Balmforth records #SaveTravel 'protest song' to Boris Johnson

The retired ex-Superbreak national sales manager has recorded a version of Leaning on a Lamp-post, made famous by George Formby.

Balmforth’s cover features lyrics to highlight the immense challenges facing the travel industry through government inaction during the Covid pandemic and calls on Boris Johnson to “come by” and help.

Posting his song on Twitter, Balmforth called the tune “a simple northern protest song”.

Lyrics include: “He’s [Boris Johnson] not listening to our travel needs, ignoring all our desperate pleas as companies all roll up and die".

And warns: “There won’t be a flight you can wait for, a cruise you can book any date for. You won’t have to ask ‘what’s this ticket for?’ it will all be gone and flat – it’s as simple as that.”

Listen to the full song below.

Balmforth ends with a solemn plea to the prime minister telling him that the industry “is leaning heavily on to a lamp-post waiting for someone in your cabinet to listen to their story”.

“[Waiting for someone] to understand the issues, recognise the diverse nature of the problems and respond by turning that lamp-post light on. Don’t pass us by – save travel.”