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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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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:

irregularegular · 13/05/2018 16:19

A quick google suggests 80% of women in the UK live to beyond 70. It is young to die.

Helmetbymidnight · 13/05/2018 17:05

I don't think 70 is 'young to die' [shrug]

I heard a radio show about Tessa and her family a few months ago. It was v. moving and it came across how very loving and loved she was.

TulipsInAJug · 13/05/2018 17:11

Who is John Smith?

Ifailed · 13/05/2018 17:17

Who is John Smith?
Labour leader who died suddenly in 1994, Blair replaced him. would have been an excellent PM.

FesteringCarbuncle · 13/05/2018 17:26

John Smith's death was tragic for the Labour party and the country. And his family of course
What about the men. We didn't even get past the first post. So many women fretting about the poor men
I wonder if mens forums are the same? I'm guessing there will not be a single what about the women post

ShovingLeopard · 13/05/2018 17:28

I agree that the press would be unlikely to put the spotlight on a male politician's compassion. But they should do.. It should not just be female politicians who are praised for this. We need a heck of a lot more compassion from all genders. What we absolutely don't need is any more 'tough', macho posturing from our politicians.

RIP Tessa.

ListenToTheWords · 13/05/2018 19:57

I was genuinely saddened to hear that Tessa Jowell had brain cancer and more so today to read that she has passed away.

May she rest in peace and may her family and friends have comfort at this time.

Ohmydayslove · 13/05/2018 20:04

who is John Smith?

I feel old reading that comment

Ohmydayslove · 13/05/2018 20:09

My dd aged 19 would see 70 as old. It gets less so as you get older. To me 70 is retirement age.

90 is a good innings

mtpicasso · 13/05/2018 20:13

Give over. You have a problem with people saying she put others first? I'd be proud if someone said that about me.

I didn't agree with her politics but she did a terrific job of organising the olympics and I think would have made a better London mayor than Sadiq Khan.

This is a really distasteful post OP at a time when a family have just lost someone they love dearly.

Janus · 13/05/2018 20:17

Wow! Maybe because everyone interviewed has universally said she was just a very caring, unselfish lady. She started sure start when no one else thought to support new mothers.
And yes, John Smith was the male equivalent and had the same outpouring of grief too.

Helmetbymidnight · 13/05/2018 20:35

No I’m nearly 50, I think it’s sad when people die at 70 but I don’t think it’s young or ‘too young’ to die.

walchesterweasel · 13/05/2018 22:23

On hearing the news, my DH said that it was very sad and that we need a lot more women like her in politics... and a hell of a lot more men

specialsubject · 13/05/2018 22:32

many, many achievements, although the hugely over budget olympics ( even with so much free labour) and the mess they left are nothing to be proud of.

MyOtherProfile · 13/05/2018 22:32

Would they say that about a male politician?

Well actually...

24 years yesterday John Smith died. I remember hearing it on the news and I burst into tears.

I remember a lot of talk of a similar vein when John Smith died.

CoffeeIsNotEnough · 13/05/2018 22:44

It's this kind of stuff that worries me more "she was a hard-line Blairite, so politically not so great".

Does it really matter more what factional Labour tribe you are in than what you actually achieve in life? Heaven forbid you say something nice about someone who actually achieved things. Sometimes people you disagree with are still worth mourning.

BertrandRussell · 14/05/2018 00:00

What’s really soul destroying is all the talk of Sure Start- when the Tories have destroyed it.

Want2bSupermum · 14/05/2018 00:39

She was a fantastic politician who should be remembered for the London olympics and sure start centers.

I found her cancer campaign difficult to tolerate because my own father is currently under care for prostate cancer. His treatment by the NHS has been abysmal. It's an absolute wonder the man is still alive and he is now an old 74. He has aged 2 decades in 3 years.

blueskypink · 14/05/2018 01:06

*who is John Smith?

I feel old reading that comment*

Crikey - me too. I can remember exactly where I was when the news of his death broke. Devastating.

People were very saddened by Charles Kennedy's death too.

Agree there will be huge sadness when Ken Clarke dies.

daisychain01 · 14/05/2018 05:03

"Three score years and 10" was the measure of lifespan back in the 1940's and 50s. 70 is no age. Very sad to hear that Tessa Jowell is no longer with us.

MyOtherProfile · 14/05/2018 06:31

Three score years and 10 comes from the Bible, psalm 90 and is basically just saying 70 years is a life, or 80 if you're strong. And Shakespeare uses it too. So a bit older than the 40s.

BertrandRussell · 14/05/2018 11:01

This is the first sentence of The Times obituary.

“Contrary to her rather nannyish and prim public image, Tessa Jowell was known in private for her salty sense of humour”

I think the OP most definitely has a point.

TheFirstMrsDV · 14/05/2018 16:35

If three score years & 10 was relevant today, all you 35 year olds would be classed as middle aged.

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