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imagepoliticalbetting.com » Blog Archive » Whittingdale: Will he survive or not survive?

No doubt we will be getting betting markets in the next day or so on whether the culture secretary is going to remain in his job following the revelations that have just come out.

Read the full story here


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Comments

  • peter_from_putney
    peter_from_putney Posts: 6,956
    First ..... again!
  • BannedInParis
    BannedInParis Posts: 2,191
    So after "man legally pays taxes" Labour are now going with "man has legal consensual sex with woman"

    Right.
  • JackW
    JackW Posts: 14,787
    "Whittingdale - will he survive or not survive?"

    I think he'll probably take something of a beating over this but i doubt there'll be too much blood on the carpet ....

    But clearly the press have had the whip hand over him for some time.
  • kle4
    kle4 Posts: 99,113
    On principle I hope he remains (but not Remain, of course), though I don't care in political terms if he stays or goes.
  • SandyRentool
    SandyRentool Posts: 23,156
    FPT:

    I see that the Lib Dems have organised an election with seven candidates and three voters in the House of Lords.

    Any thoughts on the most appropriate voting system to use in such a situation?

    Hopefully there will be a three-way tie.
  • MikeSmithson
    MikeSmithson Posts: 7,382
    JackW said:

    "Whittingdale - will he survive or not survive?"

    I think he'll probably take something of a beating over this but i doubt there'll be too much blood on the carpet ....

    But clearly the press have had the whip hand over him for some time.

    Somebody has to crack the whip Jack.
  • SandyRentool
    SandyRentool Posts: 23,156
    BannedInParis said:

    So after "man legally pays taxes" Labour are now going with "man has legal consensual sex with woman"

    Right.

    No, it is 'man might have gone easy on the press because they've got dirt on him'.
  • kle4
    kle4 Posts: 99,113
    SandyRentool said:

    FPT:

    I see that the Lib Dems have organised an election with seven candidates and three voters in the House of Lords.

    Any thoughts on the most appropriate voting system to use in such a situation?

    Hopefully there will be a three-way tie.

    I hope one of them spoils their ballot, one forgets to vote and the other doesn't put a cross against any name.

  • kle4
    kle4 Posts: 99,113
    SandyRentool said:

    BannedInParis said:

    So after "man legally pays taxes" Labour are now going with "man has legal consensual sex with woman"

    Right.

    No, it is 'man might have gone easy on the press because they've got dirt on him'.
    Except they had no dirt. That implies now the story is out he looks dirty, which he doesn't. Therefore, no dirt.
  • Slackbladder
    Slackbladder Posts: 9,800
    Looks like the leftie outrage train is out of control at the moment.... Resign! Resign! Resign!!
  • Slackbladder
    Slackbladder Posts: 9,800
    JackW said:

    "Whittingdale - will he survive or not survive?"

    I think he'll probably take something of a beating over this but i doubt there'll be too much blood on the carpet ....

    But clearly the press have had the whip hand over him for some time.

    Louise!
  • CarlottaVance
    CarlottaVance Posts: 60,422
    SandyRentool said:

    BannedInParis said:

    So after "man legally pays taxes" Labour are now going with "man has legal consensual sex with woman"

    Right.

    No, it is 'man might have gone easy on the press because they've got dirt on him'.
    Proof?

    Or is it, 'no smoke without fire'....'nudge nudge, wink wink'

    Exactly the sort of thing Hacked Off complained about when it involved a Tory MP celeb actor......
  • BannedInParis
    BannedInParis Posts: 2,191
    kle4 said:

    SandyRentool said:

    BannedInParis said:

    So after "man legally pays taxes" Labour are now going with "man has legal consensual sex with woman"

    Right.

    No, it is 'man might have gone easy on the press because they've got dirt on him'.
    Except they had no dirt. That implies now the story is out he looks dirty, which he doesn't. Therefore, no dirt.
    Yeah. "Man has consexual sex with woman" is not dirt.
  • Wanderer
    Wanderer Posts: 3,838
    kle4 said:

    On principle I hope he remains (but not Remain, of course), though I don't care in political terms if he stays or goes.

    I think it's a political point in itself that people shouldn't be driven from office over legal, consensual and harmless activities in their private lives.

    Beyond that I dislike Whittingdale's politics. I would be glad to see the back of him but not over this.
  • david_herdson
    david_herdson Posts: 18,357
    SandyRentool said:

    BannedInParis said:

    So after "man legally pays taxes" Labour are now going with "man has legal consensual sex with woman"

    Right.

    No, it is 'man might have gone easy on the press because they've got dirt on him'.
    It's not really dirt though is it and it's come out anyway, so where's the substance to the allegation?
  • JackW
    JackW Posts: 14,787
    More polling from New York - seven in the past four days. Essentially with the same story - Trump crushing rivals by +25 and more with Cruz and Kasich fighting for a far distant second. Clinton ahead of Sanders by 11-18 point. Both beat any GOP candidate by a country mile :

    New York - Liberty Research Polling :

    Trump 52 .. Kasich 23 .. Cruz 19 - Sample 6,041

    http://libertyopinionresearch.com/results-gop-presidential-primary-nys/

    New York - PPP

    Trump 51 .. Kasich 25 .. Cruz 20
    Clinton 51 .. Sanders 40

    Clinton 55 .. Trump 25
    Clinton 56 .. Cruz 30
    Clinton 50 .. Kasich 36

    Sanders 58 .. Trump 33
    Sanders 59 .. Cruz 27
    Sanders 54 .. Kasich 35

    http://www.publicpolicypolling.com/pdf/2015/PPP_Release_NY_41216.pdf
  • TheScreamingEagles
    TheScreamingEagles Posts: 122,806
    Whittingdale shouldn't be shamed for his dominatrix 'scandal'

    If he wasn't paying he should be asked to review general public procurement.
  • Hertsmere_Pubgoer
    Hertsmere_Pubgoer Posts: 3,476
    Curse of the new thread
    I've just been reading one blog that is trying to liken it to Profumo, with a member of the London underworld playing the role of the Soviet naval attache in this case.
  • Polruan
    Polruan Posts: 2,083
    It seems pretty straightforward: if he made any use of his position in relation to press regulation, however veiled or implied, to prevent a personally embarrassing story from being reported, he should go. If it's just an embarrassing story he shouldn't.

    It does seem as if the lately-loyal right wing press is starting to toy with the financial-and-sex sleaze-ridden divided small-majority Tory party narrative that did for Major from 92 onwards. Will be interesting to see whether that's an EUref-inspired development or something that gathers pace over the next year or two.
  • BannedInParis
    BannedInParis Posts: 2,191
    CarlottaVance said:

    SandyRentool said:

    BannedInParis said:

    So after "man legally pays taxes" Labour are now going with "man has legal consensual sex with woman"

    Right.

    No, it is 'man might have gone easy on the press because they've got dirt on him'.
    Proof?

