Ellee Seymour

Turkey’s modern woman Sibel Tuzun

Turkey’s blonde bombshell Sibel Tuzun failed to win the European vote last night at the Eurovision Song Contest with her rendition of Superstar. This was no great surprise, it was a dreadful song.

I believe she was chosen to represent her country as a political ploy, to demonstrate that they have embraced modern European life and would be perfect partners in the European Union.

Sibel gyrated in her micro mini see-through gold wisp of a dress, her arms adorned in tattooes, hardly the usual stereotype Turkish woman.

But it was not enough to win votes, Lordi had those, the Finnish monster group that defied the traditional route of Abba lookalikes, smarmy ballad singers and traditional folksy numbers, all which made an evening of hilarious, naff entertainment.

Then there was the totally inexplicable acts that defied belief; Germany’s jaw dropping entry as cowboys is what I have in mind here.

It seems Iain was gripped and ran a live-blog for fellow fans. He provided a fairly accurate assessment too, though I suspect it was pure patriotism that led him to speak so glowingly of the UK’s dismal entry.

Now Finland have broken the mould, I’m wondering how other countries will respond next year, what will follow in their footsteps ……

It can’t be long before there is a second edition of The Little Red Book of New Labour Sleaze.

There is certainly no shortage of material.

Today’s splash in the Sunday Times blasts Tony Blair for the government’s record on sleaze, it’s pretty damning stuff.

His own sleaze watchdog Sir Alistair Graham accuses the prime minister of failing to uphold standards in public life after a succession of scandals. He criticised Tony Blair for treating these standards as a minor issue, while believing Gordon Brown is more supportive.

And further reports are highlighted about the Home Office’s gross incompetence, including a “sex-for-asylum” story in today’s Observer. You can even watch video clips of the chief immigration officer propositioning the 18-year-old Zimbabwean.

That is on top of The Sunday Telegraph’s splash saying voters want Blair to face criminal charges over the “cash for honours” scandal.

And there are further shocking revelations in The Mail on Sunday which reports on another catastrophic Home Officer blunder where nearly 1,500 innocent people have been accused as criminals, leading to them losing jobs or being barred from starting courses.

This is clearly going to be one annus horribilis too many.

Sleaze update: Iain has highlighted revelations too regarding Cherie Blair and Alastair Campbell signing a copy of the Hutton report to be sold at a Labour fund-raiser.