Archive for the ‘Equality’ Category

Iain Dale and the Daily Mail

Posted on October 1st, 2009 in Conservatives, Equality, Gay Pride | 1,586 Comments »

Reading through the Daily Mail today, I was rather perturbed to read the Ephraim Hardcastle column and this entry:

“Overtly gay Tory blogger Iain Dale has reached the final stage of parliamentary selection for Bracknell, telling PinkNews: ‘I hope any PinkNews readers who live in Bracknell will come to the open primary on October 17 to select their new candidate.  You don’t even have to be a Conservative to attend.’  Isn’t it charming how homosexuals rally like-minded chaps to their cause?”

Any way which you cut this, it is a deeply offensive slur on Iain Dale and is homophobic.  Why do some journalists feel compelled to have to raise Iain’s sexuality when they discuss him.  It gets tiresome and I for one am sick of pathetic homophobic jibes.

The language is poor.  What makes Iain ‘overtly gay’.  What does that mean?  Vile.  The last phrase is the poorest and for any journalist to write, ‘isn’t it charming how homosexuals rally like-minded chaps to their cause?’ , is plunging journalism to new depths.

Iain gives his views here.  The strength of feeling shows with over 185 comments to his blog.  Iain has written to the Press Complaints Commission.

Let’s hope the Daily Mail apologises to Iain and never again repeats this homophobic language.  Poor show.  It is offensive to all in society to read such base journalism.

I have a lot of time for Iain.  It is obvious he is highly respected in the Westminster village, from all sides of the House.  His passion for politics is infectious.  I visit his blog daily, on a frequent basis and am impressed by his perception and how he makes politics interesting for all.

I sincerely wish him all the best in Bracknell.  I don’t know the other candidates, have only heard good things about the quality of the shortlist, but one things for certain, as I have said before, the House of Commons needs thinkers like Iain Dale.

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Ms ‘Equality’ Harman meddles in ‘Strictly’…what next? Split up Ant & Dec?

Posted on July 17th, 2009 in Equality | 2,598 Comments »

The 11th Commandment:  Harriet’s Law.  ‘If I am happy, then it shall be fine for thee’!

By seeking to enhance equality in society, Harriet Harman is fast becoming the ultimate parody of the Big Brother state that George Orwell so eloquently penned about.

Yesterday as the economy is crashing around us, public spending goes through the roof, unemployment dole queues lengthen, graduate prospects dim, soldiers die in Afghanistan backed by little equipment and the swine flu death toll increases, Harriet Harman was preoccupied with espousing her views on a huge issue of national importance…..the sacking of Arlene Phillips as a judge on BBC ‘hit show’ ‘Strictly Come Dancing’.

Now that is state intervention at its most extreme.

In the House of Commons Harman effectively told the BBC to give Arlene Phillips back her job.  She accused the BBC of age discrimination since 66 year old Arlene was replaced by Alesha Dixon, 30.  Harriet bleated, ‘I think it’s absolutely shocking that Arlene Phillips is not going to be a judge on Strictly Come Dancing.  And as Equality Minister, I am suspicious that there is age discrimination there.  So I’d like to take this opportunity of telling the BBC – it is not too late, we want Arlene Phillips in the next edition of Strictly’.  Ooohhhhh that sounds threatening.

Who would you rather have as a judge?

Arlene?

or Alesha?

This is an issue for the public to exert pressure.  A ‘Keep Arlene Phillips’ Facebook group has so far mustered just over 500 names…that hardly points to a public outcry.  Now public pressure may help to revert the BBC decision….but the number of new viewers coming in to watch Alesha on the panel may compensate and prove the decision right.  Let’s not forget that Alesha is a former winner of the show and hugely popular.  Just as Cheryl Cole has done for X Factor, ie bringing in new younger audiences, then maybe Alesha will do the same for Strictly….and that would surely be a good thing for a show focused on Ballroom dancing!

But this is not a matter for the state and the meddling Harriet Harman to get involved with. There was not such an outcry when Cheryl Cole replaced Sharon Osborne.

Next Harman will seek to split up Ant & Dec, as they are both men and hence not an equal representation of the population!

Roll on the election…..Ms Harman is a meddler that should not be allowed the oxygen of publicity to meddle in our affairs. 

The Harman Agenda.  Next up:  Split up Ant & Dec…2 men performing together…sexist and not representative of the population

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