Ann Widdecombe should apologise

[Songsofexperience]

Her ludicrous speech comparing EU membership to slavery is a spit in the face of every descendant of actual slaves. Shame on her.

@Nearlythere1

So in your world, it is perfectly ok for an adult to exercise their free speech to say nasty, rude and abusive things to your children, and you would defend that?

Nicely explained Vivienne!

Should not apply to nasty bigots like Widdecombe.

Having read the speech in full, while it contains a certain amount of hyperbole, I can't say I'm that offended by it, but what I am sure of is that Ms Widdecombe and the Brexit party are loving every scrap of publicity it has generated sure as they must be that those they have "offended" would never vote for them in a million years so who cares.

I don’t know why anyone is surprised at anything this obnoxious oxygen thief says or does after she enforced women in labour being shackled to the delivery table. She sickens me, she hasn’t a shred of decency in her.

And THIS is why mumsnet is dying.

Cinammoncake Thu 04-Jul-19 21:47:24
I think Ann was saying the majoriy who voted to leave view the EU as oppressors and referenced a seemingly undemocratic vote taken the day before. I don't know which vote she was speaking off, find the EU too dull to watch footage but meh, she is free to draw the analogy in my opinion.

Think back to 2015 or before that, let's say 2005. Did the majority of the country view the EU as oppressors? hmm

Not until hatred and fear was stirred up by Farage and the far right, and the Tories sought to appease them and pursue their own far right agenda into the bargain. A lot who voted 'leave' did so as a 'protest vote' in 2016 (although probably now hardline brexiters - cognitive dissonance)

The election in question was one where the Brexit party had no allies so couldn't influence it that much, yet again throwing toys out the pram.

Find the EU too dull to watch footage? So you just accept this nonsensicaloutburst without thinking about the issue any furth

Yeah, you are as dull as ditchwater and why you are shocked when the country votes against you. I am right, you are wrong. Sucks to be you!
O

But hey, i really should be generous and say, if I am wrong, and it's a big if, I will stand here and loudly proclaim my shame. I did bet on Trump winning and cleaned up. But still, I am big enough to admit times change. If my country wants someone weak they always claimed ruined the NHS then who am I to stop them?! Cunt all the way!

Why ask for an apology?

It will be hollow at best

I hate all this shrieking about what others have said. It brings nothing

The UK has become the laughing stock of the world. The country is shit and only going to get worse.

Doesn’t matter if Brexit is cancelled the damage is already done

Brexit wont be cancelled.That's what sad sacks cannot seem to grasp.

Bit late now. This is the standard people have chosen

I used to believe I belonged to a proud democracy that had a sense of fair play. Now its all shenanigans to get out of a democratic vote because you are so enthralled by the EU. Pathetic. Vote was out. Respect it and show some decency!

Exactly! The losers, the sore, sore losers, ought to move the fuck on. That is, of course, if they ACTUALLY believe in democracy... or is it when it suits them...

Screamanger I so agree with you! We fannied around so badly it was excruciating! We are the laughing stock. But soon it will be improved because who the fuck wants to be stuck to a failing despot?

lord almighty stop squawking.

Ann Widdecombe should NOT apologise! Is that squawking? Is that clear enough for you?

"I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it"

Nobody’s saying she should have her tongue cut out. She has the right to say it, and we have the right to say it is a grossly offensive comparison, unbecoming to an MEP, and that by saying it she has forfeited any respect she may previously have been owed.

“Free speech” does not mean “speech free of personal or professional consequences to the speaker”.

Like I said, she has the right to say it. Other people have the right to say she is an embarrassing idiot and that they think she should apologise for being extremely insulting. She has the right not to and other people have the right to judge both her and anyone that disagrees with her.

Guy Verhofstadt got the better of her when he asked if she was referring to the American colonists in 1776.

Of course she has the right to say it.

As Sharleen Spiteri once sang.. "you can say what you want but it won't change my mind"

I've spent too much of my life listening to Ann Widdecombe, or to be more accurate reports of hideous things that Ann Widdecombe has said. As for her right to free speech, of course she has free speech, she's an MEP making a speech in the European Parliament. Nobody is threatening her right to free speech and she doesn't need defending.

She is a crushingly stupid and narrow minded woman. The fact that she has been Home Secretary in a government of my country is something I blush to recall. She is demonstrating the nastiness and instinct for getting herself publicity that has characterised her unpleasant career throughout. Slaves indeed. What hyperbole, what ignorance. She delights in her ignorance as well.

I always enjoy watching her debate about the catholic church with stephen fry and christopher hitchens. She comes out of it as terribly as you might imagine

I always remember her conversion to Catholicism once the Church of England began ordaining women as priests. She said she'd been brought up an Anglican. Not a lie of commission but she didnt mention that she went to a Catholic school. Her unrelenting nastiness about other people's use of language. Like saying she objected to being called her mother's carer, as she was her daughter and that's what daughters should do. And if her mother had had several daughters, what would you call the one she actually lived with who did the care? Numpty. Always keen to restrict other women's lives, literally in the case of bed shackling women in labour, though I'll admit it's a long time since I read the details of that story.