David Blunkett affair

[Tinker]

Sad lonely man? None of our business? Discuss?

Must say, it would be more believable if she were the blind partner

aloha, i meant the nanny's name.

nope, just says his office asked for "no favours, just slightly quicker"

Oh right, but her employers name must have been there too, surely?

He looked like he'd been crying when interviewed last night. Think her husband is just as vile as her tbh.

Agree tinks. They both seem horrid.

well her address certainly would be and i understand that special levels of security had been carried out there (mayfair) when some kids had been playing that terrorist game Knock Down Ginger..

His interview with andrew marr nearly made me cry as well. I've always liked him. What a very sad situation

I hadn't always liked him but reading about his life has made me have a great deal meore respect for him.

This is all a very sad situation - for everyone involved. Don't think anyone comes out of it looking too well.

However, if you want a giggle see Private Eye. They have really gone to town.

Mandy

if only Tony Blair was half the man!

the stuff about his father's death was so tragic..

Yes, only read about his father's death today. Horrible.

Good riddance - also finally got a House of Lords ruling today about something which should have been blindingly obvious to any rational government years ago which had any respect for the rule of law - lots of celebrations in this part of town I can tell you this lunchtime

Yes, I hope that his totalitarian instincts won't be shared by his successor.

What's the ruling about, DWC?
Have to say, am disappointed so few people seem to feel that Quinn/Fortier should be given some slack because she's pregnant. Whatever you think of her (and no-one, surely, can think that Blunkett's any better) she is a heavily pregnant woman and deserves some care and protection. Acute or chronic stress in pregnancy is clearly linked to an increased risk of low birthweight or premature birth. Anyone who cares about the wellbeing of that unborn baby would leave his/her mother alone. Particularly the man who claims to be the father. Frankly pursuing her at this time raises serious questions about his attitude to fatherhood, IMO.

I know he's a politician and I think they're almost without exception arrogant arses. But he's abloke too who's lost a woman he loved, his child - and possibly another child and the one thing he might have taken refuge in - his job. That's quite a few hits in one go. I feel sorry for him - aside from what I think about his tenure at the HO.

But from what I gather, if he doesn't do it now (ie go to court), he may never see his son again. The courts do take a lot of notice of continuity and I think she will argue that if he hasn't seen his son for a long time then there is no relationship to restart. To prevent/stop all this all she has/had to do was not unilaterally decide to cut him out of his own child's life 100% just because she ended the relationship, and he wouldn't have done this. Much as I dislike the man and his policies, I couldn't walk away from my own son either. I don't think he chose to do this lightly. And this is from someone who can't stand him.
The ruling was saying imprisonment without trial was illegal - about bloody time!

My sister's just been saying something like that to me, edam. Must admit that side of it hadn't struck me but I think you're probably both right. Still think she's worse than Blunko and feel much sorrier for him though!

Fantastic news about the ruling.
Re Blunkett, surely it's not beyond the wit of the no doubt very competent and expensive lawyers he's employing to agree to a postponement on the grounds of pregnancy, making it clear that this is because Blunkett cares about the wellbeing of his (alleged) unborn child?
I just can't get over the fact that he is putting his needs and wants ahead of the health and wellbeing of his unborn child.

but she or someone close to her is doing an effective job of leaking damaging info to the press, so she is seemingly "well" enough to do this and then blaming media attention for her ill-health. Agree that it must be rotten for a pregnant woman to be caught in this situation but feel strongly that she is responsible for the mess she is in now.
She still has a husband, a gorgeous ds and the prospect of another child in due course.
DB, deplorable career as Home Secretary aside, now has very little. He was a fool to be so scathing in his biography about his colleagues and a mug to think Fortier really cared for him. I didn't like most of his policies and I think he was right to resign but I feel extremely sorry for him on a personal level.

and why do people think she's worse than Blunkett? Because women are judged more harshly than men for the same behaviour, even, sadly, by other women. One rule for bonking Boris, another for his (female) boss.

surely she is as well though. By not agreeing to DNA tests, and not allowing access then she has forced him down this route in a lot of ways.
And didn't she bring the nanny issue to public attention, so ensuring that the press interest would be reawakened? or have I got that wrong?

must say, I am withholding judgement on KQ ... we haven't heard her side of the story really have we

I don't think she's worse than Boris, I think the whole of the Spectator offices should be fumigated . Adulterers both.

Blunkett has his three adult sons, and a well-paid job as an MP.