Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Politics
Original poster

Who feels sorry for Gordon???

331 replies

MrsForgetful · 28/04/2010 18:57

I do.

OP posts:
frecklyspeckly · 29/04/2010 21:37

I bet Sue isn't

She's working on updating her CV tonight

bluemousemummy · 29/04/2010 21:44

I do.

I actually find it quite reassuring that he holds those views, makes me think he is left wing after all. Bet he is well sick of people moaning on about immigration in one breath whilst claiming to be socialists in the next... I know I bloody am.

I like him so much more now. Agree with other people on here that he seems genuine. He's got my vote now.

sanfairyann · 29/04/2010 22:22

he's getting my vote now - sky can take a running jump

dunceinlove · 29/04/2010 22:30

She WAS a bigot. It highlighted her faults as much as his.

Original poster
MrsForgetful · 29/04/2010 22:33

i think he did well tonight...now i am back to being torn betwwen the yellows and the reds!

OP posts:
mathanxiety · 29/04/2010 22:42

I don't think you should be turning your nose up at immigrants when your surname is Duffy.

What I was sorry to see was all the grovelling he did afterwards.

brockyg · 29/04/2010 22:46

He had to grovel didn't he, whatever she said. The lunchtime news didn't even report what she said.

I'm torn between thinking what a prat GB, go Gordon and I'm glad that's never happened to me.

I have said some terrible things about people in private. My friends were caught out saying terrible things about someone on their campsite, in the privacy of their tent, which isn't that private when you think about it. They had to spend the rest of the holiday avoiding the other people in case they'd heard their rude remarks. How truly embarassing.

mathanxiety · 29/04/2010 22:51

I think he was right to expect his staff to make sure he didn't get cornered by someone taking a swing at pretty much everything that has happened in Britain in the last 20 years.

b4real · 29/04/2010 23:11

DANCEINLOVE Why is the woman a bigot? A strong word to use about a woman ( a life long labour supporter) who asks genuine concerns about immigration. Is it forbidden to question immigration? This shows Browns' total diregard for the genuine concerns about this issue, just not for his supporters, but for the rest of the country.
This woman has every right to ask about immigration, if it effects her life or those of her family/ What is this country? some sort of police state, devoid of free speech, where we can speak about some subjects but not others?

b4real · 29/04/2010 23:21

DOGGIESAYWOOF It is not xenophobia to question immigration. Phobia is an irrational fear of something or someone. I don't believe Mrs. Duffy has a phobia about foreigners! she was expressing how immigration effects her life. I wish people would stop intellectualising a comment a women made to Brown, she was asking about immigration, Brown was polite to her face and slagged her off in his car. Full stop.

b4real · 29/04/2010 23:26

RUNAWAYWIFE I bet the guy at the door was happy tho

TDiddy · 29/04/2010 23:27

I do

mathanxiety · 30/04/2010 02:18

Given that her ancestors or her husband's ancestors were probably Irish immigrants to Britain at some point, she has a bit of a nerve to question immigration.

Astrophe · 30/04/2010 04:59

out of the loop (am abroad)...what the heck happened? You tube link please?

Eve4Walle · 30/04/2010 06:52

The guy is an arse.

As an aside, anyone who thinks voting Lib Dem will actually do any good is deluding themselves.

ReshapeWhileDamp · 30/04/2010 08:43

Apostrophe, here's the [[http://www.channel4.com/news/articles/vote_2010/when+gillian+met+gordon+the+full+transcript/362918 7 transcript]. Neither of them come out of it particuarly well on paper - but then transcripts of these sorts of things always make the politician look bad and waffly, I think.

I do feel sorry for him - but not for his aides! He's not meant to be in charge of making sure the mike's off, but someone should be! And anyone who thinks that politicians - or any other professionals - don't need to vent in private needs to wake up. It was a private conversation. One of many similar ones this election - we just haven't heard the others.

ReshapeWhileDamp · 30/04/2010 08:45

Sorry. Try again: here

Beveridge · 30/04/2010 09:34

I do feel incredibly sorry for him, I've had a few close calls with the baby monitor...

Yes, he is not as 'media-friendly' as other politicians (David Cameron's cheesy 'piece to camera face' comes to mind) but he is a Scottish bloke for goodness sake - a bit dour and not given to effusive outpourings(like most of the rest of them!.)

But whats wrong with only saying something when you've got something worthwhile to say? I would rather the top job went to someone who actually knew what he was doing, rather than someone who just sounded like they did.

Apparently he has a very dry, understated sense of humour that has new crews in fits prior to a broadcast but once the cameras start rolling, he gets on with the job in hand (which is how it should be, isn't it?)

As a floating voter with a very good sitting LibDem MP, I did laugh when he brushed Nick Clegg off the other week on Trident with a throwaway remark that he makes these decisions every single day...ouch!

Chrysanthamum · 30/04/2010 13:02

Immigration is an issue in the uk and raising questions about it is justifiable. Ok the woman was quite blunt and not v eloquent but labelling her a bigot is not excusable.

mathanxiety - does having an Irish surname mean you are not entitled to question immigration in the country where you vote, have obviously lived in for some time, pay taxes etc?
Must one have a quintessentially English surname in order to question current issues?

portymom · 30/04/2010 13:45

I do. There's such a cabal after him, that one wonders...
Taking all in consideration, he's still the best for the current job.
Don't care if he can't smile, tell jokes or please the press pack/Mr Murdoch. Enough, take him for what he is, an intelectual, purveyor of good economy and with an indomitable conviction that he can be a force for good. I would let him carry on and apraise later.

mathanxiety · 30/04/2010 15:10

Since I am Irish and have been an immigrant (paying Federal, state and local taxes etc. but not voting) in the US, I have a positive attitude to immigration. Millions of Irish people have emigrated from Ireland to places all over the world for centuries, and I feel it's a bit more than ironic that someone whose ancestors or whose husband's ancestors were net gainers from having another country allow them to live and make a living there should complain about immigration. Regarding other issues, it's not ironic to complain.

As far as I know, immigrants pay taxes.

MerlotPixie · 30/04/2010 17:06

I do.

But I wish he would stop smiling. It just doesn't suit his face. Looks scary.

He smiled a lot when he came out of the woman's house - he was apologising for 40 minutes apparantly.

It was most alarming. The smile I mean.

vesela · 30/04/2010 17:12

Purveyor of good economy?!

Purveyor of rather large fibs, I think... I agree with you on the indomitable conviction, though

(Everyone who likes immigrants and is on twitter - #iloveimmigrants is now at no. 2 in the UK! Tweet it!)

Original poster
MrsForgetful · 30/04/2010 22:20

I think he smiles to cover nerves...but being socially clumsy (like my aspergers/autistic sons)he tends to overdo it...inappropriately- but sincerely meant.

OP posts:
claig · 30/04/2010 22:33

He never used to smile like that in his early days. He has been taught how to smile and it has been a mistake. They should have let him be himself rather than trying to pretend to be someone he is not.