The Home Secretary "jokes" about spiking his wifes drink with Rohypnol

[cakeorwine]

As the other thread has been automatically hidden

"James Cleverly has apologised for joking about spiking his wife’s drink with a date rape drug in comments made at a Downing Street reception.
The home secretary’s remarks came just hours after the Home Office announced plans to crack down on spiking, when someone puts drugs into another person’s drink or directly into their body without their knowledge or consent.

Cleverly told female guests at the reception that “a little bit of Rohypnol in her drink every night” was “not really illegal if it’s only a little bit”, the Sunday Mirror reported.
He also laughed that the secret to a long marriage was ensuring your spouse was “someone who is always mildly sedated so she can never realise there are better men out there”."

So much to say about this

It does sound like something from The Thick of It.

What was he thinking?

If he’d been informed on at a private party I’d agree with you. But this wasn’t that. This was at the v least, not taking the issue seriously. He hasn’t properly engaged with it, he doesn’t care. And we need better.

So you don't think that we have a right to expect basic standards of conduct to be adhered to in public life? Politicians should be allowed to say whatever they like without having to be held to account for it?

Tbh I don't think rohypnol is a good subject for a joke at any time. Let alone in public when you are a government minister.

He's the actual Home Secretary, responsible for law, safety and policing, making jokes to journalists about rohypnol and drugging women.

It's completely fine and understandable to be 'offended' by that. Unless, of course, you think date rape is funny.

I can predict the Twitter reaction from certain commentators and no doubt, the Mail is preparing commentators to defend him.

I am offended. I would be offended if it was a private joke. But it was said at a reception in front of the press. So he is stupid as well as misogynist.....

I am sure he takes his role towards women's safety very seriously

Sacked for what? He didn't commit a crime.

You're having a laugh if you think any of them take their work seriously.

He won't be.

This is the culture Boris Johnson created and endorsed. Remember he joked about Pinscher assaulting men. I honestly think Theresa May would have sacked Cleverly immediately.

When delivering jokes it’s important for the joker to consider if it is the right person, right place and right time. A tongue in cheek joke told while tipsily walking home with an old friend needs to be completely different to a joke told in a formal event inwhich you play a responsible official role.

It does sound like something from The Thick of It

What was he thinking?

It shows just how comfortable even senior cabinet members are with openly admitting they are misogynists in what they consider to be safe spaces.

That's how rife and acceptable misogyny is in government. He felt entitled enough and safe enough in his role to make this comment in front of multiple people. No fear of repercussions.

When you step back and think about it, it's terrifying. This man is directly influencing our legal system in his role. A legal system which is already failing women when it comes to sexual assault and rape.

The fact he hasn't been at least suspended is gobsmacking. Unbelievable.

His wife must be disgusted by him.

He said this in March:

"That’s why I’m delighted to be the first British Foreign Secretary to launch an International Women and Girls Strategyy_, which sets how we will advance women’s freedom, power and rights across the world."

What a fucking bastard. How dare he.

I can't believe I just read that. His comment was inexcusable whatever the context in which he said it.

You know, you don't have to actually commit a crime to be sacked from your job. Being offensive and deeply inappropriate at a public engagement whilst holding a position of authority is enough.

Sunak always talks about protecting his daughters.
This will show if he means that.
It would be a powerful statement to sack him for his comments

I'd like to think he will be gone by this afternoon. But you're right, I also think Theresa May would have kicked his sorry ass out immediately.

The bigger question is why are any of us surprised that MPs say inappropriate things which question their judgement while in office? They practically all do it. Every week there's some sort of outrage over what one minister or another said and how they should resign. They are only faces for the civil servants we never see who really run the country. The real issue is why the electorate keep putting up with it. The behaviour of a certain party leader was possibly the most scandalous of any PM but people still keep voting for more in significant enough numbers that we are still embroiled in Tory sleaze for over a decade now. Stop getting outraged and do something about it.

I think it's great news. It shows he knows what a woman is.

But wasn't the joke at his own expense? He was saying, I'm punching above my weight here/I'm a loser and hope my wife never realises it. He wasn't actually saying, it's funny to spike women's drinks. He was saying, it's funny I'm such a loser compared to my wife.

Either way, okay, it was tasteless and perhaps offensive, but I don't think it's a punishable crime to tell a tasteless or offensive joke. It shouldn't be, anyway. Everyone says dumb things or makes stupid jokes sometimes. I don't really want to live in a society where people are punished for making jokes, even bad ones.

How is the electorate supposed to "do something about it" until there's an election?

@notthatthis

Sacked for what? He didn't commit a crime.

Breaking the MP code of conduct.

"11. Members shall never undertake any action which would cause significant damage to the reputation and integrity of the House of Commons as a whole, or of its Members generally."

Joking about drink spiking, especially hours after personally announcing apparent measures to tackle the issue, at a public Downing Street, more than meets the threshold of damaging the reputation and integrity of the HOC and its members. Him, who made the 'joke' and his colleagues who failed to formally report it.

HTH.

Yanbu, he seems like a boorish idiot tbh.

His poor wife, she’s just over cancer and then he says this. What a complete lack of respect

Everyone should be calling out misogynistic comments, whether said as a private joke or publicly like this. They are not funny and shouldn’t just be accepted as banter

I don't think it's a punishable crime to tell a tasteless or offensive joke.

Depend on whether it's your job or not. Or maybe Jimmy Carr should run the Home Office ?