Apropos of my comments about ‘Brave Sir Iain’ and Colin Challen, it seems that ‘Chippen’s’ a tad nonplussed by the reaction of Danial Finkelstein over at the newly redesigned Times website – which I have to say looks the absolute dog’s bollocks and now stands out as by far the best looking MSM website around.
I’m a little mystified by THIS post on Danny Finkelstein’s Comment Central blog. He takes me to task for my POST criticisng Gordon Brown for appointing Colin Challen MP to the Stern Committee, thereby freeing up Challen’s seat for Brown’s crony Ed Balls. Danny argues…
And just what has ‘Da Fink’ said to cause ‘onest Iain to get his underwear in a tangle?
I must say I am baffled by this response.
The moment Challen announced he was standing down it was obvious he’d been offered something, and membership of a climate change panel is hardly a huge inducement.
This is just politics and there’s nothing wrong with it at all. It’s ridiculous for Tories to pretend that they wouldn’t do such things in office.
To which Dale’s actual reponse is little short of hilarious…
So that’s alright then. This line of argument debases politics. I am quite shocked to see Danny take this line. I wrote in his comments: “Your response illustrates why people have such a low regard for politicians. If this is considered the “norm” then it is going to take a new generation to clean up the system. The fact that all parties have been known to do such things does not make it right.”
Mwahahahahahahahaha!
Even better, both ‘Brave sir Iain’ and Paul Staines (quelle surprise) try to take Finkelstein to take over in his own comments…
Dale:
Your response illistrates why people have such a low regard for politicians. If this is considered the “norm” then it is going to take a new generation to clean up the system. The fact that all parties have been known to do such things does not make it right.
Staines:
“This is just politics and there’s nothing wrong with it at all. It’s ridiculous for Tories to pretend that they wouldn’t do such things in office.”
Isn’t that the problem and the reason people are so fed up with the political class? Business as usual is sleazy.
P.S. Has a memo or something gone round the office since the boss had lunch with Gordon last week?
Such sensitivity, eh?
Still, one good question deserves a couple in return, hence…
Unity:
>>> Business as usual is sleazy.
Paul:
And is that more or less sleazy than, say, putting out a podcast containing a string of ‘paedo’ gags directed at Mark Oaten?
Or, say, setting up an internet ‘TV station’ to circumvent UK regulations on political broadcasting and advertising in order to run US-style ‘attack ads’?
Just a question?
Just thought I’d ask…
Quite.
What about the real scumbag’s like these harassment chaps with their bj for a job approach?
http://janestheones.blogspot.com/2007/02/she-is-at-peace-now.html
Oh, so now Guido’s rumour mongering has the authority of Holy Writ does it?
Notice he’s taken comments off. If he’s so sure he’s not going to get sued for libel, why would he do that?
And it’s “scumbags”, and they would be the likes of Guido, Dale, and all their associated manifestations of their joint Multiple Personality Disorders.
One thing at a time, FFS… 😉
Actually, the quick answer to your question is…
1. AFAIK, no specific allegation was ever lodged regarding Fiona Jones being propositioned by a Minister, which rather limits the options open for dealing with such things.
Unfortunately, stuff like this cannot be investigated unless you know who you should be investigating and why – and that’s only possible if a complaint is brought forward.
2. Such things are. sadly, not uncommon in life, whether inside or outside politics.
3. Part of the problem, in terms of politicians and this kind of thing is that politicians and political parties are largely exempt from present equality and anti-discrimination legislation, which certain applies to employees of political parties but not, in the main, to candidates, politicians or elected officials.
That loophole should be closed, such that someone in the position that Fiona Jones alleged she was in would have the same recourse to law as any woman who propositioned by an employee in a similar fashion.
4. Were this allegation shown to be true, my clear expectation would be an immediate resignation, not only from a ministerial position – if the alleged propositioner still holds such a position – but also as an MP, and if both were not forthcoming then I would expect to internal disciplinary proceedings and deselection as a candidate for future elections.
Satisifed?