Howard Flight put to flight for "breeding" remarks

Howard Flight is what some would see as an unreconstructed Tory. He has made some remarks in his time that have not found favour with the leadership. However, that didn't stop David Cameron making him a peer last week. The former MP for Arundel and South Downs, who is yet to take his seat in the House of Lords, has been commenting on the government's plans to cut child benefit for top-rate taxpayers. He told the London Evening Standard  "We're going to have a system where the middle classes are discouraged from breeding because it's jolly expensive. But for those on benefits, there is every incentive. Well, that's not very sensible." He didn't actually refer to the poor "breeding" but he used the word in this context. However, the press have seen fit to twist it a bit to get a better negative slant.

Within hours of being reported he was offering a fulsome "apology". Interesting that he gets the Labour Party fuming but Harriet Harman could speak of "ginger" politicians. She apologised too. But should politicians have to apologise? Should we not just judge them on the words they say? Free speech should not be restrained into restricted speech. It is right that there are certain limits, such as abusive or racist language being off limits. But there now appears to be a form of censorship in the air.

Also, hypocrisy rises up on occasions. The Speaker was apparently offended at David Cameron repeating a joke that he had heard told about the speaker's height. Yet the speaker himself often refers to his height as a jokey introducton to speeches. Is self-mockery acceptable but mocking others not?

The content of free speech is not necessarily to everyone's liking, but self-righteous humbug leads to censorship and a lack of true thought and feeling.

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Lord Young fails to fend off Eagle's attacks

When eagles swoop on their prey they more often than not get their victim. Angela Eagle lives up to her name, if only in part. She's good on the attack but has failed to soar high with glory. Her favoured method is the monotone attack laced with half truths and innuendo. This morning she has been doing the rounds giving the impression of being a palsied victim in sackcloth and ashes. This lunchtime Lord Young has resigned as enterprise advisor to the government.

His "political crime" was stating the bleeding obvious. That was that despite the economic times "the vast majority are better off". That is true. Most are in employment. Most have very low mortgage rates. Most have more disposable income. However, lots of other people will bear the brunt of the cuts, will lose their jobs and will find it hard going.

The difficulty with modern politics is that political antennae have to pick up all kinds of signals. Unfortunately, Lord Young was not tuned into Ms Eagle's wavelength. Her AM band crackle was being heard loud and clear elsewhere. It got picked up by the media, never ones to enter the cerebral heights of political debate, and relayed ad nauseam.

David Cameron realised that Lord Young's remarks were politically unsustainable. However, the truth should find more favour with him. He should be pleased that so many have actually "never had it so good". If he would prefer to tell us that we have never had it so bad, let him say so.

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Vince Cable's passion is strictly a tango!

So after much lobbying and public soundings, Vince Cable is to appear on Strictly Come Dancing. There have been criticisms and many people have criticised politicians for combining television popularity with political ambition. But I think the business secretary has a point. Speaking of the dance competition, he said: ‘I am delighted to be taking part in this year’s Strictly Come Dancing Christmas special. Strictly has always been a secret, or not so secret, passion of mine. I hope that by taking part in the show I can inspire others to get up and do something they have always wanted to have a go at."

I would have thought in these straightened times we need quite a few people being inspired and doing things they "have always wanted to have a go at."



More about it here.

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