down with the common folk.

- BRIAN READE

The Republican 2008 US Presidential hopeful John McCain constantly evoked “Joe The Plumber’ to signify his blue-collar credentials. Although the plumber couldn't stop his campaign going down the toilet.

When Margaret Thatcher privatised British Gas in 1986, ad men urged us “If you see Sid, tell him’ to buy some shares. Sadly many did, then flogged them to City firms who scammed us, and we ended up wanting to gas Sid.

But I think I've found a winner for Labour as they seek to do what everyone knows they need to do but are too scared to: force those whose wealth has soared since the bankers’ crisis to share some of their fortune with our skint Treasury.

They should put posters in City clubs, adverts across right-wing media and project images on to all the HQs of FTSE 100 companies saying: “Be more like Gary.”