Cleverly

[whirlingdevonish]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-67813689
I don't think I've ever been angrier at a politician. And that is saying something in this political climate. Surely the Home Secretary should go?

Men won't get outraged about it so there won't be a problem for him.

Joke? Do you mean the government?

The Tories know what a woman is and for and therefore I will be voting for them.

'it was at the expense of his own wife'

I bet he would argue that it was at his own expense, because there was something about keeping her sedated so she didn't realise that there were better men out there 🙄 well he's not wrong about that

We're used to Tories coming out with all sorts of appalling shit, but this is really shocking. What a total disgrace. And I bet he just doesn't get why everyone is making such a fuss this morning

I hate the destruction that the conservatives have brought upon the country. However destroying careers due to one poor sentence/ bad taste joke back fires because it destroys good politicians as well as bad ones. If people have to watch what they say all the time they can't function.
He seems less gung ho about Rwanda than the previous two home secretaries which is a very slight improvement so far. We really don't want him replaced by another of the farage apologists.

And it is clear evidence he knows what a woman is, which is a very important issue. Has my vote everyday.

Women's living conditions have deteriorated particularly steeply under the conservatives so if you support women I wouldn't vote for them.

I agree with you in general, like when Gordon brown called a constituent a bigot not knowing he could be overheard. Or when David Cameron said he supported one football team but actually got them mixed up. Or when politicians can't remember the price of a pint of milk. Those are kind of normal everyday things, I can imagine making those gaffes myself or one of my mates might.

This from Cleverly, though, is just... off the charts. Not even my laddiest mates would banter like that, it's too shocking

What I mean is, I agree to some extent politicians shouldn't have to walk on eggshells and watch what they say. It should be OK for them to be candid and speak their mind a bit.

But... if this (drugging your wife routinely) is what you say when you're being unguarded, you're clearly a dick. (By "you" I mean Cleverly)

Many normal workers would find themselves on a disciplinary for such comments, their careers in tatters.

Imagine a Police Officer or a Barrister making similar "jokes" & by the way, rape, which is the usual reason for spiking a drink is no matter for humour, in fact i worked in the defence industry, if i'd made jokes like that, i'd have been dismissed.

He is the Home Secretary, if he cannot function without making these sorts of comments, then he is unfit for his current role, you are just making a very weak attempt at defending him.

But as @jgw1 says, he clearly knows what a woman is (and in his opinion, her main purpose in life) so he has my vote too.

The Tories could not have ahcieved that by not knowing what a woman is, which is why we should all vote for them.

My husband is outraged. Thank goodness

DS 2 is outraged , he follows politics
Not particularly left leaning either , just appalled by the attitude of a senior government minister.

Just awful, and quite frankly weird. Who says that? Even if it was 'a joke?'

He needs to go, he won't though. So I'll say for the 135425 time on here, a GE can't come a second too early.

This supposed "joke" is beyond shocking, I couldn't believe it when I heard it reported on the news. What on earth is matter with the man? Disgusting.
And why is the excuse always "I thought it was a private event" as though, if such comments weren't overheard, they're somehow OK? It's never OK, I wouldn't even think this in the privacy of my own head, never mind say it aloud anywhere and I know many individuals who would think likewise.

The question surely is, if this is how they demonstrate they know what a woman is at a private event with people they hardly know, what do they say amongst themselves?

I took the (admittedly poor taste) thing he said as a joke against himself, not against women.

@whirlingdevonish your husband will be a minority of men sadly.

Which is why it is important that we have men in charge who know what a woman is.

Just told my son who couldn’t believe his ears. Unbelievable that the Home Secretary would even think it, let alone say it. I see his defence is that it was a private conversation. 🙄

He needs to go. Absolutely appalling thing to say.

I don't think that is true or fair. My DH is also appalled. Most men who aren't fans of Jim Davidson or Roy Chubby Brown and their ilk will be.

It is a date RAPE drug. No excuse.

I think the comment about an ideal spouse being "someone who is always mildly sedated so she can never realise there are better men out there" if taken completely on its own is how you describe. A bad taste joke of which he is the butt.

The other comments about putting "rohypnol in her drink every night" and "it's not really illegal if it's a little bit" are on a different level.

If his wife hasn't left him by now someone needs to persuade her to get a blood test.

Perhaps @CrispsandCheeseSandwich I tend to think it was 'tongue in cheek' and not meant to be taken seriously.
I still think he was foolish to make the 'joke' in his position. Very aware I'm in the minority here though, and I see the other point of view. No thought policing here!