West: Vote Pitt, Vote Empire!

Dave Harvey
Political Correspondent, BBC West

It is a big shout this week, which echoes round the Royal Crescent in Bath, much as it might have 200 years ago.

Seven Years War re-enactment team

The leader of the canvassing party is in bright red coat, the tartan of the Black Watch beneath.

"Major Robert MacGregor Sir," he announces "just back from action in the Americas, looking for a wife."

His gilley beside him he certainly looks the part, he is of course a historical enthusiast, one of the Seven Years War re-enactment team out drumming up the vote for William Pitt the Elder.

Pitt won the Seven years war, which ended in 1763 when the French gave up, leaving America English.

Without him, Hollywood movies would be French.

It's an extraordinary thought, and it's not lost on the Californian visitors encountered by our Pitt Posse.

Would we like to be French? No. We enjoyed our visit, but we like Great Britain better.

The Pitt posse

Pitt was MP for Bath at the time, and as Minister of War he made vital decisions that changed the course of the war. In Bath, parties were thrown, beacons lit, Pitt was re-elected by a landslide.

Vote winning slogan

But No Pitt, No Empire is not necessarily a vote-winner today.

His supporters point quickly to his record standing up for the American colonies against what we would now term Imperialism.

"When Parliament and King George tried to levy taxes on the colonies, Pitt opposed them vigorously" says Councillor Chris Watt, "He insisted on the principle of no taxation without representation."

As he put it in his own speech to Parliament;

We may bind their trade, confine their manufactures, and exercise every power whatsoever, except that of taking money out of their pockets without their consent.

Coloniser?

So he painted America (and India, while we are at it) Imperial Pink, he defended the rights of the colonies ... Do you need more reasons to vote for the man?

Well, he also resisted the cider tax, another punitive measure that hit the West country particularly hard.

And in that debate he coined the phrase An Englishman's home is his castle.

If you think this great Bathonian deserves the prize of our Greatest Westerner, just dial the number below, and cast your vote.

Vote now! - ring 09011 90 33 30 and add your name to the list.

Other candidates Alfred the Great William Tyndale John Pym Beau Nash

Have your say, use the comments form below.

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