Tom Watson MP: Hull Graduate or Too Much Larkin About?

West Bromwich East is indeed blessed to have as its MP the expenses-guzzling motormouth, Tom Watson - a man prepared to hold forth at great length on any "leftie" issue that passes by, whether of any relevance to his hard-pressed constituents or not (whilst strongly supporting eg the Iraq War and the replacement of Trident).

The Skidder has been deliberately fed false information over the last few months - apparently in the naive hope that I would publish it and be discredited or with a view to discovering my informants. Not so long ago a senior Labour "personality" [sic] within the Pyongyang-style cesspit that is Sandwell Council was putting it about West Bromwich that Wealthy Watters did not, contrary to popular belief, get a degree at Hull University.

Let me say straight away, that I don't really care whether he did or didn't and I am in no position to comment on academic prowess from the standpoint of my own "Desmond" (although there was improvement later on!) But I had to have a look noting that the "informant" was someone close to the "great man" himself and there was also the question of why this tale was being told?

Having trawled Google I have been unable to establish the facts. Obviously, Watters attended Hull but apart from some media references to him having "graduated" the position remains opaque.

I applied to Hull Alumni but was told I must make a Freedom of Information request (a procedural form much used by Tommy himself) to Hull University but when I did this it was refused "for data protection reasons". Noting that The Wealthy One is such a vociferous campaigner for the, er, "truth" I wrote the following letter to him on 14th August but regret to say that I have yet to receive a reply:

Tom Watson MP                                                      14/08/14
House Of Commons
London SW1A 1AA

Dear Sir,

A Labour Councillor in Sandwell and someone close to you has, for reasons unknown, been putting it about that you left Hull University without a degree although I do note some articles on the internet referring to you having "graduated".

Can you please confirm the position?

Yours faithfully,

(And as they say in Sandwell, "Excreta, Excreta"..... Apologies for readers outside the Borough but that is an "in" joke).

Maybe someone out there knows? If so, please feel free to contact me..... I think we should be told!

PS Watson has been campaigning vociferously against bookmakers (whilst accidentally voting in the wrong lobby during a Commons debate on the issue). His comrades at Labour Sandwell Council have been equally active on this subject (although this did not prevent them trying to force through the licensing of a new, er, casino in Sandwell!) How gratifying then to receive information yesterday of the opening of a new shop in West Brom High Street by, er, Paddy Power. Surely my informant is mistaken? (Addendum 31/08 - just been told this is true and it is right next door to Ladbrokes!)

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