David Cameron apologises for 'sexist' remarks

[RowanMumsnet]

Morning all

The Sunday Times is today reporting that David Cameron is apologising for 'using words that could have been interpreted as sexist' in his replies to two women MPs during Prime Minister's Questions; he's also saying that the Conservatives must to more to appeal to women voters.

The full article is here (£), but - at the risk of bringing the wrath of News International on my head [buttock-clench emoticon] here are the most relevant parts:

'David Cameron has issued a heartfelt apology for disrespectful remarks he made to two female MPs and admitted that the Conservative party must do more to appeal to women voters.

The prime minister acknowledged making a 'terrible mistake' in the House of Commons by using words that could have been interpreted as sexist.

In a highly personal interview, he insisted he was not 'one of the lads' and had not meant to cause offence... Cameron acknowledged he had 'screwed up' at prime minister's questions during exchanges with Labour's Angela Eagle, the shadow chief secretary to the Treasury, and one of his own backbenchers, Nadine Dorries. He insisted that he had been misunderstood.

'What I find frustrating is that I'm not a sort of 'All right luv, I'm down at the pub tonight' whatever. That's not me. But obviously I've come across in this way,' he said.'

Do let us know what you think.

Thanks
MNHQ

I disagree, Cogito. I would lose every last shred of support I feel for Labour (and the past decade has eroded that quite a bit) if they collaborated with the present government. I wouldn't say that about every Conservative government, but I do about this one.

"What gets through to me sometimes is well-written and thoughtful argument. Do you not feel the same, Cogito and Damsel?"

I like a well-written argument but they are few and far between on MN. You can put up a well-written argument or explanation yourself and then have to endure so many responses saying 'all tories are lying bastard scum'... that it's really not worth the keystrokes.

And I cannot WAIT for the next election day myself, Cogito
The Tories will not have the Clegg Factor to get them in over the threshold.

This thread hasn't been abusive though, has it? And it started off as a mnhq question as to what people thought about Dave's "apology", so it wasn't partisan. It's just interesting that so few Tories are prepared to out themselves. It would be shame if it was because they feared abuse, but is that likely really?

I guess what it boils down to is simple basics of the Tory motivation.....and it's not good. Screw the poor and inventivise the rich.

Scarletbanner: no, this thread hasn't been abusive, which is refreshing. Sadly, though, it is all too likely that Conservatism is generally worthy of abuse on MN. If everyone were capable of civilised debate, that would be fine. There is an unfortunate collection of people on MN who are simply grossly opinionated, though, and whose views are put forward far more loudly than the intelligent and thoughtful ones.

Cogito, your posts are excellent (esp. re. 'sheer numbers'). You are saying it all for me!

We will see when it comes to the next election, Waltraut. The Conservatives do have a long history of winning elections without the need of the Lib Dems, you know.

There was a previous thread on this too, when the 'Secret Women's Plan' was "leaked": http://www.mumsnet.com/Talk/in_the_news/a1300236-Secret-government-plans-to-win-back-women

x posts, PosieParker. You are proving my point precisely ("Screw the poor and inventivise [sic] the rich.") I am a lifelong Conservative voter and I wouldn't dream of paraphrasing left wing views in such an offensive manner.

I don't mind saying the Conservative party best reprsents my ideas and I was a Thatcher support. They have however made nothing like the cuts they need and remain pathetically middle ground an dhave no radical useful tax agenda nor plan properly to help businesses and cut red tape.

Thanks for drawing this to our attention, RowanMN

If the current government put into place a few more policies that actually helped women, rather than plenty that actively harm our interests, David Cameron's apology might carry a smidgeon more weight. Perhaps if he framed it in a better choice of words too. And offering an apology nearer the time of the actual events he's apologising for, rather than weeks and months later - yes, the apology's authenticity might be easier to believe then.

As it is, it comes across as worthless lip-service that probably offends more people than it's supposed to appease.

David, don't waste valuable time making pointless "apologies" to half your potential voters. Spend that time thinking about how your government can actually help us improve our lives. I would be willing to take you a bit more seriously if you came up with some palpable and achievable means of doing so.

if dc feels it was error of judgement and not representative of what he is like then yes good for apologising

Too little, too late.

A lame, overdue apology means nothing if they are going to continue shafting women. (Lone parent whose lost out on childcare tax credits and will lose out further if the CSA changes go ahead).

It may not have been abusive to members but, on the first page there were several messages calling the PM a cunt. Elsewhere he's a 'posh twat' and a 'patronising oik'. It actually takes more than a little nerve to get in amongst that kind of hate-fest, put your hand in the air and say 'I quite like the guy'... Like the other MN no-nos. If the thread is going at full tilt on a bit of received wisdom it's a brave woman that sticks their head over the parapet and dares to disagree. Heresy is not tolerated, I've found. :)

I don't know, I think you have to gird your loins a bit.
I liked Brown for a while, and all anyone's ever said about him is to spout the media line that he's a one-eyed Scottish bastard who sold off our gold. Let them get it over with and then go in with a response that's as surgical as you can make it.

Absolutely, Cogito. I have found exactly the same.

And it's not just where politics is concerned, either.

The man doesn't care about anyone other than his rich mates.
He heads a party that despises the vulnerable, that sit there braying whilst cutting off money that the really vulnerable need to live on whilst making sure their bins are going to be emptied every week. Where the hell did that money come from anyway? Taking food from the mouths of those who really cannot survive without their benefits to make sure there is no nasty smell outside their house.

So this apology? To hell is it sincere. He doesn't respect women. He doesn't respect anyone (other than Maggie)

indeed cognito

www.facebook.com/politepeople i think MN needs a bit more of this

Tbh i cant see cameron lasting long, him and his party have made so many bloody boo boos its unreal, he makes gordon brown look good!!

Here we go again with 'braying toffs' vs 'the really vulnerable'. Sigh.

There are a lot of stereotypes, aren't there?
Damsle, where do they come from? What are they based on?

I expect I will get flamed for saying this, but I really like David Cameron. Just over 2 weeks ago, myself & my baby had a meeting with him. It was in regard to a problem I have with the CSA & my ex cheating scheming aggressive pig of an partner. DC showed me photo's of his daughter on his mobile phone & let me take photo's of him holding my baby. He has written to the CSA for me, so fingers crossed something good may come of it.
I will add the photo of him & my baby when I get a minute to my profile.

I actually don't think that Cameron is sexist - I would say he is a pretty good example of a modern man when it comes to the way his own life seems to run.

I also don't think that his comments in question were that bad in the sense of being especially cruel or abnormal. Given that the normality is the bearpit if parliament. Angela Eagle, I am sure, has heard worse and coped; us getting outraged on her behalf is rather patronising to her. But to me, that example did rather smack of DC trying to impress the cool kids, like a slightly uncool but try-hard 13 year old. I really wish out PM was above that!

And the Nadine Dorries one? Well, I think she is an evil witch so again am not horrified at the comments per se, but what did annoy me there is the text convos post-facto, allegedly "He said he had been ?desperately? keen to back her attempt to change the law and regretted that he had been unable to do so. He left little doubt the reason was because of Mr Clegg?s opposition." (source: DM). So if that is indeed true, I judge him on a couple of accounts: 1 for his morals and intent in supporting that; 2 for conducting serious business by text; 3 for duplicity and 4 for lack of backbone.

And for context, I am SO not a Tory, and would class myself as a feminist - jsut in case anyone thinks I am a Dave-loving misogynist!