None of the above objected when Quentin Letts first used his paedo comment about Gordon Brown, nor when that was repeated ad nauseam by almost every right wing commenter on the net for about a year, even after the Dully Maul removed it from its online pages, likewise the Dully Tele, usually in the latter case after time consuming complaints.

Those who are subjected to enough obscene abuse, or lied about enough, react in various ways. Some cry as Campbell did on Marr, some attempt wit, some respond, some take various lines, some remove themselves from the lines of fire.

It is about bullying and most of the most tasteless of it comes from the right. Wish we all could always keep cool until we see the whites of their eyes.

This is a sign of desperation from a LABOUR MP, not some partisan blogger.

It’s disgraceful and that he lied about it compounds the act, but what should we expect from the party of Tony BLIAR, Gordon Brown and their back (and now front) office of dirty spin.

One out, all out! Let’s get’s rid of this ugly government.

I fear that the Coulson phone hacking affair strikes at the heart of Chameleon’s “operation.”

http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2010/feb/15/news-international-phone-hacking-max-clifford

Cashcroft is in trouble. Their “campaigns” the objects of universal derision.

Still any decent tories left will be removing the flotsam and jetsam of these scunners in May.

@2: You missed out the compulsory ‘ZanuLabour’, which is required when participating in Mail-esque keyboard bashing of the government. Although your witty use of “Tony BLIAR” has been noted.

Andy @4: Oh yes, ‘Bliar’. It’s a clever twisting of his actual name, which is ‘Blair’ to such that he is a ‘liar’. I’ve never seen that before. How innovative. That man should be employed on a poster campaign of some sort with skills like that.

“No attempt at ethical or social seduction can eradicate from my heart a deep burning hatred for the Tory Party. So far as I am concerned they are lower than vermin” – Nye Bevan.

George
Quentin letts is little more than a tory blogger. Also the autistic remarks aimed at Brown was a little below the belt came from Tory party HQ.
Personally I feel politics is a dirty buisness. It is to be expected from both sides.
At least ther are not fighting duels like Canning and I think it was Castleregh.
Although !

Who cares about what he said – you’re right, doesn’t seem particularly offensive, although perhaps a little unbecoming for an MP. (Hence not really fair to compare his comments to those of an unelected Tory blogger like ToryBear).

However, what is seriously reprehensible is the way Wright is now lying about it. “Someone hacked and edited my Tweet”. Come on, you expect us to seriously believe this. Its schoolbuy lying and pathetic, and he deserves a lot of shit for it.

Are you defending him on this one, Sunny?

I wasn’t offended by the tweet, but as one of those so called ‘scum-sucking pigs’ I felt it was incredibly inappropriate for an MP to be so insulting towards 39-41% of the electorate (going on current polling). Surely as an elected official it is his job to represent all of his constituents, and not just insult those he disagrees with?

Name calling is childish on every level, whether from a partisan blogger, an MP or anyone else. I was always raised to believe that if you can’t say something nice then you shouldn’t say it at all.

It’s no wonder people are being turned away from politics if this is all they get to see pretty name calling and cheap points scoring from both sides. Grow up the lot of you.

Iain Dale? Outraged over name-calling? Really? He’s been to those depths himself on more than one occasion.

David was quite obviously mistaken: scum is useful in its appropriate context – procreation – while in their role as “tories” such people are only once in their blue moon. ie as butts of jokes.

The internet is Full of them, the real world is not.

Sadly most tory commenters have used such language rather more often than David has, but hypocrisy is their main suit I have found.

Justin is quite right, no doubt Sir Iain is piqued by his failure at the Tory selections of his choice, and silly refusal to put in for Spelthorne as I suggested.

Don’t you just love the blogosphere?

Not sure if love is the right word Sunny, not at the moment anyway…

It is plain and simple. The honest and integrity has long since gone from this Government and in fact a lot of represetntatives of the House.

David Wright as a serving MP has been caught out, stand up and own up. What is morally wrong are the bare faced lies that the account was hacked when it is not technically possible.

Unless David Wright comes clean I feel he will pay a heavy price down the line.

The normal charge is that we need more MPs that speak their mind, then when someone actually does, the Tories squeal like scum sucking pigs! These are the same people who complain about ‘PC gone maaaaaad’.

Of course, rather predictably, the whole thing has blown up in the faces of the Labour party because the coward tried to row back, implausibly blaming a technical hitch for changing the words of his entry! Once he had been caught, he should have drawn a line under it, but to attempt to weasel his way out of it actually made it worse in my eyes.

Personally, I would have merely called the Tories ‘scum’ and brazened it out.

