General Chat

Sue Just had to delete my post to you. Wrote a wonderful piece about Philistines, then realised I was writing about Pharisees. Oh, this old age doesn't get any better. :-( :-(

Seems pretty obvious then that you enjoy your self opinionated Ego Trips.

Merlin Some of us have deep psychological reasons for seeking attention, boosting our egos etc. Please do not judge so readily, just because you stand on higher ground.

You amused me with your Grumpy Old Man. First time in 66 years anyone has called me that. Now Arthur Smith really is a grumpy old man - but very funny. Whereas I am a lovely late middle aged man - but not very funny :-D :-D

Vote for Merlin. He is not a prat <3 <3

I did not elect any of the current prats to office, I think prat is too kind a word, where I come from the term 'a bit of a prat' is for stupid but harmless people, usually in no position to have any real effect on the lives of others..

"prat [præt]
n
Slang an incompetent or ineffectual person: often used as a term of abuse
[probably special use of C16 prat buttocks, of unknown origin]"

no I wouldn't call Andrew Mitchell a "prat"...my term would be much stronger ;-)

Rose Yes, it is a badge of honour to be called a prat on here, and Mitchell hardly warrants that soubriquette.

I have always been interested in politics, and always watch Andy sitting next to Dave and Georgy at Question Time - smirking and pointing at the plebs opposite. Don't like him. On a scale of 1-10, Dave 4, George 3, Andy 1.

But his father is a knight of the realm and was in Parliament for 30 years!!!! I just cannot remember him at all. What was his big achievement?

Being unfamiliar with ‘Mr.’ Mitchell I read the link Maggie noted.

Very interesting; a typical attitude for someone in Public Service AND with lots of (their own) money!

This man immediately reminded me of another ‘pompous MP’ in the early 1970s - Gerald Nabarro.
(I can never bring myself to use the word ‘Sir’ for him.)

He was convicted of a driving offence. However, within six months he was retried - a feat itself!!
Needless to say - second time around - he was acquitted!

He stood on the steps of the courthouse in Hampshire and said

“… if a man can afford to pay he will secure justice. The man who cannot afford to pay will rarely secure it.”

Says a lot for poor ‘plebs’ - like most of us - if we expect justice in the courts, doesn’t it!!!

More interesting reading about ‘Nab” at:

http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/features/crimefiles/truecrime/3703027.Nabarro_nabbed_for_danger_driving/

....as jokes on the web note....'they walk among us....'!

Remember Nabarro well, Barry. I would put Blair and Hunt in same category.

Usually money and an inferiority complex are the root of their total arrogance. Bob Maxwell, Mandy, his grandfather Herbert Morrison, the list goes on and on in my mind.

But history will often catch up with them. You and I have no fond memories of self-publicist NAB 1.

Watched Boris Johnson on "Politics" (Sun 23rd) speaking ( ithink) at last years Tory Conference. He got a huge ovation for saying that anybody who swore at the police should be arrested.

That would have been in the wake of the riots and one of rioters got about 3 months in gaol for swearing. Others were arrested and got less.

Andrew Neil asked the plump Tory politician (Wilfred Pickles?) whether Boris Johnson's speech success with Tories should lead to the arrest of Mr Mitchell, who is Chief Whip and also apparently appears in Eastenders (if I googled correctly).

Not only was Andy Mitchell's father a Tory MP for 30 years, both his grandfather and great grandfather were MPs. They were famous for ........ (please fill in missing space)

Well, the plank apologised and, at the same time, essentially called the police involved liars

...one law for them, another for us plebs?.....

These policemen seem to fail to realise that it is us plebs that pay their wages, and we employ them to wage legal war on us......
I dont watch road wars and cops with cameras without seeing that the slightest misdemeanour or resentment at being flung to the ground with 3 or 4 bodies holding you down will result in you being slung in the slammer.......

edit...........or even..."looking at me, in a funny way""

still I suppose its better living in the UK rather than in the US of A where you can get shot for brandishing a pen!!

oops having said that its not a good idea to carry a chair leg around either!!

When I was young - quite a while ago - the word 'pleb' was bandied around quite often, in a jocular way - rather like we use the words 'plank' and 'prat' now.

For all his so called 'apologies' and protestations, he is still denying calling the policeman a 'pleb'. Therefore, in my eyes, he is calling the policeman a liar.

Julia in Derbyshire

Julia He is denying using the words that two policemen would swear on oath he used. That is the nub of it - a Government Minister is calling two policemen a liar.

I take Bob's point well. Police are not held in the high esteem of 50 years ago. Proof that they have falsified evidence, have used undue violence. But often brought to book also. Once I appealed against a speeding conviction, and realised that the courts gang up with the police against any appeal.

But in this case, I totally believe these two policemen (what reason would they both have for lying?) and totally disbelieve Andy. He lost his nasty little temper with them, not for the first time, and has not properly apologised and has to leave office. And, unlike David Laws and Jeremy Hunt, he should now remain out of front line politics.

John that isexactly what I said. At least, that's what I thought I did.

Julia in Derbyshire

Julia :-D :-D

Thought I was making a slightly diffeernt point, but generally in agreement with what you wrote. You were focussing on word "pleb" Is that the issue? They are printing "I am a pleb" T-shirts as we speak. Boris Johnson said anyone swearing at police should be arrested.

But I think two factors are both (very entertaining) side-shows. Doubt Andy will be arrested, as he is not the sort of cove Boris had in mind when he made that rousing speech to Tory hang em and flog ems. Doubt using a word like pleb is any more an issue than frequent use of prat on here, though plebs do pay his salary and expenses.

I feel on reflection that the issue is the fact that either he lied or two policemen lied. And that is the only reason I think he has to go - and permanently - from front line politics. 87% in The Mirror yesterday agreed with that. Julia - great minds think alike :-D :-D

And how has David Laws managed to get back on the front bench? He and his partner should not even be free at the moment, IMHO.

We've all heard people called far worse things than a 'pleb' in everyday life; in the street; on public transport; on TV and in the cinema yet, how many of us complain to the perpetrators?


The police do, unfortunately, get called a number of despicable names ..... Fact.

MP's should remember we expect better of them .... Fact.


Let's move on - there are far more important issues to be concerned about.


How's the flooding where you are?

Has Andy been moved to flood control, Cynthia? Missed that :-D

Not as bad here in S Wales as N Wales and many parts of England. But Rhondda Fawr was very full and fast yesterday. I do have problems with flooding, but that is a more personal issue. Age does not come by itself :-( :-(

:-D :-D


Apparently, there was flooding in a supermarket car park in town yesterday.


I live within a couple of hundred yards of a canal but am, fortunately, up the hill from it.

I really feel for anyone whose home is flooded - it must be awful.