Ken Clarke differentiates date rape from 'serious rape'

[NotFromConcentrate]

AIBU to think it's time he went?

[Flisspaps]

YANBU.

[CurrySpice]

He is a vile man and, vene though I didn't think it was possible, I hate him even more now

[NotFromConcentrate]

I started this thread whilst overcome by fury. Now I'm hoping I wont live to regret it!

I was violently raped by an ex-boyfriend. It didn't feel 'minor' to me.

[QueenOfFeckingEverything]

What an utter toad

[Concordia]

that's truly awful. some politicians are just out of touch with reality.

[heleninahandcart]

YANBU, he is being ridiculous

[Katiebeau]

To be honest I thought he has something as a politician (did not bow to party pressure re the "nasty" EU etc). I now think he is a moron.

[NotFromConcentrate]

Thank you for your kindness, Prolesworth

TBH, I've finally been able to move on and put it behind me. It did, however, take a long time. Not everyone is so fortunate though, and idiots like Clarke don't help.

[LittleOneMum]

Toad, moron, and fat.

[pickyourbrain]

I read a supposed feminist book writen by a woman who said that date rape wasn't that bad really as 'it's only a penis' - i think it's a fairly common misconception. But one that is unforgivable to declare when you are in the public eye, and ingnorance is no excuse. He is a prick, as was the author of the book.

I'm sorry to hear what happened to you too. It happened to me when i was 17 and it didn't feel minor either. If anything it was worse because i think if it had been violent and random i would have felt I could tell people and they would have beleived/ felt sorry for me. as it was I told a friend at the time and she said "are you sure he didnt think you were ok with it?" ...

[pickyourbrain]

"and fat." love this. say it as it is littleonemum

[wigglesrock]

Also being discussed in Feminism, I'm so fucking angry, saw him on News 24, he was a bloody disgrace. He needs to go NOW

[NotFromConcentrate]

pickyourbrain that's really quite unbelievable. It's never 'just a penis'. It's your free will, and your dignity, and your self-worth. That boyfriend never raped me again. Was it because he was suddenly overcome with remorse and became a reformed character? Nope, it's because I learned to never, ever say no.

[bemybebe]

Do you know what is the difference according to him?

[grottielottie]

Words fail me!

Except to say what a cock.

[peppapighastakenovermylife]

Idiot.

Wonder what his reaction would be if he had a penis forced into him against his consent...

[pickyourbrain]

notfromconcentrate and and un-MN [hug]

[NotFromConcentrate]

bemybebe there was, apparently, mention of it being a different story if "someone jumped out on you in the woods". I didn't hear all of what was said, unfortunately.

[NotFromConcentrate]

"[Rape] includes date rape and 17 year-olds having intercourse. Serious rape, I don't think many judges give five years for a forcible rape, frankly, the tariff is longer for that and a serious rape where there's violence and an unwilling woman, the tariff's much longer than that."

Part of me wonders if he's confusing date rape and underage sex. He must be, because surely no-one is ignorant enough to believe 'date rape' isn't serious?

[Callisto]

I don't want to add fuel to the flames or upset anyone (esp not NFC, or anyone else who has been raped), but I was under the impression that he is differentiating between 'violent' rape and 'non-violent' rape. I understand that all rape is violent, but is there not a difference between having the holy shit beaten out of you and raped, and 'just' being raped? I thought that was what he was saying. I only heard the news headlines on R4 this am though.

[NotFromConcentrate]

He mentioned an 'unwilling woman' though, Callisto. Surely, the lack of willingness is the very definition of rape?

[Callisto]

Ah yes, NFC, that was what I heard, that he wanted to move away from the underage teens having sex and being given a 5 yr sentence. I didn't hear the date rape bit - which deserves a much longer sentence.

[MrsKwazii]

But he's peddling a sliding scale of rape. Rape is rape.