    Or is it, 'no smoke without fire'....'nudge nudge, wink wink'

    Exactly the sort of thing Hacked Off complained about when it involved a Tory MP celeb actor......
    Well, there is that as well.
  • JackW
    JackW Posts: 14,787
    MikeSmithson said:

    JackW said:

    "Whittingdale - will he survive or not survive?"

    I think he'll probably take something of a beating over this but i doubt there'll be too much blood on the carpet ....

    But clearly the press have had the whip hand over him for some time.

    Somebody has to crack the whip Jack.
    Are they to be known as "Bedford Practices" for the purpose of PB .. "Whipping Here" ?!? .. :sunglasses:
  • Wanderer
    Wanderer Posts: 3,838
    SandyRentool said:

    BannedInParis said:

    So after "man legally pays taxes" Labour are now going with "man has legal consensual sex with woman"

    Right.

    No, it is 'man might have gone easy on the press because they've got dirt on him'.
    What dirt? Seriously, what the hell do you think is "dirty" about consensual adult sex?
  • RobD
    RobD Posts: 60,609
    I'd bet survive.
  • TheScreamingEagles
    TheScreamingEagles Posts: 122,806
    Wanderer said:

    SandyRentool said:

    BannedInParis said:

    So after "man legally pays taxes" Labour are now going with "man has legal consensual sex with woman"

    Right.

    No, it is 'man might have gone easy on the press because they've got dirt on him'.
    What dirt? Seriously, what the hell do you think is "dirty" about consensual adult sex?
    Dirty is in the eye of the beholder. Just don't get it in her eye though.
  • Hertsmere_Pubgoer
    Hertsmere_Pubgoer Posts: 3,476
    Funniest comment I've seen so far about this:
    One of the biggest shocks about this story was that a Tory actually uses the Tube...
  • RobD
    RobD Posts: 60,609
    \
    SandyRentool said:

    FPT:

    I see that the Lib Dems have organised an election with seven candidates and three voters in the House of Lords.

    Any thoughts on the most appropriate voting system to use in such a situation?

    Hopefully there will be a three-way tie.

    Also FPT.. what is the electorate? I thought all hereditary peers registered as Lib Dems could vote, rather than those seated (or is it the other way around, only those with seats can vote, but there are seven registered peers standing)?
  • BannedInParis
    BannedInParis Posts: 2,191
    TheScreamingEagles said:

    Wanderer said:

    SandyRentool said:

    BannedInParis said:

    So after "man legally pays taxes" Labour are now going with "man has legal consensual sex with woman"

    Right.

    No, it is 'man might have gone easy on the press because they've got dirt on him'.
    What dirt? Seriously, what the hell do you think is "dirty" about consensual adult sex?
    Dirty is in the eye of the beholder. Just don't get it in her eye though.
    Maybe he means ...
  • CarlottaVance
    CarlottaVance Posts: 60,422
    I think Hacked Off have also got to answer why the pursuit of a Tory MP was worth trashing the privacy of Whittingdale's partner - where's the 'public interest' in that? Or if you sleep with a Tory do you get what you deserve?
  • TheScreamingEagles
    TheScreamingEagles Posts: 122,806
    He should be ok so long as his story holds up.

    https://twitter.com/TSEofPB/status/720161197639745536
  • MarqueeMark
    MarqueeMark Posts: 55,459
    I see no reason why he should resign.

    And every time before a Labour MP has a consensual sex relationship, I look forward to them getting out a standard Labour Party-approved questionnaire:

    "Are you now, or have you ever been, a sex worker, been paid for sex, been a mistress, engaged in dubious moral activity, failed to declare some or all income to HMRC, been the beneficiary of an offshore trust...."
  • RobD
    RobD Posts: 60,609
    CarlottaVance said:

    I think Hacked Off have also got to answer why the pursuit of a Tory MP was worth trashing the privacy of Whittingdale's partner - where's the 'public interest' in that? Or if you sleep with a Tory do you get what you deserve?

    Did you know that if you sleep with a Tory you become one? So fair game :D
  • SimonStClare
    SimonStClare Posts: 7,976
    BBC top story - Minister under fire over escort dates.

    Helpful headline by Aunty, - makes it look like he hired hookers. :lol:
  • CarlottaVance
    CarlottaVance Posts: 60,422
    @DavidAllanGreen:
    Hacked Off finally became what they said they opposed. Intrusions in to private lives of those caught up in news, ends justifying means.
  • MaxPB
    MaxPB Posts: 40,327
    I'd be very surprised if Whittingdale had to resign over this issue. Single man uses online dating isn't exactly a massive story. If there was an affair or some kind of moral grey area involved then I would be on the fence, but on the face of it a man using online dating isn't the world's largest news story.
  • MonikerDiCanio
    MonikerDiCanio Posts: 5,792
    JackW said:

    MikeSmithson said:

    JackW said:

    "Whittingdale - will he survive or not survive?"

    I think he'll probably take something of a beating over this but i doubt there'll be too much blood on the carpet ....

    But clearly the press have had the whip hand over him for some time.

    Somebody has to crack the whip Jack.
    Are they to be known as "Bedford Practices" for the purpose of PB .. "Whipping Here" ?!? .. :sunglasses:
    Whippingdale suffers from le vice anglais, nothing particular to Bedford.
  • ReallyEvilMuffin
    ReallyEvilMuffin Posts: 65
    Maybe it's a generation divide but I really didn't even clock this as a story. The only thing I now read is that he seems like a bit of a bigot for dropping a women because she escourted...
  • Slackbladder
    Slackbladder Posts: 9,800
    RobD said:

    CarlottaVance said:

    I think Hacked Off have also got to answer why the pursuit of a Tory MP was worth trashing the privacy of Whittingdale's partner - where's the 'public interest' in that? Or if you sleep with a Tory do you get what you deserve?

    Did you know that if you sleep with a Tory you become one? So fair game :D
    Is being a tory sexually transmitted now? ;)
  • RobD
    RobD Posts: 60,609
    ReallyEvilMuffin said:

    Maybe it's a generation divide but I really didn't even clock this as a story. The only thing I now read is that he seems like a bit of a bigot for dropping a women because she escourted...

    Maybe he thought it was monogamous? I don't see why it would make him a bigot.
  • RobD
    RobD Posts: 60,609
    Slackbladder said:

    RobD said:

    CarlottaVance said:

    I think Hacked Off have also got to answer why the pursuit of a Tory MP was worth trashing the privacy of Whittingdale's partner - where's the 'public interest' in that? Or if you sleep with a Tory do you get what you deserve?

    Did you know that if you sleep with a Tory you become one? So fair game :D
    Is being a tory sexually transmitted now? ;)
    They've identified TSE as patient zero. Or was it "Typhoid TSE"... I'm never sure which...
  • Pulpstar
    Pulpstar Posts: 79,813
    SandyRentool said:

    FPT:

    I see that the Lib Dems have organised an election with seven candidates and three voters in the House of Lords.

    Any thoughts on the most appropriate voting system to use in such a situation?

    Hopefully there will be a three-way tie.

