"GAY SMEARS AND ME, BY TORY HOPEFUL"
That's the front page headline in today's Evening Standard. For many years Dr Fox, 44 and now engaged to Dr Jesme Baird, has been subject to rumours that he has had a gay past and that he has been a promiscuous heterosexual. Interviewed for today's Standard Dr Fox refuses to discuss his past:
"If someone accused me of doing something against the law I might feel bound to answer it. Otherwise I would have no comment to make. If you start getting into that, all sorts of areas open up and I think you are entitled to a private life."
Dr Fox continued:
"I know that some people use smears and I have heard them for many years. They say, 'Why are you not married?' You must be a playboy or a wild man or gay', or whatever. Well I'm getting married in December and I'm perfectly happy with my private life and it remains my private life. It's perfectly clear that Jesme and I are very much in love with each other. I'm not going into that smear territory."
It's not clear how this will play for Dr Fox ahead of today's parliamentary vote. On the face of it, the story will slow any momentum he had. Elsewhere in The Standard an unnamed Fox aide is quoted as saying that they have not done enough to overtake Mr Davis. I have had that confirmed to me. There is also unhappiness, however, in the Commons Tea Room at the behaviour of two Davis supporters who have been 'promoting' the Evening Standard story to colleagues.
WARNING: I WILL BAN ANYONE WHO USES THE THREAD BELOW TO MAKE UNSUBSTANTIATED ALLEGATIONS. I HAVE BANNED TWO IP ADDRESSES ALREADY TODAY. ONE FOR POSTING SOMETHING FALSE AND ANOTHER FOR HATEFUL ANTI-GAY REMARKS. I WON'T HESITATE TO DO SO AGAIN.
No Oberon it is not. Germany has just had a growth downgrade to 1.2% (if they are lucky) and Germany represents I think 0.5% growth for the UK economy.
The US is heading for some kind of slowdown/slump and that wil knock down Uk growth to say 1.6%.
Tory plans were reasonably holding public spending growth below growth of the GDP to create some reserves (for tax cuts, or contingency) but Brown has a PFI Debt Mountain somewhere which boosts National Debt to 60% + of GDP and is a huge contingent liability when the PFI deals need refinancing.
The Tories just could not get the message across because they do not present clearly. Everyone can comprehend that you don't pledge your pay rise to Visa for the next ten years unless you go on a diet.
Posted by: Rick | 20 October 2005 at 16:07
Yes sorry the cannabis law is a little vague. I guess that strictly speaking the act of smoking cannabis is not illegal, but then again, in the strictest sense of the words, I don't see how one would be able to smoke a joint without either buying or owning it? After all, is it not the case that possession signifies ownership (temporary or otherwise)?
Posted by: Daniel Vince-Archer | 20 October 2005 at 16:07
Rick, yes you are right about the figures, however for the year it will be 1.6-1.9%, which is less than 2.5% pleged by the Tories. It seems that we are good at winning the arguement and losing the...er election.
PFI is another area of big concern, however Brown knows that a large chunk of popular support runs on sentiment and not analysis of how he fiddles the books.
Posted by: Oberon Houston | 20 October 2005 at 16:14
Smoking cannabis is completely illegal, as is buying and owning it. Its just that it has now been re-classified as a class C drug which means that the penalties for smoking, possessing and buying are less and the Old Bill are likely to either just confiscate it or just turn a blind eye to it, in order to apparently concentrate on more serious offences (and keep crime figures down of course).
If it was legal to buy it some corporation would have cashed in by now.
Personally I couldn't care less if Fox has had gay experiences just like it doesn't bother me if Cameron has taken drugs. What would bother me more is if David Davis became leader of the opposition!!
Posted by: Rocco | 20 October 2005 at 17:12
It is illegal to deal, possess and use Cannabis. It is a Class C drug (downgraded from Class B). In practice, the police are unlikely to do anything unless you deal on a scale to stagger humanity.
IMHO, either lock up/fine users, or legalise it. Be consistent. I have no strong opinion either way but turning a blind eye to lawbreaking is stupid.
I think the Fox story was just an ambush by journos and he dealt with it off the cuff. It's too much to read much into a remark when the newshogs come up to you.
Posted by: Robert D | 20 October 2005 at 18:05
"Camp Davis, where else?"
I don't think so. Neither do I think that the Cameron drugs story came via a rival. Newspapers want stories about high profile politicians and these stories could come from anywhere. Very harsh on Fox it should emerge this afternoon.
The stance of Cameron & Fox to draw a line over which personal life should not be discussed should be applauded, such action in it's own little way, makes future 'background' stories less likely to emerge.
Posted by: AnotherNick | 20 October 2005 at 19:14
The Cameron situation is different than the Fox situation. With Fox it was a rumour, nothing more. With Cameron it came from perfectly justified questions which he didnt dispel properly.
Posted by: James Maskell | 20 October 2005 at 19:20
"Frankly, the Tory Party has exposed itself as vacuous and the plaything of PR men and the media claque"
and
"yo me i iz feelin rite on dude, thinks fur yer support"
Well, it's proof positive in at least two instances that trolls can't spell, or quite possibly can't think... (and yes, I know that you'll all be keeping a hawk-eye out for typos in my posts now - thank you!)
"Another 4 years of opposition looms unless the Party can grow up and realise that people have no problem with homosexuality at all."
James, I couldn't agree more - well said! Like you, I hope that the strangely out-of-touch "moralisers" in the party can do the right thing and leave this well alone. We are (acknowledgements to MH) a party for all Britain and all Britons, and if we truly wish to be seen as the party of personal freedoms and responsibilities in this modern age we will not cast disapproving glances at people's private lives.
Posted by: Richard Carey | 20 October 2005 at 20:47
The fact that Dr Fox regards suggestions of his being gay as a 'smear', tells us all we ever needed to know about his much vaunted concern for the 'broken society'. It was always a back-to-the-1950's campaign scantily dressed up in 21st century clothing.
Posted by: Gareth | 21 October 2005 at 11:09
Gareth, untrue allegations/speculation designed to deliberately discredit a person can be considered to be a smear.
In any case, could you please explain your assertion that "the fact that Dr Fox regards suggestions of his being gay as a 'smear', tells us all we ever needed to know about his much vaunted concern for the 'broken society'"?
I'm probably being thick but I don't see how the two things are related. Or was it just a gratuitous attack from a Cameronite on Liam Fox?
Posted by: Daniel Vince-Archer | 21 October 2005 at 16:22
"The fact that Dr Fox regards suggestions of his being gay as a 'smear', tells us all we ever needed to know about his much vaunted concern for the 'broken society'"
Or possibly that some people had tired to damage him politically by making out that his whole life was a sham - that was the smear.
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