Cautionary Tales with Tim Harford Monkey for Mayor from This Day in Esoteric Political History
May 13, 2022
Tim Harford, a Financial Times journalist and author, joins the conversation to explore a bizarre but amusing chapter from UK history. In 2002, Hartlepool famously elected a mascot monkey as mayor, leading to discussions on voter disillusionment and unconventional candidates in politics. Harford highlights how Stuart Drummond, the man in the monkey suit, became an unexpectedly effective administrator. The chat also touches on the curious trend of electing animals and the surprising competence they can demonstrate, even in serious roles.
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Monkey Mayor
- Stuart Drummond, a monkey mascot for a football club, was elected mayor of Hartlepool in 2002.
- He ran as a joke but ended up winning, surprising everyone.
Hartlepool's Monkey
- Hartlepool's football team mascot is a monkey due to a local legend.
- The legend says that during the Napoleonic Wars, the town hanged a monkey, believing it was a French spy.
Joke Candidacy
- Drummond ran for mayor as H'Angus the Monkey, the team mascot, not under his real name.
- He ran as a joke and never expected to win, raising questions about voter seriousness.