    They're using AV
  • TheScreamingEagles
    TheScreamingEagles Posts: 122,806
    Looking this through the Brexit prism

    Remainers = Sweet and Innocent people

    Leavers = Colossal perverts

    A vote for Remain is to uphold the moral hygiene of the U.K.
  • RobD
    RobD Posts: 60,609
    Pulpstar said:

    SandyRentool said:

    FPT:

    I see that the Lib Dems have organised an election with seven candidates and three voters in the House of Lords.

    Any thoughts on the most appropriate voting system to use in such a situation?

    Hopefully there will be a three-way tie.

    They're using AV
    AV? Now, if only we had a handy guide to explain what this mysterious AV was.


    ... I'll get my coat :D
  • Polruan
    Polruan Posts: 2,083
    TheScreamingEagles said:

    Looking this through the Brexit prism

    Remainers = Sweet and Innocent people

    Leavers = Colossal perverts

    A vote for Remain is to uphold the moral hygiene of the U.K.

    Mr Meeks, is that you?
  • JackW
    JackW Posts: 14,787
    I do have to chortle a tad that some think the likes of the the "Sun" and "People" have exercised some form of wonderful restraint .. titter ....

    Let's think ...

    Senior MP .. tick
    Now Cabinet Minister .. tick
    Spicy Sex .. tick
    Former Prostitute .. tick
    Ex wife of "Gladiator Celeb" .. tick

    An editor's dream.

    But ..

    MP at time was Chairman of the Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee and now SoS for same and known critic of Leveson.

    Oh Bugger !!
  • Plato_Says
    Plato_Says Posts: 11,822
    Oh dear, not again - shades of That Letter

    http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/video/2016/apr/13/dear-america-this-donald-trump-thing-its-not-all-about-you-video
  • Theuniondivvie
    Theuniondivvie Posts: 44,327
    Hertsmere_Pubgoer said:

    Funniest comment I've seen so far about this:
    One of the biggest shocks about this story was that a Tory actually uses the Tube...

    A tube of what?
  • SimonStClare
    SimonStClare Posts: 7,976
    TheScreamingEagles said:

    Looking this through the Brexit prism

    Remainers = Sweet and Innocent people

    Leavers = Colossal perverts

    A vote for Remain is to uphold the moral hygiene of the U.K.

    Have you crossed the floor…? (innocent face)
  • Philip_Thompson
    Philip_Thompson Posts: 65,826
    BannedInParis said:

    So after "man legally pays taxes" Labour are now going with "man has legal consensual sex with woman"

    Right.

    I believe Sunday's shocking revelation is that the Pope is secretly a Catholic ...
  • RobD
    RobD Posts: 60,609
    JackW said:

    I do have to chortle a tad that some think the likes of the the "Sun" and "People" have exercised some form of wonderful restraint .. titter ....

    Let's think ...

    Senior MP .. tick
    Now Cabinet Minister .. tick
    Spicy Sex .. tick
    Former Prostitute .. tick
    Ex wife of "Gladiator Celeb" .. tick

    An editor's dream.

    But ..

    MP at time was Chairman of the Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee and now SoS for same and known critic of Leveson.

    Oh Bugger !!

    But he wasn't a cabinet minister at the time, there haven't been suggestions of spicy sex, nor that he knew she was an escort (they matched on a dating site apparently). Definitely a non-story, unless it was a very slow news day.
  • MarqueeMark
    MarqueeMark Posts: 55,459
    Where the hell are the decent political scandals these days? We are having to make do with third rate "awkwardness" as being the end of democracy. Nothing that is touted as a resignation matter these days would make a maiden aunt faint or cause the vicar to drop his cup of tea.

    For the good of decent circulation figures, we need another good Mandelson story or maybe some Ecclestone millions to get us back to the quality we have come to expect.
  • AlastairMeeks
    AlastairMeeks Posts: 30,340
    As I grow older and older
    And totter towards the tomb
    I find that I care less and less
    Who goes to bed with whom.
    Dorothy L. Sayers
  • Polruan
    Polruan Posts: 2,083
    MarqueeMark said:

    I see no reason why he should resign.

    And every time before a Labour MP has a consensual sex relationship, I look forward to them getting out a standard Labour Party-approved questionnaire:

    "Are you now, or have you ever been, a sex worker, been paid for sex, been a mistress, engaged in dubious moral activity, failed to declare some or all income to HMRC, been the beneficiary of an offshore trust...."

    I don't see any reason why he should resign over the relationship. But the condemnation of his behaviour appears to have come from one Mr Whittingdale: "I had a relationship with someone who I first met through Match.com. She was a similar age and lived close to me. At no time did she give me any indication of of her real occupation and I only discovered this when I was made aware that someone was trying to sell a story about me to tabloid newspapers. As soon as I discovered, I ended the relationship."

    Labour are correctly going on the angle of whether his personal life led him to abuse his power in relation to press regulation, not the nature of his relationship.
  • nigel4england
    nigel4england Posts: 4,800
    Philip_Thompson said:

    BannedInParis said:

    So after "man legally pays taxes" Labour are now going with "man has legal consensual sex with woman"

    Right.

    I believe Sunday's shocking revelation is that the Pope is secretly a Catholic ...
    Next:

    Dolly Parton sleeps on her back.
  • TheScreamingEagles
    TheScreamingEagles Posts: 122,806
    Polruan said:

    TheScreamingEagles said:

    Looking this through the Brexit prism

    Remainers = Sweet and Innocent people

    Leavers = Colossal perverts

    A vote for Remain is to uphold the moral hygiene of the U.K.

    Mr Meeks, is that you?
    Well I'm the last person you'd want to uphold the moral hygiene of the U.K.
  • Sean_F
    Sean_F Posts: 39,132
    TheScreamingEagles said:

    Looking this through the Brexit prism

    Remainers = Sweet and Innocent people

    Leavers = Colossal perverts

    A vote for Remain is to uphold the moral hygiene of the U.K.

    I take it you've finally decided to vote Leave.
  • Hertsmere_Pubgoer
    Hertsmere_Pubgoer Posts: 3,476
    TheScreamingEagles said:

    Looking this through the Brexit prism

    Remainers = Sweet and Innocent people

    Leavers = Colossal perverts

    A vote for Remain is to uphold the moral hygiene of the U.K.

    A vote for Remain is to return to the days of covering table legs in case men have improper thoughts.
  • Plato_Says
    Plato_Says Posts: 11,822
    Now all those Never Kissed A Tory t-shirts make sense
    Slackbladder said:

    RobD said:

    CarlottaVance said:

    I think Hacked Off have also got to answer why the pursuit of a Tory MP was worth trashing the privacy of Whittingdale's partner - where's the 'public interest' in that? Or if you sleep with a Tory do you get what you deserve?

    Did you know that if you sleep with a Tory you become one? So fair game :D
    Is being a tory sexually transmitted now? ;)
  • SquareRoot
    SquareRoot Posts: 7,095
    Polruan said:

    MarqueeMark said:

    I see no reason why he should resign.

