Bob Piper has been a Labour Councillor for the Abbey
Ward in Sandwell, West Midlands, for 10 years. He is a lifelong supporter of Aston Villa Football Club and a follower of Yorkshire County Cricket Club.
The views expressed here are mine in a personal capacity, not those of the Labour Party, Sandwell MBC, Aston Villa or Yorkshire County Cricket Club. Get it! Mine... just mine!
I have been asked by Bel what I think of James Purnell's conduct. Well, the answer is, not much really. I thought when Anne Widdecombe tried to defend an even worse slight of hand with a photoshopped picture that it was a piece of shoddy politicking... and I see no reason to change my mind now. I presume all those Tories calling for Purnell's head were equally vociferous about their colleague in Dorset South. No? Why am I not surprised?
I wasn't aware that Ann Widdecombe tried to defend the PPC's dishonest conduct. If Ann Widdecombe did that, then that is equally as bad as what Purnell has been accused of.
When I wrote my post, I wasn't making any party political point. I was talking in general about dishonesty in politics and in society. As many of my blog readers should know, I don't make excuses for Conservatives when they do wrong. Being blindly partisan is not something anyone can accuse me of.
Having said that, though, while I am not calling for Purnell to resign, I think it is serious the way that lying seems to be accepted in our society as no big deal. It is not an honourable way to behave. I know politicians are not generally regarded as honourable, anyway, but why the relentless drive to lower the bar even further?
So politics aside, do you really think that photoshopping in this way is acceptable? I condemn it, whether it's done by Widdecombe, Purnell, or even the Archbishop of Canterbury. Do you, and if not, why not?
Bob Piper said:
October 2, 2007 10:22 AM | permalink
Bel, I'm always wary of the politics of condemnation. Frankly, I find the photoshopping nonsense to be just that... nonsense! The fact that Purnell was supposed to be at the photocall but didn't get there in time or that Widdecombe would gladly have held up a banner which actually said something different to the one she did hold up doesn't equate to lying in my book. It is a piece of mild deception and they got caught and and were exposed. People should take the pee out of them for it, and move on.
I can't say that I wake up in the night offering thanks for the presence of James Purnell in the Cabinet. But I do think he has done what any half decent Culture Minister should do by adding to the gaiety of the nation.
October 2, 2007 9:50 AM | permalink
Hi Bob, I just replied to you on my blog as well.
I wasn't aware that Ann Widdecombe tried to defend the PPC's dishonest conduct. If Ann Widdecombe did that, then that is equally as bad as what Purnell has been accused of.
When I wrote my post, I wasn't making any party political point. I was talking in general about dishonesty in politics and in society. As many of my blog readers should know, I don't make excuses for Conservatives when they do wrong. Being blindly partisan is not something anyone can accuse me of.
Having said that, though, while I am not calling for Purnell to resign, I think it is serious the way that lying seems to be accepted in our society as no big deal. It is not an honourable way to behave. I know politicians are not generally regarded as honourable, anyway, but why the relentless drive to lower the bar even further?
So politics aside, do you really think that photoshopping in this way is acceptable? I condemn it, whether it's done by Widdecombe, Purnell, or even the Archbishop of Canterbury. Do you, and if not, why not?