Harry Potter – lessons to be learned

Posted By: Robin Parker
Date Posted: 21/07/2007

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix is well worth seeing. I don’t think any of the Potter films have ever made the Academy Awards, which is a pity as Rickman has certainly been worth a ‘best supporting’ nomination. In this one, though, that mantle should fall to Imelda Staunton for her deliciously sadistic portrayal of Dolores Umbridge. I also doubt many male viewers, including myself, would fail to be touched by the normally genteel Helena Bonham-Carter doing gothic.

But, you might say, what has this got to do with a councillor’s diary? Well, I’ve found a fascinating parallel. In the film, the Ministry of Magic is in denial that the Dark Lord has returned. The Minister sees it as a myth, a sinister plot by Hogwarts School to take over the Ministry.

Isn’t this just what’s happening in the Council? ‘There’s nothing wrong with a fortnightly bin collection’ says the Ministry. ‘The evil opposition is making up myths because they want to take power again’. And, as the Ministry of Magic attempts to demonise Dumbledore and Harry, so our Minister is attempting to demonise anyone who points out that degenerative smelly waste left for fortnight is not a good move. There must be an insidious political reason for spreading such a dreadful myth and, obviously, anyone who does so must be opposed to the whole principal of recycling.

As the Ministry’s case collapsed when the Minister came face to face with the Dark Lord, so is the Council’s case going to have to face grim reality. A fortnight is bad enough, but now the bin operatives have quite understandably decided to work to rule in opposition to an appalling erosion of their take home pay. What is the Ministry doing to handle that? Refusing overtime and employing agency staff as scab labour. Bring on the Death Eaters.