It is a bit rich that the outraged usually lecture others about,

‘ free speech ‘

‘ no right not to be offended ‘

It is merely a twist on a rhetorical expression that the underlying product is unchanged by cosmetic dressing. When Barack Obama used the expression in the context of Bible Spice he was not accusing her of being a pig. The expression was merely conveying that the true nature of the the Republicans was still the same no matter which telegenic candidate represented them.

“No doubt this is how Iain Dale will show his future constituents how he can be a responsible, mature MP who can bring people together. Oh wait…”

ROFL, first Dale says that “Sam is a fantastic guy who will be a superb parliamentarian”, which presumably means that the best man won. Then the next day his bitterness shows through and he blames it all on his speech. Here’s a clue to you Iain, if you fuck up the most important speech of your life then it means the rest of your speeches will be shite too. So you were right the first time around: Sam Gyimah is the better man. HTH!

Apparently the British Pig Farmers Association are looking carefully at Mr Wrights comments and taking legal advice on whether or not they could be considered defamatory.

Also very curiously, nothing was said when Tory Bear…

I must have missed the bit where Tory Bear was made a Minister of the Crown.

Not too bothered about this story though, Wright’s another little grease-stain waiting out his last few weeks as an MP. His squirming attempts to lie his way out of trouble have been amusing though. ‘It must have been edited!’ You can’t edit tweets. ‘I never use language like that!’ You referred to Tories as scumbags one week ago. ‘Um, someone must have hacked into my account!’ Riiight…

Incidentally, how does this square up with the ‘Tories are being really really negative and horrible’ thread?

For what it’s worth, I saw the message on twitter, and it didn’t include “scum-sucking”. Now, that could be because he was later hacked, or it could be because he immediately thought better of it and moderated his language. Either way, Tories who reckon this is equivalent to George Osborne’s “autistic” jibe are way off the mark. That remark was both personal, and must’ve offended many thousands of autistic people and relatives of autistic people who didn’t want the term used as an insult. Who does this offend – scum-suckers?

For what it’s worth, I saw the message on twitter, and it didn’t include “scum-sucking”. Now, that could be because he was later hacked, or it could be because he immediately thought better of it and moderated his language.

That was the one he posted some hours later. You can’t edit tweets. The original was up for

It’s quite straightforward really. David Wright frequently calls Tories ‘scum’ or ‘scumbags’. He’s done so on Twitter at least twice before. So it’s bang in his modus operandi. It’s just that this time someone called him on it, and so he’s desperately trying to lie his way out of trouble.

Alternatively, this time, and this time only, someone stole his phone (the tweet was from his mobile) and hacked his account. And he didn’t notice, but carried on tweeting for several hours afterwards, before suddenly noticing. Convinced?

Who does this offend – scum-suckers?

Um… Tories? 9 million people voted for them last time you know…

I’m happy to concede it’s very unlikely he was hacked. The idea he was referring to everyone who votes/has voted Tory is nonsense though. This is like Nye Bevan’s comment on vermin (though I imagine fewer people will care this time) – it’s obvious he’s talking about Tory activists/representatives.

Are you really offended by this, as a Tory? Do you see this as more than the rough & tumble of politics? Can you not see how this pales in comparison with Osborne’s remarks?

Are you really offended by this, as a Tory? Do you see this as more than the rough & tumble of politics? Can you not see how this pales in comparison with Osborne’s remarks?

No, no and no.

Although I am a bit disturbed by his immediate instinct to lie his way out of trouble. Ministers used to be a bit more reluctant to do that.

Are you really offended by this, as a Tory? Do you see this as more than the rough & tumble of politics? Can you not see how this pales in comparison with Osborne’s remarks?

I find both comments equally offensive, and stupid. It’s not just the rough and tumble of politics – but simple name calling the sort a child would use. And it doesn’t matter who the remarks were aimed at, if he really thinks that anyone deserves comments like that being made about them he is not fit to be an MP, let alone a Minister of the Crown.

The comments are not equally offensive. The main point about Osborne’s insult is that he used a condition thousands of people have as an insult, reinforcing negative stereotypes about autistic people. Wright’s comment was ill-advised, stupid even, but it did not betray the nasty streak that Osborne’s did.

What’s wrong with calling them Tory filth? The only problem I can see is that he didn’t accuse Brown of being a Tory, which is all he is.

http://liberalconspiracy.org/2008/06/03/hysterical-outrage-roundup/

When did Cole become Miss Manners?

tim ‘ 26

The main point about Osborne’s insult is that he used a condition thousands of people have as an insult, reinforcing negative stereotypes about autistic people

Not quite clear on your point here.

Are you really saying thousands of mentally impaired people have been insulted by being compared to Gordon Brown?

