To be glad this Councillor has resigned after her disgusting comments about rape?

[SmilingHappyBeaver]

See link here (not a DM one!)

www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/tory-councillor-barbara-driver-apologises-for-when-rape-is-inevitable-lie-back-and-enjoy-it-comment-9256177.html

I'm not sure but I think this woman councillor featured in the show about Planning Applications recently. She was incredibly rude and patronising to a woman who had an application in when the planning committee came to view the site, reduced her to tears on camera then was very smug and superior afterwards.

I am usually the first one to stand up and moan about things being over-politically correct and defend freedom of speech but I think this comment is awful, inappropriate and, if it is the same woman, nothing more than I would expect of her.

No, ScrambledSmegs, she didn't make it up, it was common when she - and I - were young but that's no excuse for using it now.

I can sort of see the 'meaning' or intent behind her saying...along the lines of 'When life gives you lemons, make lemonade'

But it was an awful, thoughtless thing to say and like a pp said, the words 'rape' and 'enjoy' should not be in the same sentence.

Revolting. Dumb fucking cow. I don't swear much, but I'll make an exception for her.

I'd have preferred it if she had been sacked or got a vote of no confidence rather than being allowed to resign, tbh

Limited,

I do have an informed view on the subject actually yes! In fact I could probably write an essay on the impact of Localism and the challenges of implementing a national housing policy (used to work in that area). But it's quite dull, and totally irrelevant to my OP. The Councillor in question was expressing frustration at not being able to stop (or limit) local development in her area. I think that is fairly clear to most people.

She holds a position on public office and her comments were highly offensive. She is publically accountable for her actions and I am glad she is stepping down, which was the point of my original post.

HTH.

I am local... local newspaper has some very, erm, vitriolic responses amongst which I found this one

There are some who seem to try very hard to be offended, others for whom being offended is worn as badge of honour and many who are simply out to make political capital.

It struck a chord...

The land they are now developing for the 30,000 new homes is greenbelt, the land that separates Cheltenham and Gloucester, runs alongside the M5 and has been fought over for many years. It was, at one time, utterly unthinkable to develop it and make the two place on sprawling mess.

The threats are that we will lose hospitals, police, ambulance and fire because 'they' can say that ChelGlos is one place, ignoring the access problems and rurality that have made the 2 places separate in the first place. Lives will be put at risk.

The land she was specifically referring to was the other side of Cheltenham, 300 acres of entirely green belt, currently actively farmed and one rural community will lose access to the main road and will be effectively cut off. If ChelTewke happens there will be a similar loss of emergency services and greenbelt land, though that specific plot won't flood - but the surrounding rural and ancient communities will, for the first time.

Local roads are already at capacity, the motorway junctions will need rebuilding, meaning huge numbers of locals will lose access to Cheltenham during the rebuild and the new fire station will lose access to the motorway and the rural community it currently covers

The developers also own a large acreage of brown site a couple of miles away that they do not currently have plans to develop!

And on it goes. I live in the rural community on the other side of the proposed build and the fallout for us is quite shocking, we will be effectively cut off and re-routed (motorway and 2 rivers, only 1 bridge) for almost the entirety of the build - 15 - 20 years!

So the hyperbole was shocking, but does describe the severity of the changes currently mooted.

How the fuck is a housing development similar to that of rape?

Stupid woman, thank god she resigned.

YANBU.

While I agree that building on green belt is not a good thing, using rape as an analogy was stupid, ignorant and ridiculous. Rape is not something you lie back and enjoy, even when it's inevitable, especially if you want people like the police and the CPS to believe that you were actually raped.

Building on green belt land when there is so much brown belt and abandoned houses = bad.

Suggesting, even in jest that women should lie back and enjoy being raped when it's inevitable = bloody disgusting.

People who believe that rape is about sex and that it is ever possible to enjoy the experience really shouldn't have anything to do with governing anything.

She didn't make it up. It is a saying. Like Andrew said in his post 40 years' ago it probably wouldn't have caused any fuss. It's up there with golliwog and nigger and poof and we should all be grateful that on the whole now is a much nicer place than then.

