Blunkett on Shipman

[Socrates]

Ah, the days of no political correctness..... Wasn't it resfreshing to hear David Blunkett, when asked what went through his mind when he heard the news of Shipman's suicide, said ' Is it too early to have a drink?!' Isn't it about time we stopped being afraid to speak our minds for fear of offending someone?

[darth vader]

political correctness gone mad. I'm surprised alcoholics anonymous haven't lodged a complaint...

[andy hughes]

Thinking about celebrationis one thing - saying it as Home Secretary is another - it was an appalling statement to make on record - how can any Home Secretary mention celebration when a prisoner has died in one of HM's prisons is a mystery to me - regardless of who that prisoner was.

[beenee]

No it is not about time. It should never be acceptable to be so offensive, and as andy said, as a government representative. Blunkett has always come across as an extremely tactless person... what he said was shameful!

[archbishop]

He might be Home Secretary,but he is also an elected MP and I think he reflected what a lot of people thought and good luck to him.If MP's were more open and actually represented the people maybe life would be slightly better.

[beenee]

So do you know if he took a poll of his constituency to suss out how majority of the people thought about the Shipman suicide? Have there been any such polls? He just expressed a personal opinion on a public forum, which, his being a public representative, was irresponsible.

[bobbobley]

why shouldn't he speak his mind honestly - its about time more politician's did? andyhughes I'm surprised that you really think its "appalling" for one man to express his opinion that he was fairly pleased that an horrific serial killer is now dead. He is entitled as much as anyone to his opinion - just because he's in a public position should not make any difference.

I thought it was a breath of fresh air to hear a politician say exactly what he, and I would guess a large amount of the populace, was thinking about this particular event.

[Socrates]

What he said was certainly not shameful. It was his honest opinion and I, for one, was glad to hear such honesty! Did you feel sorry for Shipman? This is my point - the world has gone p.c. mad. The people I feel sorry for is the families of those he murdered - defenceless old people who trusted him implicitly - who may never get proper closure. Why should we tip-toe around in conversation in case we offend someone? It seems "freedom of speech" means you CAN say what you like, but only if it is politically correct as there is always somebody waiting to be offended!

[sft42]

I wonder how Mr. Blunkett would react if anyone openly expressed an opinion of him perhaps not being able to do his job properlly due to his disability? Wouldn't we then have a pile of "Not very PC" comments trotted out then? Live by the sword etc......I say that by doing this he's now fair game for anyone to attack his disability.

[darth vader]

sorry sft but that's a load of utter cak - give me one instance where Blunkett failed in his job, and it was directly attributable to being blind?

[sft42]

I never said he has been in any way unable to do his job....but I bet there's many a MP who would put forward that opinion if they thought it would get them up the greasy pole.....the point originally made was "down with PC" my follow on was fair enough if that's what the questioner & Blunkett want....but what happens when he does make a mistake as like all politicians he sooner or later will do?

[TEAK36]

Going back to Socrates original point about should we speak our minds,even if it may offend someone,I personally dont think we should.I am all for freedom of speech,but I also believe that in certain circumstances somethings are best left unsaid.If everyone really truly spoke their minds,on all subjects,not just the ones that they feel a majority of people will agree with,then I think society would be in trouble.

[bobbobley]

i'm sure DB has heard slights like that before and can't imagine him making too big a fuss over someone saying he is a bad MP just because he is blind! you may as well say IDS was ousted because he was follically challenged (!) or that anne widdecombe can't do her job very well due all the salad dodgin' she does.

[andy hughes]

The debate seems to be centering around 'free speech' which is not quite as straight forward as some correspondents would like to believe. Everyone has a right to free speech, but that is not the same as saying what you like, when you like. The Shipman case is highly emotive, and i would never dream of condoning his actions, but the law dictates that his punishment is imprisonment, not 'imprisonment and wouldn't it be great if he offed himself while he is there!' Laws are what make us civilised - suicide in prison is a failure of the system, not good riddance to a dreadful man, and i reitertae, the Home Secretary advising his pleasure at the failure of a system that he is paid to oversee is a serious error of judgement. Anyone else?

[bobbobley]

"suicide in prison is a failure of the system" - hmmm. If you mean failure from the point of view that not every single prisoner can be monitored 24 hours a day then I guess that statement is correct. However, this is clearly an impossible task, and one which I can't imagine either the prison service nor the prisoners would want.
You could argue that Shipman should have been on suicide watch, especially with the benefit of hindsight in which it was clear he was going to do it before his birthday so that his wife would receive higher pension payments on his behalf. But then, you could also argue that it would be a waste of time and effort stopping someone like him from taking his own life. Either way, I still applaude Blunkett for having the honesty to express his opinion in this manner.

[Socrates]

The point I was making was that Britain seems to have gone politically-correct mad. Don't you remember scoffing at the Americans a few years ago because of their obsession with being "PC"? I certainly do! Well we don't laugh at them any more as we are more-or-less the same now. Remember when "follically-challenged" appeared on the scene? What about "vertically-challenged"? Well, in my opinion, we have now stooped to that sort of level also!

[incitatus]

Socrates- to deal with your original statement/question....no it isnt, for obvious reasons. Try it. Go through a day and say exactly what is on your mind. all the time. go on. and please video it, because the result would be hilarious. After (assuming you are a straight male here- sorry if not the case) we take out the slaps induced by your freely expressed desire to fornicate with the women you meet, and you telling the boss you believe he is a lazy idiot, and the comical fights induced by your liberal comments about the personal hygeine and queueing habits of your fellow commuters there should be about ten minutes of your day left. There is a word for people who speak their mind. Toddlers. and we know how embarassing they can be. On the subject of the HS and his comment on the demise of another HS.....any person who can express happiness at the death of any other person, no matter what they have done, is unfit to hold office. I could quote John Donne here for justification. And that isnt because he offends me, but because it shows a want of feeling bordering on the insane. Whatever shipman may have done he was human, and deserves his passing to be mourned, if only by his family. This is true of anyone.

[incitatus]

on the other hand, I do not believe this indicates a failure of the system. If anyone takes the rational decision to end their life they should be allowed so to do. After all it is the only thing that ever truly belongs to any of us.

[Socrates]

Assume away, incitatus. In the past it wouldn't have been an issue...

[incitatus]

the only reason it wouldnt have been an issue is that in the past i would be seeing/hearing you whilst having this conversation. Or have a salutation to go on. Email makes such things more difficult. I assure you that if you were male and i called you madame on the phone it would be an issue. Politeness, or more accurately politesse is a function of the social contract, surely.