Alan Johnson's wife's affair DOESN'T make it onto Mumsnet!!

[Pan]

I have briefly glanced through Chat, Politics and In The News, and can find no reference at all to Alan Johnson's wife's affair with the police officer.

Is there a glaring double standard in operation? Would AJ be lambasted from here to the bottom of the ocean if it was him doing the playing away? V. probably. Soooo..what's the difference here then?

apolos if I have missed a thread.

Well it has now!

Again apologies if it has been covered but a brief shufty through and no sign - and you ever tried looking through Chat for a few days worth!

I appreciate he is the one in the marriage that has the politician's profile, and it appears incumbent on him to be squeaky. But surely MrsJ has an associated responsibility in being a politician's wife?

Its on this thread

Not much, granted.

Thanks Lady.

but yes, nothing at all - just the (bigger) issue of the Shadow Chancellorship.

Mumsnet and a massive short-circuitary going on when the woman strays?

I couldn't be bothered whether it was a man or a woman, irrespective of job but she at least deosn't have a public role, does she?
I can see the attraction. Hunky policemen, long lonely hours with AL away.

Phwwooargh.

I don;t think she has an associated responsibility to be seen to be squeaky clean.

I'm not a mad fan of infidelity though, whoever does it.

well, she kind of does have a public role of sorts, and would certainly have benefitted from AJ's position, as it were. And there is a ds involved.

Selective pitchforkery I hadn't noticed before.

IME on MN, women get crucified if they have strayed.

yes, but not here, Lady.

Not disagreeing with you necessarily, but couldn't we see it as a good sign? He is not his wife, he did not 'stray' and their private life is not anyones business but their own.

When the news first came out that he was stepping down for personal reasons I was just waiting on the first 'prying' news stories that splashed his personal life all over the media . Unless it was something he had done that directly contradicted his principles or ethics then I have no interest - really.

I don't see it as a reflection of very much that there has not been much of a discussion and vilification of her. I think it is mainly due to the fact that none of us know her, I couldn't even tell you her name or what she looks like. You need to know before you give a shit, either way.

Maybe. The fact that it could be seen as an entirely private matter hasn't proven to 'protect' others around here, as it.

ok.

Well since the briefing was designed to get shot of the incumbent Shadow Chancellor to replace him with the current version, the wife thing was pretty much irrelevant, othere than as tittle tattle among other protection officers I should think.

I think we're all in a state of shock. When we have come to terms with the news, we'll be ready to discuss it.

It's just a bit of a non-story. 'Politician (or politician's wife) has affair', big whoop. No one has ever heard of her, either. So it's more like 'random non-descript woman has affair'. meh

well, let's hope this eveness of approach continues when some dh of a 'celeb/politico' does some wandering, to the direct detriment of the wife.
Can't help doubting that though.

"when some dh of a 'celeb/politico' does some wandering, to the direct detriment of the wife"..

but that isn't what happened here is it?

who knows, maybe Mr Teresa MAy is cavorting with a policewoman as we speak. But really, who cares?

It's onl;y when the politician him/herself is ripe for an exit that their foibles are exposed. It's so the next one can be inserted you know. THere is no moral issue involved, it's just a way to sack someone. It could be an affair, or a rubber fetish, or a medical issue. It''s just a way of getting shot of someone who is past their sell by date.

It's not a double standard. When the public figure (your celeb/politico) strays we lambast them because we expect better from prominent people - especially politicians and highly paid/role models such as footballers etc. We dislike hypocrisy. When a partner strays we don't get on their case because they owe the public nothing. They are private individuals same as everyone else - they just happen to be connected to someone famous.

It would be different if Mrs Johnson had been running a campaign for perfect marriage or doing lecture tours on fidelity....

Now - if Yvette Cooper had an affair then that would be perfectly understandable interesting .....