She hasn't resigned? The Metro says she has apologised but refused to resign

she might not stand in. Reelection but she's still in the job for now.

What with this and the Indian politician saying he will change the law to say all raped women will hang with their rapist as they are to blame I'm in "what is the world coming to?" Mind frame today.

I do have an informed view on the subject actually yes! In fact I could probably write an essay on the impact of Localism and the challenges of implementing a national housing policy (used to work in that area).

So why didn't you do that, OP? I don't think it's dull at all. I think the issue of building houses is a vital issue of debate.

I suspect I would not agree with the councillor's view but it would have been much better if you'd have outlined your objections to the proposal rather than slating her for being a rape apologist and trotting out the boring old Daily Mail apology.

Just make your point. Which is what? That you don't want houses to be built in your back yard? Or do you?

Limited!!!

Don't throw NIMBY at the GlosChelTewke problem. How could you?

Shock and, indeed, horror!

I have no view either way on the development because I've not looked into the details. Tbh I don't think the rights and wrongs of the development are relevant here. The issues are that she likened the development to rape and she used rape and enjoy in the same sentence further compounded by her apparent inability to understand what is wrong with what she said. She's shown complete lack of empathy and Disdain for the victims of rape. There are loads of ways she could have expressed her views without causing so much offence.

I'm with Caitlyn on this: it was a saying back in the dark ages. A local weathercaster got sacked from his job for saying it. and that was 40something years ago.

No excuse for that sort of talk these days. None.

She should be kicked out now. Staying until the next election shouldn't be an option.

Was she on that housing development programme on BBC2 recently. I recognise her but I'm not local so it can't be from the papers.

My point is that if you're local you should vote for her if she represents your point of view.

If I was local I'd care more about the planning issue than her views about rape.

I missed a smiley, limited

She is, as I remember, one of the dying breed of 'ex-colonials' that still live in certain parts of 'Nam. Nice lady, well meaning and all that, but not really in touch with the 20th Century (no error there).

I don't think she has stepped down, but am not really sure this will necessarily get her voted out next time, given her catchment area.

And the house building will go ahead anyway!

Oi! not so much of the 'dark ages'. It was a common saying when I was a teenager.

I agree it sounds in bad taste now, but she simply dredged up a commonly used phrase from her youth. It wasn't really a statement about rape, but about the inevitability of some bad consequences.

We used to say things like "I've only got one pair of hands" which would probably be considered insensitive nowadays.

Funny, I've been around a few years and that wasn't a saying I've ever heard of.

And most people only have one pair of hands. It's a statement of fact. It's not offensive. It's nowhere near comparable to any concept of "enjoying" rape. You put up with and make the best of badly cooked food, or tedious company, or a second rate film. They're the sort of thing you do your best to enjoy, regardless. Not unsolicited sexual intercourse.

It's just a badly outdated comment regarding inevitability.

Nothing to get quite so worked up about, she used words, poorly chosen words. She didn't advocate or suggest sexual rape was a good thing.

It might help to bear in mind that rape also means to plunder, despoil, from the Latin 'to carry off' and she was talking specifically about green belt and ancient farm and woodland - the 'rape of the countryside' and its inevitability.

Though I do obviously expect to get shouted down for that as it is eminently reasonable but utterly non PC.

YANBU.

Limited, WTAF?

I'm 40 and I can remember hearing that saying.

I am also local.

She has apologised - which she did immediately to the council by letter and went on local radio. She was in the middle of a debate about housing and was pointing out that, very often, no matter what objections the local councillors make, the developers get their way at appeal.

Unfortunately, rather than say "it's gonna happen, pointless our complaining, we've just got to sit back and try to make the best of it" - which is what she meant, she dredged up that old phrase. Big mistake.

Said councillor has done a lot of good in the town and was a very good mayor a few years ago, and while a Tory, she generally spoke out regardless of party line.

Foolish, very bad choice of words while speaking off the cuff. Right to say she won't stand again and back out of public life.

What the actual fuck?! In what fucking universe Is that acceptable?!