    And every time before a Labour MP has a consensual sex relationship, I look forward to them getting out a standard Labour Party-approved questionnaire:

    "Are you now, or have you ever been, a sex worker, been paid for sex, been a mistress, engaged in dubious moral activity, failed to declare some or all income to HMRC, been the beneficiary of an offshore trust...."

    I don't see any reason why he should resign over the relationship. But the condemnation of his behaviour appears to have come from one Mr Whittingdale: "I had a relationship with someone who I first met through Match.com. She was a similar age and lived close to me. At no time did she give me any indication of of her real occupation and I only discovered this when I was made aware that someone was trying to sell a story about me to tabloid newspapers. As soon as I discovered, I ended the relationship."

    Labour are correctly going on the angle of whether his personal life led him to abuse his power in relation to press regulation, not the nature of his relationship.
    Correctly going.. my eye.
  • Casino_Royale
    Casino_Royale Posts: 63,687
    Why should he resign? For the crime of being a single middle-aged Tory, who's not much of a looker, who's been found out to enjoy sex to his specific tastes?
  • TheScreamingEagles
    TheScreamingEagles Posts: 122,806
    Sean_F said:

    TheScreamingEagles said:

    Looking this through the Brexit prism

    Remainers = Sweet and Innocent people

    Leavers = Colossal perverts

    A vote for Remain is to uphold the moral hygiene of the U.K.

    I take it you've finally decided to vote Leave.
    Yup. Been reading a piece saying the French really want us to stay.
  • Philip_Thompson
    Philip_Thompson Posts: 65,826
    Pulpstar said:

    SandyRentool said:

    FPT:

    I see that the Lib Dems have organised an election with seven candidates and three voters in the House of Lords.

    Any thoughts on the most appropriate voting system to use in such a situation?

    Hopefully there will be a three-way tie.

    They're using AV
    How can you use AV in a three voter situation?

    If in round 1 two votes go to a candidate then they're duly elected, no second round.
    If in round 1 no candidates get two votes who do you eliminate and transfer the vote of?

    AV doesn't apply here.
  • AlastairMeeks
    AlastairMeeks Posts: 30,340
    Polruan said:

    MarqueeMark said:

    I see no reason why he should resign.

    And every time before a Labour MP has a consensual sex relationship, I look forward to them getting out a standard Labour Party-approved questionnaire:

    "Are you now, or have you ever been, a sex worker, been paid for sex, been a mistress, engaged in dubious moral activity, failed to declare some or all income to HMRC, been the beneficiary of an offshore trust...."

    I don't see any reason why he should resign over the relationship. But the condemnation of his behaviour appears to have come from one Mr Whittingdale: "I had a relationship with someone who I first met through Match.com. She was a similar age and lived close to me. At no time did she give me any indication of of her real occupation and I only discovered this when I was made aware that someone was trying to sell a story about me to tabloid newspapers. As soon as I discovered, I ended the relationship."

    Labour are correctly going on the angle of whether his personal life led him to abuse his power in relation to press regulation, not the nature of his relationship.
    There doesn't seem to be the slightest evidence of that. John Whittingdale's views were well-established in advance of him becoming Culture Secretary - he was chair of the Parliamentary Culture Media and Sport Committee beforehand and opined regularly in that position. The Prime Minister would have been fully aware of his views before appointing him - indeed I seem to recall commenting that it was a declaration of war on the BBC by the Prime Minister when he appointed John Whittingdale to this role.

    This just looks like muck-raking to me.
  • MarqueeMark
    MarqueeMark Posts: 55,459
    RobD said:

    CarlottaVance said:

    I think Hacked Off have also got to answer why the pursuit of a Tory MP was worth trashing the privacy of Whittingdale's partner - where's the 'public interest' in that? Or if you sleep with a Tory do you get what you deserve?

    Did you know that if you sleep with a Tory you become one? So fair game :D
    Ah, that explains all those "I've Never Kissed A Tory" T-shirts. It's like showing the world your all-clear from AIDS....
  • David_Evershed
    David_Evershed Posts: 6,506
    I seem to recall Vince Cable had to pass newspaper regulation from BIS over to the Culture Secretary because of perceived conflict when he made remarks about Murdoch.

    So with the current perceived conflict for Whittingdale, newpaper regulation could be passed back to the BIS Department.
  • TheScreamingEagles
    TheScreamingEagles Posts: 122,806
    Philip_Thompson said:

    Pulpstar said:

    SandyRentool said:

    FPT:

    I see that the Lib Dems have organised an election with seven candidates and three voters in the House of Lords.

    Any thoughts on the most appropriate voting system to use in such a situation?

    Hopefully there will be a three-way tie.

    They're using AV
    How can you use AV in a three voter situation?

    If in round 1 two votes go to a candidate then they're duly elected, no second round.
    If in round 1 no candidates get two votes who do you eliminate and transfer the vote of?

    AV doesn't apply here.
    If there's a tie in any round, they draw lots.

    It really is an AV election
  • TheScreamingEagles
    TheScreamingEagles Posts: 122,806
    Hertsmere_Pubgoer said:

    TheScreamingEagles said:

    Looking this through the Brexit prism

    Remainers = Sweet and Innocent people

    Leavers = Colossal perverts

    A vote for Remain is to uphold the moral hygiene of the U.K.

    A vote for Remain is to return to the days of covering table legs in case men have improper thoughts.
    Those were the days.
  • RobD
    RobD Posts: 60,609
    You have to wonder what the motivation of the BBC is in all this (I understand they broke it on Newsnight?). After all, Whittingdale isn't their biggest fan.
  • MaxPB
    MaxPB Posts: 40,327
    ReallyEvilMuffin said:

    Maybe it's a generation divide but I really didn't even clock this as a story. The only thing I now read is that he seems like a bit of a bigot for dropping a women because she escourted...

    She did it while seeing him, maybe he had no intention of being cuckolded?
  • Plato_Says
    Plato_Says Posts: 11,822
    Also being a dominatrix doesn't mean you're a prostitute either.
    RobD said:

    JackW said:

    I do have to chortle a tad that some think the likes of the the "Sun" and "People" have exercised some form of wonderful restraint .. titter ....

    Let's think ...

    Senior MP .. tick
    Now Cabinet Minister .. tick
    Spicy Sex .. tick
    Former Prostitute .. tick
    Ex wife of "Gladiator Celeb" .. tick

    An editor's dream.

    But ..

    MP at time was Chairman of the Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee and now SoS for same and known critic of Leveson.

    Oh Bugger !!

    But he wasn't a cabinet minister at the time, there haven't been suggestions of spicy sex, nor that he knew she was an escort (they matched on a dating site apparently). Definitely a non-story, unless it was a very slow news day.
  • JackW
    JackW Posts: 14,787
    RobD said:

    JackW said:

    I do have to chortle a tad that some think the likes of the the "Sun" and "People" have exercised some form of wonderful restraint .. titter ....

    Let's think ...