It’s the “hacked” lie wot will do for him…the tweet itself is a bit juvenile for a member of government but really neither here nor there

Tim J @ 22

So what? He called Tories ‘scum sucking pigs’ what is the big deal? The Tories are the first to bandy ‘feckless’, ‘lazy’, ‘scoungers’, ‘benefit cheats’, ‘chavs’ and worse, yet no-one bats an eye lid. Is it the fact that they don’t like their own medicine?

As far as I am concerned, your average Tory is a greedy, selfish, anti science, anti society bastard.

Any group of people who think they can deny science just so that clears the way to continue to consume as much resources in as short as time as possible can count themselves as ‘vermin’ in my book.

As far as I am concerned, your average Tory is a greedy, selfish, anti science, anti society bastard.

And you’re entirely welcome to that opinion. Dishonest and abusive comes as standard on the internet, but expectations of ministers tend to run higher.

The Tories are the first to bandy ‘feckless’, ‘lazy’, ’scoungers’, ‘benefit cheats’, ‘chavs’ and worse, yet no-one bats an eye lid. Is it the fact that they don’t like their own medicine?

I suspect if a shadow minister called Labour any of these things on Twitter (except lazy…) then there might be a bit of a fuss made.

So its OK for a minster, in an official capacity (the Twitter account is in the name of David Wright MP, which does not suggest a personal capacity) to offer gratuitous insult? Just because a political opponent has done something similiar – presumably a reference to a meme being pushed by bloggers at that time – does not make it right. Or do you believe two wrongs make a right? (Hey, there’s a possible joke in there somewhere…)

Bluntly, whilst Quentin Letts (a journalist) or Tory Bear (a blogger) can say what they want, I for one would prefer to see our elected representatives act in a way that suggests they are adults.

Anyway, isn’t this an own goal however Labour look at it? Only the converted will agree that Conservatives can be described as ‘scum-sucking pigs’ (I know a few, and they are mostly likable humans; same could also be said for the Labour party members I know. Only party I’ve ever not liked a member from is BNP, and don’t know any of them personally). Most of the electorate will probably vote for the party that appears to be over eight years old…

Tim @ 32

This remark was on twitter, not a policy statement.

Watchmen @ 33

This guy was rude about the Tory Party, fair enough, but it is the mock outrage that I find distasteful. This is the same mock outrage that sees football fans scream abuse at a player for 90 minutes only to demand that player be sacked/jailed if makes any kind of gesture back. The same commentators who use some of the most outrageous language to decry Labour members and voters (actual or potential).

We are told that the lazy, feckless, asylum seekers receive benefits as bribes to vote Labour, by the same people who are now weeping on their keyboards at the thought that the nasty minister called them ‘scum sucking pigs’!

We are supposed to take their hurt feelings into account? No way! There is no way some of the remarks being made by the likes of Letts, ToryBear et al allow them to claim the high moral ground. If there are decent Tories out there (I concede the point) that are wrongly labelled because of the actions of the other 90% then, yes, that is unfortunate, but for these people to react in mock horror because a minister said something nasty at them? Get a fucking life.

I don’t care what any of you say, I found the comparison grossly offensive.

#29

Nice try.

No, I’m saying that having their condition used intentionally as an insult is, well, insulting.

This remark was on twitter, not a policy statement.

So? The chap’s a minister – itself an indictment of the current state of political talent in the parliamentary Labour party. As such, he really ought not to resort to playground name-calling in a public forum, and then lying about it afterwards.

I thought ministers were bound by collective responsibility. Does that mean that Wright is Tweeting the views of the whole Cabinet? Certainly haven’t heard any of them refuting those views yet. Surely must come under Harriet Harman’s Equality Portfolio. If Tories are “scum-sucking pigs” then we must all be “scum-sucking pigs” don’t you think, Harriet?

Tim J @ 37

“The chap’s a minister – itself an indictment of the current state of political talent in the parliamentary Labour party.”

Well that could be true.

“As such, he really ought not to resort to playground name-calling in a public forum,”

Why not? It was only a joke?

” and then lying about it afterwards.”

I agree: lying was wrong, esp in such a cack handed fashion and he has made a twat of himself in doing so.

What about Prospective MPs referring to the Tory party as dinosaurs? Either slow, lumbering creatures with very little brain taking up valuable real estate, or vicious cannibalistic predators on the weak. That seems to me to be a worse comparison

Scum-suckers, incidentally (or plecostumi), perform vital social functions in their ecosystems; clearing up the excrement and algae in a fish tank. Pigs are notable for their intelligence, their hygiene, and being able to find truffles. I would have thought the new Tories would have embraced this as a compliment.

thought ministers were bound by collective responsibility. Does that mean that Wright is Tweeting the views of the whole Cabinet? Certainly haven’t heard any of them refuting those views yet. Surely must come under Harriet Harman’s Equality Portfolio. If Tories are “scum-sucking pigs” then we must all be “scum-sucking pigs” don’t you think, Harriet?

