Monday, July 20, 2009

Deeply offensive comment.

Since I began blogging I've tried to eliminate anything that might be read as offensive to even the most sensitive souls. But as Stanley Baldwin said of German bombers in the 1930's, one or two will always slip through. David Cornock and the WoS Spin Doctor are always on the lookout. But even at my most 'libertarian', I would never have said what Montgomeryshire MP, Lembit Opik is reported to have said about Plaid Cymru MP, Adam Price. In an interview with yesterday's Observer, it was reported that he said "I could be banging Adam Price and it wouldn't affect my ability to do my job". I agree, but actually saying something as stupid as that to a national newspaper does affect what people in Montgomeryshire think of him.

18 comments:

Eakai said...

Couldn't agree more Glyn. The Lib-Dems act like they have the moral high-ground.

Anonymous said...

I too commented on this Glyn
I am just stunned at how non savvy this man is.
One comment on my blog also picked up on the fact that he thinks he is a social engineer ;;;;;;;;;;;; that's even more frightening.
Who does that remind you of

Wil_CC said...

I'm not sure if this was an example of dirty politics at its worst or simply an example of Lembit's pretty pathetic media style. Either way he doesn't deserve to represent the people of Montgomeryshire.

Anonymous said...

He seems to be doing all within his power to lose his seat. The man defies belief. Like a majority in Mont by now, I pray you beat him at the GE

Glyn Davies said...

All - If I had made this comment, I would have expected to be deselected - at David Cameron's insistance. It was such a disgraceful comment to have made to a national newspaper that I still do not entirely believe he said it. Neither can I understand why there has not been a media storm. No MP should be allowed to get away with such a comment.

Anonymous said...

it wont be reported in the local lib dem times that passes for a local weekly newspaper in powys.

Anonymous said...

Glyn - to be fair I think this time you are trying to make this into an issue that it's not. I for one didn't feel at all offended by LO's comments.

I haven't heard that AP has taken offense so why should anyone else?

Also Glyn - I have noticed that alot of people on here feel that the County Times favours LO and the Lib Dems. What's your feeling on this?

cepati said...

Borrowing a line from Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy, "He's just this (wacky) guy you know".

Sadly, this guy is the Liberal Democrat MP for Montgomeryshire.

On the bright side, Glyn Davies is running against him!

VOTE GLYN DAVIES

JPT said...

What do you expect from him?
The man's an attention seeking crass show off.

unnect said...

Anon (3:49)> looks that way with respect to certain organs published in Cardiff, sad as it is.

Glyn Davies said...

Anon 1 - I agree that I do not expect to see thiis reported elsewhere.

Anon 2 - I just don't agree with you. I was not offended personally, but I still thought it a crude and offensive comment. If I had said it, my political career would be over. I recall a colleague of mine making a jocular remark (which he withdrew immediately with apology) about Italians which resulted in him being pursued relentlessly by the BBC and others. I did not hear of any Italian who was in the least bit offended - in fact the Italian community were hugely supportive of him. But it didn't matter - he was a Tory. So happens the person who told me about this yesterday also told me that Adam was 'crac' - which is Welsh for angry. If I'd really wanted to make an issue of it, I'd have written a press release about it.

Several people have told me that they consider the County Times to be a Lib Dem newspaper - especially after last week's edition which had our Lib Dem MP on almost every page after two of the newpaper's staff had been sent down to London for two days to provide copy of him. Personally, I've no complaints about the newspaper at all. I've always been given a fair deal, and after all I am only a candidate and my party has not won a national election in Montgomeryshire since 1979! And anyway, if the newspaper wants to take a line supporting the Lib Dems, there is no reason why they shouldn't. If I want coverage, its up to me to provide good copy.

Cepati - I would complain if I thought that Montgomeryshire voters were unaware of the sort of MP he is. Most people do know - and if they still vote for him, I have nothing to complain about.

JPT - Lots of people have an opinion about the Montgomeryshire MP. I only comment if I think he says or does something which brings disrepute down upon the head of Montgomeryshire, which includes his puerile column in the Daily Sportdoes, and the crude and offensive comment which instigated this post

Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Glyn Davies said...

Sorry but had to refuse some comments on this post. I cannot allow accusations of lying or of anything illegal by anyone. Cannot afford to allow anything that may be libellous.

Anonymous said...

From what I've heard Adam Price actually saw the funny side of it.

I think that political correctness is a big problem in this country, if you cant laugh about things then what is the point? There was obviously no offence behind the comment.
If Adam hasn't been offended by this, and I'm assured he hasn't been, then this is really trying kick up a fuss over nothing.

Also Glyn, what do you have against the readers of the Daily Sport? Are they not good enough people for you?

Anonymous said...

Your last Anon comments are clearly from Opik's office! Adam Price was indeed annoyed about it, but then Lembit Opik's behaviour constantly annoys Mr Price and anyone with half a brain cell. He's aware, as are others, that LO has a hatred of Plaid and all they stand for, since he ain't the biggest fan of Wales or the Welsh.
In fact, it's a regular joked in the Commons that LO intervenes in debates deliberately and for no real practical reason, other than to get himself into Hansard. There is zero respect for him in the HoC.
As for the Daily Sport, it is quite simply a porno rag, and no attempt to defend it by flagging up snobbery, makes it otherwise. It is a total disgrace that the Lib Dims allow LO to "write" a weekly column in it, and the sooner the people of Mid Wales tune in to what he actually "writes" about and what he gets paid for so doing, the better

Anonymous said...

I would just like to say that i'm not from LO's office - I just dont agree with Glyn on this one i'm affriad.

I really enjoy reading Glyn's blog but it's a shame that so many people on here are so obsessed with LO.

Anonymous said...

LO's remark illustrates finely his outrageous presumption & arrogance - just like heterosexual women, gay men have standards too! What makes LO think he'd be allowed access? Chwarae teg yndefe..

Glyn Davies said...

Anons - I do not know what Adam thought of this, but sensibly he has made a joke of it by posting about it on his blog. Last thing he would want would be a slanging match hitting the headlines.

I have nothing against anyone who reads the Daily Sport - or anyone who reads or watches legal porn for that matter. Its a matter for them. But I do not want Montgomeryshire's MP to be putting his name to such garbage.

And I also would prefer not to have so much comment about Lembit Opik on my blog, but up until the next election he is my opponent and my MP. After that, who knows.