    Senior MP .. tick
    Now Cabinet Minister .. tick
    Spicy Sex .. tick
    Former Prostitute .. tick
    Ex wife of "Gladiator Celeb" .. tick

    An editor's dream.

    But ..

    MP at time was Chairman of the Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee and now SoS for same and known critic of Leveson.

    Oh Bugger !!

    But he wasn't a cabinet minister at the time, there haven't been suggestions of spicy sex, nor that he knew she was an escort (they matched on a dating site apparently). Definitely a non-story, unless it was a very slow news day.
    Dah ...

    What position did he hold prior to being in the Cabinet ?!? and what issue dominated his tenure ?!?

    The tabloid press don't care about the finer details but the association of kinky sex and an MP.
  • Pulpstar
    Pulpstar Posts: 79,813
    edited April 2016
    Philip_Thompson said:

    Pulpstar said:

    SandyRentool said:

    FPT:

    I see that the Lib Dems have organised an election with seven candidates and three voters in the House of Lords.

    Any thoughts on the most appropriate voting system to use in such a situation?

    Hopefully there will be a three-way tie.

    They're using AV
    How can you use AV in a three voter situation?

    If in round 1 two votes go to a candidate then they're duly elected, no second round.
    If in round 1 no candidates get two votes who do you eliminate and transfer the vote of?

    AV doesn't apply here.
    Well they can, and they are !
  • Morris_Dancer
    Morris_Dancer Posts: 62,742
    This story does appear to be utter tosh.
  • Philip_Thompson
    Philip_Thompson Posts: 65,826
    JackW said:

    RobD said:

    JackW said:

    I do have to chortle a tad that some think the likes of the the "Sun" and "People" have exercised some form of wonderful restraint .. titter ....

    Let's think ...

    Senior MP .. tick
    Now Cabinet Minister .. tick
    Spicy Sex .. tick
    Former Prostitute .. tick
    Ex wife of "Gladiator Celeb" .. tick

    An editor's dream.

    But ..

    MP at time was Chairman of the Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee and now SoS for same and known critic of Leveson.

    Oh Bugger !!

    But he wasn't a cabinet minister at the time, there haven't been suggestions of spicy sex, nor that he knew she was an escort (they matched on a dating site apparently). Definitely a non-story, unless it was a very slow news day.
    Dah ...

    What position did he hold prior to being in the Cabinet ?!? and what issue dominated his tenure ?!?

    The tabloid press don't care about the finer details but the association of kinky sex and an MP.
    When else has "single man has relationship via online dating" been "news"?
  • Cyclefree
    Cyclefree Posts: 25,709
    Hacked Off are ghastly people who have no interest in privacy. Their only concerns were to (a) control what newspapers wrote about certain approved celebrities; (b) get at the newspapers when they lost that control; and (c) attack Murdoch.

    Since Whittingdale is a Tory they see no problem with his privacy being invaded, even though in fact the papers did not invade his privacy, and he had ceased having the relationship long before he became Culture Secretary.

    Hacked Off are an utterly unedifying organisation and the sooner they - rather than Whittingdale - disappear from public life the better.
  • Wanderer
    Wanderer Posts: 3,838
    TheScreamingEagles said:

    Looking this through the Brexit prism

    Remainers = Sweet and Innocent people

    Leavers = Colossal perverts

    A vote for Remain is to uphold the moral hygiene of the U.K.

    I'm up for a Colossal Remain Perverts grouping. Britain Stronger in Europe needs some competition.
  • Hertsmere_Pubgoer
    Hertsmere_Pubgoer Posts: 3,476
    Plato_Says said:

    Also being a dominatrix doesn't mean you're a prostitute either.

    RobD said:

    JackW said:

    I do have to chortle a tad that some think the likes of the the "Sun" and "People" have exercised some form of wonderful restraint .. titter ....

    Let's think ...

    Senior MP .. tick
    Now Cabinet Minister .. tick
    Spicy Sex .. tick
    Former Prostitute .. tick
    Ex wife of "Gladiator Celeb" .. tick

    An editor's dream.

    But ..

    MP at time was Chairman of the Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee and now SoS for same and known critic of Leveson.

    Oh Bugger !!

    But he wasn't a cabinet minister at the time, there haven't been suggestions of spicy sex, nor that he knew she was an escort (they matched on a dating site apparently). Definitely a non-story, unless it was a very slow news day.
    I was pondering that thought too.
    A proper Domme (as opposed to a hooker who does it a bit) doesn't give their submissive any sexual relief.
  • Plato_Says
    Plato_Says Posts: 11,822
    edited April 2016
    And he was against Leveson, so if the press had decided to publish - it'd be in line with his own long standing views.

    If he'd been pro, I could half see a case but not here
    Casino_Royale said:

    Why should he resign? For the crime of being a single middle-aged Tory, who's not much of a looker, who's been found out to enjoy sex to his specific tastes?

  • RobD
    RobD Posts: 60,609
    David_Evershed said:

    I seem to recall Vince Cable had to pass newspaper regulation from BIS over to the Culture Secretary because of perceived conflict when he made remarks about Murdoch.

    So with the current perceived conflict for Whittingdale, newpaper regulation could be passed back to the BIS Department.

    But Cable actually used the words "war on Murdoch", when he was probably supposed to be impartial. Much more evidence than we have in this case.
  • JackW
    JackW Posts: 14,787
    Philip_Thompson said:

    JackW said:

    RobD said:

    JackW said:

    I do have to chortle a tad that some think the likes of the the "Sun" and "People" have exercised some form of wonderful restraint .. titter ....

    Let's think ...

    Senior MP .. tick
    Now Cabinet Minister .. tick
    Spicy Sex .. tick
    Former Prostitute .. tick
    Ex wife of "Gladiator Celeb" .. tick

    An editor's dream.

    But ..

    MP at time was Chairman of the Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee and now SoS for same and known critic of Leveson.

    Oh Bugger !!

    But he wasn't a cabinet minister at the time, there haven't been suggestions of spicy sex, nor that he knew she was an escort (they matched on a dating site apparently). Definitely a non-story, unless it was a very slow news day.
    Dah ...

    What position did he hold prior to being in the Cabinet ?!? and what issue dominated his tenure ?!?

    The tabloid press don't care about the finer details but the association of kinky sex and an MP.
    When else has "single man has relationship via online dating" been "news"?
    Any time the tabloid press think it'll flog a few more copies.
  • RobD
    RobD Posts: 60,609
    Hertsmere_Pubgoer said:

    Plato_Says said:

    Also being a dominatrix doesn't mean you're a prostitute either.

    RobD said:

    JackW said:

    I do have to chortle a tad that some think the likes of the the "Sun" and "People" have exercised some form of wonderful restraint .. titter ....

    Let's think ...

    Senior MP .. tick
    Now Cabinet Minister .. tick
    Spicy Sex .. tick
    Former Prostitute .. tick
    Ex wife of "Gladiator Celeb" .. tick

    An editor's dream.

    But ..

    MP at time was Chairman of the Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee and now SoS for same and known critic of Leveson.

