Liberals Continue To Implode
"I strongly believe that people should have a right to personal privacy. - Simon Hughes 26/1/06
Unless, of course, you're fighting an election against an openly gay candidate...
Simon Hughes the enthusiastic candidate for party leadership has finally come out of the closet. Now, few people give a damn if a candidate is gay or straight, but this is important.
He's denied his sexuality for years, as recently as a few days ago. That's not a huge issue, but let's remember how he got into parliament in the first place.
In the Bermondsey by election the old MP, Bob Mellish who thought he owned the constituency, was deselected and the openly gay Peter Tatchell was picked for Labour. This upset the Labour Old Guard as their man had been booted out and this... this queer was selected instead. Waves of revulsion swept through the labour clubs.
In this atmosphere homophobia ran riot. Tatchell was bombarded with hate mail and death threats. An Anonymous leaflet appeared asking voters "Which Queen will you vote for?" Tatchell or QEII, apparently.
The Liberal Democrats played the homophobia card stronger than anyone else. Throwing away the basic 'principles' of their party and political philosophy, Simon Hughs ran a disgraceful campaign. Apart from leaflets describing himself as "The Straight Choice" they also sent canvassers around with "I've not been kissed by Peter Tatchell" badges and so on.
Simon Hughes has apologised but today, we finally learn the depths of his hypocrisy, when a closeted gay man beat an openly gay man in a by-election by smearing, lies and homophobia.
So, that's the Liberals. They get rid of a drunk and the replacements were going to be a tired old man, a complete nonentity, a man who pays rent boys to crap on him or Simon, who got there by crapping on a gay man - but only metaphorically, so that's some sort of progress.
But I must confess, I can't see Simon without thinking of Hi-di-Hi's Jeffrey Fairbrother.
Your use of the phrase
Your use of the phrase 'tired old man' is rather unpleasant. A comment like that referring to race, sex or sexuality would be unacceptable, so why is referring to age in such a manner OK? Campbell's ability to lead the party is the moot point, not his age. It reflects todays celebrity politics where the key attributes are age, looks and youth rather than real ability.
Hi prescott, I take your
Hi prescott, I take your point, but Ming hardly shines in the Commons, does he?
This is just typical of the
This is just typical of the rank hypocrisy that is rife in politics today. Four hundred years ago such things would have been settled in a much more civilised manner, I point to Macbeth as an example...
Lest we forget Bob Mellish
Lest we forget Bob Mellish see Wikipedia. He ended up in the LibDems:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_Mellish,_Baron_Mellish
"Peter Tatchell claimed in 2003 ... that Mellish was secretly bisexual and was 'persistent' in propositioning Tatchell but warned him when he was rebuffed not to publicise it as no one would believe him.
The tallest building in Milton Keynes, Mellish Court, is named after him."
Forgive and forget! Tatchell
Forgive and forget! Tatchell has, and has publibly backed Hughes as Lib Dem leader (pedants moment... your blog refers to the Libdem campaign.. no such party existed in 83). The most salient point to make about Hughes though, is that he has held what should be a rock solid Labour seat for 23 years now. I have worked in his patch and I can honestly say it is the only part of the world I have ever grafted in where people actually hold their MP in great affection and esteem.The point about Fairbrother can't be argued with though!
I really wish that if anyone
I really wish that if anyone suddendly thinks they are an absolute expert on what happened in Bermondsey some 23 years ago that they instead simply spent a few hours reading Peter Tatchell's own book called the 'The Battle for Bermondsey'.
What the book reveals is the appallling treatment he received from teh tabloids, but also the lack of support initially from Michael Foot. The incredible behaviour of the other Labour candidate (a former leader of Southwark Council) was also a big issue.
The record of Mellish and the controversial reasons for his resignation were also big issues in the by-election.
Finally, as a Libearl Democrat what surprised me was the almost total lack of refernces that Peter Tatchell made about Simon Hughes and the Liberal Party.
Read Peter Tatchell's own
Read Peter Tatchell's own book the 'Battle of Bermondsey' and then make up your own mind about the behaviour of Simon Hughes and the Labour party's record and treatment of Peter Tatchell.
I suggest people that comment on this by-election (now 23 years ago) but aren't willing to confront some basic facts are living in a strange world. In particular every Labour party member and activist who thinks they can make statements about this by-election should remember that Peter Tatchell faced a very open and incredible homophobic campaign from another Labour candidate - a former Labour leader of Southwark Council.
The lack of support Peter Tatchell initially received from Michael Foot and of course the controversial reasons behind Bob Mellish's resignation should also not be forgotten.
But, why let facts get in way of some deep seated Labour prejudices!