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AIBU?

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Original poster

to be a little uncomfortable about the news coverage of Tessa Jowell's death

73 replies

dietofstrangeplaces · 13/05/2018 10:25

There's quite a lot about what a wonderful person she was, as she was always thinking about other people, and always put other people first.

Would they say that about a male politician?

OP posts:
Idratherhaveacupoftea · 13/05/2018 10:28

No because most male politicians don't have the compassion she had and are only out for themselves.

xTinkerhellx · 13/05/2018 10:31

What do you want them to say?

'She was a bitch, a useless politician and I'm glad she's dead?'

Maybe she was a wonderful person who put others first. Why should that be hidden because some men aren't?

JennyHolzersGhost · 13/05/2018 10:32

She was a serious political figure who did some controversial things and yes OP I agree, the fluffy hearts and flowers coverage is really not what a comparable male politician would get.

HollowTalk · 13/05/2018 10:32

Oh that's really sad news. I hadn't heard she was ill.

There are few male politicians you could compliment at the moment, OP. Few female politicians, too. I can't think of a time in the post WWII period where we've had such low quality politicians.

Tessa Jowell was known as a compassionate politician. Why not say so when she dies?

ReggaetonLente · 13/05/2018 10:32

She was like that though, by all accounts. I was sad to hear the news this morning and sorry for her family that this has happened.

BrownTurkey · 13/05/2018 10:34

I heard someone talk about the things she got wrong.

HollowTalk · 13/05/2018 10:55

Every politician will have things that go wrong, BrownTurkey. She was a politician for a long time.

echt · 13/05/2018 10:56

Bugger. She was MP in the constituency when I lived in the UK, always returned a Labour candidate. A Blair clone, for sure, but still... so young. At least from where I'm standing.

viques · 13/05/2018 10:58

She made a very moving speech about the need for improved services for cancer patients in the House of Lords a few months ago. Not many people at her stage of her illness would have had the strength of mind or body to make their last stand in their political career so memorable. Horrible disease, RIP Tessa.

Ifailed · 13/05/2018 11:01

she was a hard-line Blairite, so politically not so great, however she showed a great deal of courage to use her terminal disease for the betterment of others.

Confusedbeetle · 13/05/2018 11:01

It really is not relevant whether she was a wonderful person or male-female. The important thing is people are grieving and they need kind words. Her family and friends are the ones to consider no one else

BertrandRussell · 13/05/2018 11:02

I agree, OP. But brace yourself.

Isadora2007 · 13/05/2018 11:04

I think it’s nice people could see the compassion.
However I don’t think 70 is tragically young. It may be a little younger than expected for many these days but it is still a decent age.

Brokenbiscuit · 13/05/2018 11:04

I haven't seen the news yet today and had not heard that she had passed away. She was incredibly dignified in her illness, and I really admired the courage that she showed in speaking out as she did. RIP Tessa.

Brokenbiscuit · 13/05/2018 11:06

But I agree, OP, people probably wouldn't talk about a male politician in those terms. I'm not sure what I think about that.

echt · 13/05/2018 11:10

However I don’t think 70 is tragically young. It may be a little younger than expected for many these days but it is still a decent age

No-one here has suggested it is tragically young. It is not a decent age, as your GP will tell you when you have your MOT and they ask you when your parents died. My parents, born in the early 20s, dead in early 70s were classed as early deaths

The retirement age is 67 now in the UK. Will you feel it's OK pegging out at 70?

Thought not.

AssignedPuuurfectAtBirth · 13/05/2018 11:12

Wasn't she massively screwed over by Labour? Deselected? Am I thinking of someone else

BonnieF · 13/05/2018 11:21

Tessa Jowell was one of the most popular, decent and universally well-liked people in British politics. In addition to this, she achieved a great deal as a minister eg Sure Start and the London Olympics. She was also a centrist politician with moderate, mainstream views wh9 reached out to all and alienated nobody.

It’s not surprising that so many tributes have been paid to her. It’s highly likely that Ken Clarke or Vince Cable would get similar send-offs.

Hugsythespacecowboy · 13/05/2018 11:21

What the f is this thread? Have some respect. Maybe it was said because it was true! She didn't get a standing ovation in parliament for nothing!

ForalltheSaints · 13/05/2018 11:21

The obituary I have read acknowledges the parts of her career that caused controversy. As well as role in ensuring we bid for (and got) the London 2012 Olympics.

I think 70 is a young age to die. My thoughts are for her bereaved family and friends.

lljkk · 13/05/2018 11:21

Some obituaries of men described as selfless:
Leonard
Dean
Steve (a politician)

You get lots of males if you google "Kind man" obituary, too.

thegreylady · 13/05/2018 11:24

She was one of the few decent politicians of modern times. Her campaign for better NHS cancer treatment will be as great a legacy as her bringing the 2012 Olympics to London.
RIP

That1950sMum · 13/05/2018 11:24

I really don't understand the point of this thread. Why shouldn't people say nice things about her as a person as well as a politician. And yes, it does happen when a man dies. Remember when John Smith died?

rodstewartsmerkin · 13/05/2018 11:27

I don’t feel this thread is in particularly good taste given that she’s dead and people will be grieving her loss.

Why does it matter to you what anyone has said about since her sad passing?

JassyRadlett · 13/05/2018 11:28

Would they say that about a male politician?

Possibly not, but the values you are talking about seem to be pretty good ones. Maybe we should be pushing more about why male politicians aren’t spoken about in that way - rather than that women politicians shouldn’t be.