    Oh Bugger !!

    But he wasn't a cabinet minister at the time, there haven't been suggestions of spicy sex, nor that he knew she was an escort (they matched on a dating site apparently). Definitely a non-story, unless it was a very slow news day.
    I was pondering that thought too.
    A proper Domme (as opposed to a hooker who does it a bit) doesn't give their submissive any sexual relief.
    No wonder he dumped her ;)
  • Polruan
    Polruan Posts: 2,083
    AlastairMeeks said:

    Polruan said:

    MarqueeMark said:

    I see no reason why he should resign.

    And every time before a Labour MP has a consensual sex relationship, I look forward to them getting out a standard Labour Party-approved questionnaire:

    "Are you now, or have you ever been, a sex worker, been paid for sex, been a mistress, engaged in dubious moral activity, failed to declare some or all income to HMRC, been the beneficiary of an offshore trust...."

    I don't see any reason why he should resign over the relationship. But the condemnation of his behaviour appears to have come from one Mr Whittingdale: "I had a relationship with someone who I first met through Match.com. She was a similar age and lived close to me. At no time did she give me any indication of of her real occupation and I only discovered this when I was made aware that someone was trying to sell a story about me to tabloid newspapers. As soon as I discovered, I ended the relationship."

    Labour are correctly going on the angle of whether his personal life led him to abuse his power in relation to press regulation, not the nature of his relationship.
    There doesn't seem to be the slightest evidence of that. John Whittingdale's views were well-established in advance of him becoming Culture Secretary - he was chair of the Parliamentary Culture Media and Sport Committee beforehand and opined regularly in that position. The Prime Minister would have been fully aware of his views before appointing him - indeed I seem to recall commenting that it was a declaration of war on the BBC by the Prime Minister when he appointed John Whittingdale to this role.

    This just looks like muck-raking to me.
    JackW's comment below (9.12) pretty much covers it, I think.

    In any case, I'm not saying there is any evidence for or against the concern Labour are advancing, merely that it's a reasonable question to ask in the circumstances, and it's reasonable behaviour for any competent opposition in attempting to hold the executive to account (maybe the biggest surprise here is Labour behaving like a competent opposition).
  • MaxPB
    MaxPB Posts: 40,327
    Hertsmere_Pubgoer said:

    TheScreamingEagles said:

    Looking this through the Brexit prism

    Remainers = Sweet and Innocent people

    Leavers = Colossal perverts

    A vote for Remain is to uphold the moral hygiene of the U.K.

    A vote for Remain is to return to the days of covering table legs in case men have improper thoughts.
    So a vote for Remain is a vote for Sharia Law? Hold on, let me call Nige.
  • Casino_Royale
    Casino_Royale Posts: 63,687
    Hertsmere_Pubgoer said:

    TheScreamingEagles said:

    Looking this through the Brexit prism

    Remainers = Sweet and Innocent people

    Leavers = Colossal perverts

    A vote for Remain is to uphold the moral hygiene of the U.K.

    A vote for Remain is to return to the days of covering table legs in case men have improper thoughts.
    It doesn't take much - we men are awful.

    I mean, I had improper thoughts just by betting heavily against Jeb on the Republican Nomination market.
  • Hertsmere_Pubgoer
    Hertsmere_Pubgoer Posts: 3,476
    Wanderer said:

    TheScreamingEagles said:

    Looking this through the Brexit prism

    Remainers = Sweet and Innocent people

    Leavers = Colossal perverts

    A vote for Remain is to uphold the moral hygiene of the U.K.

    I'm up for a Colossal Remain Perverts grouping. Britain Stronger in Europe needs some competition.
    You are the Baby eating Bishop of Bath and Wells and I claim £5
  • Pulpstar
    Pulpstar Posts: 79,813
    JackW said:

    RobD said:

    JackW said:

    I do have to chortle a tad that some think the likes of the the "Sun" and "People" have exercised some form of wonderful restraint .. titter ....

    Let's think ...

    Senior MP .. tick
    Now Cabinet Minister .. tick
    Spicy Sex .. tick
    Former Prostitute .. tick
    Ex wife of "Gladiator Celeb" .. tick

    An editor's dream.

    But ..

    MP at time was Chairman of the Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee and now SoS for same and known critic of Leveson.

    Oh Bugger !!

    But he wasn't a cabinet minister at the time, there haven't been suggestions of spicy sex, nor that he knew she was an escort (they matched on a dating site apparently). Definitely a non-story, unless it was a very slow news day.
    Dah ...

    What position did he hold prior to being in the Cabinet ?!? and what issue dominated his tenure ?!?

    The tabloid press don't care about the finer details but the association of kinky sex and an MP.
    The closest analogue I can think to this story is when Buttler-Sloss stepped down from the Independent inquiry into child abuse due to her brother being attorney general.
  • Philip_Thompson
    Philip_Thompson Posts: 65,826
    JackW said:

    Philip_Thompson said:

    JackW said:

    RobD said:

    JackW said:

    I do have to chortle a tad that some think the likes of the the "Sun" and "People" have exercised some form of wonderful restraint .. titter ....

    Let's think ...

    Senior MP .. tick
    Now Cabinet Minister .. tick
    Spicy Sex .. tick
    Former Prostitute .. tick
    Ex wife of "Gladiator Celeb" .. tick

    An editor's dream.

    But ..

    MP at time was Chairman of the Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee and now SoS for same and known critic of Leveson.

    Oh Bugger !!

    But he wasn't a cabinet minister at the time, there haven't been suggestions of spicy sex, nor that he knew she was an escort (they matched on a dating site apparently). Definitely a non-story, unless it was a very slow news day.
    Dah ...

    What position did he hold prior to being in the Cabinet ?!? and what issue dominated his tenure ?!?

    The tabloid press don't care about the finer details but the association of kinky sex and an MP.
    When else has "single man has relationship via online dating" been "news"?
    Any time the tabloid press think it'll flog a few more copies.
    Can't think of any examples of this low standard with other MPs, perhaps you'd like to share some?
  • AlastairMeeks
    AlastairMeeks Posts: 30,340
    Polruan said:

    AlastairMeeks said:

    Polruan said:

    MarqueeMark said:

    I see no reason why he should resign.

    And every time before a Labour MP has a consensual sex relationship, I look forward to them getting out a standard Labour Party-approved questionnaire:

    "Are you now, or have you ever been, a sex worker, been paid for sex, been a mistress, engaged in dubious moral activity, failed to declare some or all income to HMRC, been the beneficiary of an offshore trust...."

    I don't see any reason why he should resign over the relationship. But the condemnation of his behaviour appears to have come from one Mr Whittingdale: "I had a relationship with someone who I first met through Match.com. She was a similar age and lived close to me. At no time did she give me any indication of of her real occupation and I only discovered this when I was made aware that someone was trying to sell a story about me to tabloid newspapers. As soon as I discovered, I ended the relationship."

