A sticky pitch for the Tories

摘要

At halftime in the first semi-final of the Rugby League World Cup, on November 26th, the England fans thronging Wembley Stadium were in good heart. Their team of brawny Yorkies and Lancastrians was fighting hard against a tough New Zealand side. The atmosphere was exhilarating. The only cloud on this bright autumn day was the beer. "Lager! They've only got bloody lager!" said Phil, an aggrieved Mancunian sipping at the urine-coloured fluid. "Don't they know northerners drink bitter?" Northerners also like grumbling. In the bowels of Wembley, where the fans of northern England's trademark game had gathered for beer and burgers, came a merry chatter of complaint. "Lost momentum, haven't they? Have to crack on second-half," "Bloody Kiwis!" And, inevitably: "£4.70 a pint! I can get this for £1.70 in Oldham/Wakefield/Castleford/St Helens."