Hey, why stop there? MPs are Her Majesty’s Government. That means that the Queen’s saying that Tories are scum-sucking pigs.

Although it must be said that a pig in a fish tank wouldn’t last long on only poop and algae – might scare the other fish, too.

@41

Only an unhinged donut would misunderstand “collective responsibility” and not realise that a pig would never fit in a fish tank.

It’s the cover up that gets you every time, long after the initial deed is forgotten.

Cover up?

The tory cover up of the seemingly endless obscene remarks of various kinds about Labour’s leaders remains the pretence that nothing happened.

But the internet’s record is close to immortal, and the bad deeds will pop up as our society wonders what the hell went on.

What’s really screwed him is this attempt to say that he’s innocent and that his account was hacked. This would be a complete non-story if he’d just fessed up and said “OK, I crossed the line. Joke gone wrong, sorry everyone”.

But no, he was so ashamed that he deleted the tweet and replaced it with a ‘cleaned’ version and then denied any responsibility for the ‘scum-sucking’ tweet. That’s what the disgrace is.

Anyone can make a mistake. Once made though, there are two things you can do. a) confess to making a mistake, apologise and hope for forgiveness or b) lie about it and hope it goes away. Which one would you expect of a Minister?

tim ‘ 36

The main point about Osborne’s insult is that he used a condition thousands of people have as an insult, reinforcing negative stereotypes

Sometimes, on this blog, it feels as is the blind are leading the blind and my words are falling on deaf ears.

People with autism have more to worry about than negative stereotyping just as most pigs have more to worry about than being portrayed as scum suckers.

As have most Tories come to that.

Mark,

“Anyone can make a mistake. Once made though, there are two things you can do. a) confess to making a mistake, apologise and hope for forgiveness or b) lie about it and hope it goes away. Which one would you expect of a Minister?”

Is this a trick question, or otherwise won’t we all put b)? If you mean what standard of behaviour would we expect of a minister however, anyone out there got a reason to put b)? Hope not.

Conservative political correctness at its best.

Ian Dale is weasely little man, in both appearance and morally. But he is such a true example of the average tory. Hypocrisy is Conservatives middle name.

Well, as he’s a backbencher and NOT IN CABINET, and the statement wasn’t made IN CABINET then your definition falls down, too.

More importantly:

http://www.bestweekever.tv/bwe/images/2008/06/PIG%20LEVEE%208.jpg

http://www.ohgizmo.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/05/led13.jpg

#46 So it’s ok to shit on autistic people because they have bigger things to worry about?

@ 48

So, Sally, are you saying that David Wright is a true example of the average Labour supporter?

He lied: political incorrectness at its worst.

tim @ 50

Nice try. But that’s not what I said.

My inference was that people need to stop being offended on behalf of others, particularly when it is motivated by party political point scoring.

sally @ 48

Ian Dale is weasely little man, in both appearance and morally.

That’s one of the most blatantly weaselist comments I’ve heard.

And yet when a Tory politician such as Boris Johnson calls
black people “piccaninnies” with “watermelon smiles”, or
Tory aides suggest that “black people should go home”, Iain Dale
is the first to rush in against the humourless leftie
politically correct police to defend said
politician and tell us that why it
is not offensive http://iaindale.blogspot.com/2008/06/boris-and-his-absent-backbone.html

I don’t think David Wright did anything wrong by calling the Tories scum-sucking pigs; that is exactly what they are.

His rather pathetic attempt to lie about it and cover it up does offend me though. It insults the intelligence of the ordinary public.

I couldn’t care less about this instance of name calling and bad mouthing. but . Sevillista, I don’t think the aide to Boris said ”black people should go home”.

It was a bit like that, but it wasn’t that.

I think you take what Johnson said too, out of context.
But that’s the nature of political trench warfare I suppose.

My god
If you think political insults are bad here. Just go to Aussie, they really enjoy a good banter.
There is a holier than holier attitude to this whole debate. Have you not called somebody you are working with a prat.
Whether he is a Labour backbencher or Tory blogger that is life

@ 49 DHP

Look. Any pig that swims around in a fish-tank must use lipstick if that’s what all the fish are doing, OK? THAT’s Collective Responsibilty.

And remember:
if you put lipstick on David Wright – he’s still David Wright.

[nice pics]