    Labour are correctly going on the angle of whether his personal life led him to abuse his power in relation to press regulation, not the nature of his relationship.
    There doesn't seem to be the slightest evidence of that. John Whittingdale's views were well-established in advance of him becoming Culture Secretary - he was chair of the Parliamentary Culture Media and Sport Committee beforehand and opined regularly in that position. The Prime Minister would have been fully aware of his views before appointing him - indeed I seem to recall commenting that it was a declaration of war on the BBC by the Prime Minister when he appointed John Whittingdale to this role.

    This just looks like muck-raking to me.
    JackW's comment below (9.12) pretty much covers it, I think.

    In any case, I'm not saying there is any evidence for or against the concern Labour are advancing, merely that it's a reasonable question to ask in the circumstances, and it's reasonable behaviour for any competent opposition in attempting to hold the executive to account (maybe the biggest surprise here is Labour behaving like a competent opposition).
    Yes, the hypocrisy is the press's, not John Whittingdale's. But I can't see how I'm supposed to get angry about the press not publishing something that its opponents wouldn't want published about anyone else.
  • Hertsmere_Pubgoer
    Hertsmere_Pubgoer Posts: 3,476
    Casino_Royale said:

    Hertsmere_Pubgoer said:

    TheScreamingEagles said:

    Looking this through the Brexit prism

    Remainers = Sweet and Innocent people

    Leavers = Colossal perverts

    A vote for Remain is to uphold the moral hygiene of the U.K.

    A vote for Remain is to return to the days of covering table legs in case men have improper thoughts.
    It doesn't take much - we men are awful.

    I mean, I had improper thoughts just by betting heavily against Jeb on the Republican Nomination market.
    Ah yes, your Laying as much Bush as possible comment. I was most annoyed that TSE beat me to the punchline on that one,
  • Rexel56
    Rexel56 Posts: 807
    Polruan said:

    It seems pretty straightforward: if he made any use of his position in relation to press regulation, however veiled or implied, to prevent a personally embarrassing story from being reported, he should go. If it's just an embarrassing story he shouldn't.

    It does seem as if the lately-loyal right wing press is starting to toy with the financial-and-sex sleaze-ridden divided small-majority Tory party narrative that did for Major from 92 onwards. Will be interesting to see whether that's an EUref-inspired development or something that gathers pace over the next year or two.

    McBride is back, what did you expect?
  • Cyclefree
    Cyclefree Posts: 25,709
    Incidentally, one of the possible questions in relation to Corbyn's income is this: he has in the past appeared on Press TV. Has he been paid by them? And did he take care to ensure that in receiving payment he was not - inadvertently - in breach of then existing sanctions against Iran? Similarly, if he or his office ever received money (i.e. either for speeches given or donations) from some of his more colourful associates, I hope he checked that he was not in breach of any sanctions. There are quite a wide list of organisations which are covered by sanctions regulations. If you do not pay attention to the detail of where any payments for extra-curricular activities are coming from you can find yourself, inadvertently, in breach.
  • Cyclefree
    Cyclefree Posts: 25,709
    AlastairMeeks said:

    Polruan said:

    AlastairMeeks said:

    Polruan said:

    MarqueeMark said:

    I see no reason why he should resign.

    And every time before a Labour MP has a consensual sex relationship, I look forward to them getting out a standard Labour Party-approved questionnaire:

    "Are you now, or have you ever been, a sex worker, been paid for sex, been a mistress, engaged in dubious moral activity, failed to declare some or all income to HMRC, been the beneficiary of an offshore trust...."

    I don't see any reason why he should resign over the relationship. But the condemnation of his behaviour appears to have come from one Mr Whittingdale: "I had a relationship with someone who I first met through Match.com. She was a similar age and lived close to me. At no time did she give me any indication of of her real occupation and I only discovered this when I was made aware that someone was trying to sell a story about me to tabloid newspapers. As soon as I discovered, I ended the relationship."

    Labour are correctly going on the angle of whether his personal life led him to abuse his power in relation to press regulation, not the nature of his relationship.
    There doesn't seem to be the slightest evidence of that. John Whittingdale's views were well-established in advance of him becoming Culture Secretary - he was chair of the Parliamentary Culture Media and Sport Committee beforehand and opined regularly in that position. The Prime Minister would have been fully aware of his views before appointing him - indeed I seem to recall commenting that it was a declaration of war on the BBC by the Prime Minister when he appointed John Whittingdale to this role.

    This just looks like muck-raking to me.
    JackW's comment below (9.12) pretty much covers it, I think.

    In any case, I'm not saying there is any evidence for or against the concern Labour are advancing, merely that it's a reasonable question to ask in the circumstances, and it's reasonable behaviour for any competent opposition in attempting to hold the executive to account (maybe the biggest surprise here is Labour behaving like a competent opposition).
    Yes, the hypocrisy is the press's, not John Whittingdale's. But I can't see how I'm supposed to get angry about the press not publishing something that its opponents wouldn't want published about anyone else.
    The opponents don't want stories published about themselves and their friends. They have no issue with stories being published about people they dislike, as their rather grubby agitation this morning shows.

  • Polruan
    Polruan Posts: 2,083
    Rexel56 said:

    Polruan said:

    It seems pretty straightforward: if he made any use of his position in relation to press regulation, however veiled or implied, to prevent a personally embarrassing story from being reported, he should go. If it's just an embarrassing story he shouldn't.

    It does seem as if the lately-loyal right wing press is starting to toy with the financial-and-sex sleaze-ridden divided small-majority Tory party narrative that did for Major from 92 onwards. Will be interesting to see whether that's an EUref-inspired development or something that gathers pace over the next year or two.

    McBride is back, what did you expect?
    I think if McBride had the power to direct the narrative of the press at will then he'd have been the subject of a bidding war that makes the IPL auctions look like Poundstretcher.
  • Pulpstar
    Pulpstar Posts: 79,813
    edited April 2016
    Philip_Thompson said:

    JackW said:

    Philip_Thompson said:

    JackW said:

    RobD said:

    JackW said:

    I do have to chortle a tad that some think the likes of the the "Sun" and "People" have exercised some form of wonderful restraint .. titter ....

    Let's think ...

    Senior MP .. tick
    Now Cabinet Minister .. tick
    Spicy Sex .. tick
    Former Prostitute .. tick
    Ex wife of "Gladiator Celeb" .. tick

    An editor's dream.

    But ..

    MP at time was Chairman of the Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee and now SoS for same and known critic of Leveson.

    Oh Bugger !!

    But he wasn't a cabinet minister at the time, there haven't been suggestions of spicy sex, nor that he knew she was an escort (they matched on a dating site apparently). Definitely a non-story, unless it was a very slow news day.
    Dah ...

    What position did he hold prior to being in the Cabinet ?!? and what issue dominated his tenure ?!?

    The tabloid press don't care about the finer details but the association of kinky sex and an MP.
    When else has "single man has relationship via online dating" been "news"?
    Any time the tabloid press think it'll flog a few more copies.
    Can't think of any examples of this low standard with other MPs, perhaps you'd like to share some?
    Chris Bryant got the front page for a dating website picture !
  • peter_from_putney
    peter_from_putney Posts: 6,956
    TheScreamingEagles said:

    Sean_F said:

    TheScreamingEagles said:

    Looking this through the Brexit prism

    Remainers = Sweet and Innocent people

    Leavers = Colossal perverts

    A vote for Remain is to uphold the moral hygiene of the U.K.

    I take it you've finally decided to vote Leave.
    Yup. Been reading a piece saying the French really want us to stay.
    Of course they do. From where else do you imagine are they going to find all those billions of Euros to subsidise their hopelessly inefficient farmers?
  • JackW
    JackW Posts: 14,787
    Cyclefree said:

    Hacked Off are ghastly people who have no interest in privacy.

    You think the Dowler family, Christopher Jeffries and the McCanns are "ghastly people" ?

  • TheScreamingEagles
    TheScreamingEagles Posts: 122,806
    edited April 2016
    Pulpstar said:

    JackW said:

    RobD said:

    JackW said:

    I do have to chortle a tad that some think the likes of the the "Sun" and "People" have exercised some form of wonderful restraint .. titter ....

    Let's think ...

    Senior MP .. tick
    Now Cabinet Minister .. tick
    Spicy Sex .. tick
    Former Prostitute .. tick
    Ex wife of "Gladiator Celeb" .. tick

    An editor's dream.

    But ..

    MP at time was Chairman of the Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee and now SoS for same and known critic of Leveson.

    Oh Bugger !!

    But he wasn't a cabinet minister at the time, there haven't been suggestions of spicy sex, nor that he knew she was an escort (they matched on a dating site apparently). Definitely a non-story, unless it was a very slow news day.
    Dah ...

    What position did he hold prior to being in the Cabinet ?!? and what issue dominated his tenure ?!?

    The tabloid press don't care about the finer details but the association of kinky sex and an MP.
    The closest analogue I can think to this story is when Buttler-Sloss stepped down from the Independent inquiry into child abuse due to her brother being attorney general.
    Her brother, Sir Michael Havers, himself got into trouble with prostitutes.

    Not like that.

    During the Yorkshire ripper trial he said something that upset every prostitute in the country.

    Havers drew controversy at the outset of the trial, when he said of Sutcliffe's victims in his introductory speech: "Some were prostitutes, but perhaps the saddest part of the case is that some were not. The last six attacks were on totally respectable women."

    In response to this remark, the English Collective of Prostitutes accused Havers of "condoning the murder of prostitutes", and women demonstrated outside the Old Bailey with placards in protest.[9]
  • Theuniondivvie
    Theuniondivvie Posts: 44,327
    Just in case anyone was considering the tabloids' delicacy over Mr Whittingdale's inclinations represents the sunny uplands of a newly responsible press, think again.

    https://twitter.com/ms_shepherd/status/719938342339657732

  • Pulpstar
    Pulpstar Posts: 79,813
    TheScreamingEagles said:

    Pulpstar said:

    JackW said:

    RobD said:

    JackW said:

    I do have to chortle a tad that some think the likes of the the "Sun" and "People" have exercised some form of wonderful restraint .. titter ....

    Let's think ...

    Senior MP .. tick
    Now Cabinet Minister .. tick
    Spicy Sex .. tick
    Former Prostitute .. tick
    Ex wife of "Gladiator Celeb" .. tick

    An editor's dream.

    But ..

    MP at time was Chairman of the Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee and now SoS for same and known critic of Leveson.

    Oh Bugger !!

    But he wasn't a cabinet minister at the time, there haven't been suggestions of spicy sex, nor that he knew she was an escort (they matched on a dating site apparently). Definitely a non-story, unless it was a very slow news day.
    Dah ...

    What position did he hold prior to being in the Cabinet ?!? and what issue dominated his tenure ?!?

    The tabloid press don't care about the finer details but the association of kinky sex and an MP.
    The closest analogue I can think to this story is when Buttler-Sloss stepped down from the Independent inquiry into child abuse due to her brother being attorney general.
    Her brother, Sir Michael Havers, himself got into trouble with prostitutes.

    Not like that.

    During the Yorkshire ripper trial he said something that upset every prostitute in the country
    You have even less control over who your brother is than who you date !
  • Polruan
    Polruan Posts: 2,083
    AlastairMeeks said:

    Polruan said:

    AlastairMeeks said:

    Polruan said:

    MarqueeMark said:

    I see no reason why he should resign.


    I don't see any reason why he should resign over the relationship. But the condemnation of his behaviour appears to have come from one Mr Whittingdale: "I had a relationship with someone who I first met through Match.com. She was a similar age and lived close to me. At no time did she give me any indication of of her real occupation and I only discovered this when I was made aware that someone was trying to sell a story about me to tabloid newspapers. As soon as I discovered, I ended the relationship."

    Labour are correctly going on the angle of whether his personal life led him to abuse his power in relation to press regulation, not the nature of his relationship.
    There doesn't seem to be the slightest evidence of that. John Whittingdale's views were well-established in advance of him becoming Culture Secretary - he was chair of the Parliamentary Culture Media and Sport Committee beforehand and opined regularly in that position. The Prime Minister would have been fully aware of his views before appointing him - indeed I seem to recall commenting that it was a declaration of war on the BBC by the Prime Minister when he appointed John Whittingdale to this role.

    This just looks like muck-raking to me.
    JackW's comment below (9.12) pretty much covers it, I think.

    In any case, I'm not saying there is any evidence for or against the concern Labour are advancing, merely that it's a reasonable question to ask in the circumstances, and it's reasonable behaviour for any competent opposition in attempting to hold the executive to account (maybe the biggest surprise here is Labour behaving like a competent opposition).
    Yes, the hypocrisy is the press's, not John Whittingdale's. But I can't see how I'm supposed to get angry about the press not publishing something that its opponents wouldn't want published about anyone else.
    It's almost like you have a legal background with meta-arguments like that.

    The press shouldn't (IMO) publish this stuff about anyone. In the real world, it does. Whittingdale is responsible for relevant regulation, and has not seen fit to address the issue. If - and I have no idea whether this is the case - he used his position of power to afford himself greater protection than he feels that the population at large deserves, that's an abuse of his power and pretty hypocritical.

    The relevant question is how he deals with the world as it exists, not the counterfactual that states he would not have had to deal with the problem were the world to be as "the opponents [of the press]" would like it to be.
  • foxinsoxuk
    foxinsoxuk Posts: 23,548
    Hertsmere_Pubgoer said:

    TheScreamingEagles said:

    Looking this through the Brexit prism

    Remainers = Sweet and Innocent people

    Leavers = Colossal perverts

    A vote for Remain is to uphold the moral hygiene of the U.K.

    A vote for Remain is to return to the days of covering table legs in case men have improper thoughts.
    Leavers once again get their facts wrong....

    http://knowledgenuts.com/2013/07/21/the-victorians-didnt-cover-their-table-legs/
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