Is it only me that thinks its astonishing that a senior politician can have an affair producing children, and think it has no bearing on his public life because its private.

Worse then that even, the primeminister agree's with him and is prepared to stand by him.

What happened to politicians resigning at the merest whiff of a scandal? Seems like their morals are in the gutter along with their standards.

If the enquirey is anything  like the one in to WMD and the Hutton enquirey, I already think its a white wash.  :(

Stephen and I were talking about this. IF this had happened to a conservative MP, the labour party would have been outraged and demanding his resignation ;)

Also, how the HELL can labour say it has no bearing on anything when THEY are interfering in almost every aspect of our lives at the moment and yet they say they will not interfere in Blunketts life ?? Banning smoking everywhere, banning hunting, trying to stop drinking etc etc etc

It simply baffles me

Labour seem to be able to get away with anything - they are untouchable - I can't understand it.

He has an affair resulting in potentially 2 children by a married woman, allegedly interferes with a visa application by his lovers nanny and still the Prime Minister supports him?! He has the morals of an alley cat and yet he keeps his job! Outrageous.

I just can't get over the fact that ANY woman would do 'THAT'  with him .......and TWICE !!!! :D :D

catweazle, only twice then??? :D :D :D........It has got to be a power thing with her!! Or, perhaps she's a dog lover :D

Boris Johnson had an affair and was sacked. David Blunkett has an affair and the PM supports him. Labour came to power proclaiming they were anti-sleaze.

Double standards and hypocrisy!

<Michael Ancram QC, the Tory party's deputy leader, told the BBC's Breakfast With Frost programme: "It wasn't about his private life, it was about something more central than that.

"Michael Howard for a long time has been talking about the need to restore people's trust in the honesty and integrity of politics.

"Where Boris was less than frank, that was what could not be sustained. In the end Michael, when he realised Boris had not been frank with him, had to let him go." >

Add this to his comments about the people of Liverpool  & the grieving for the guy who was mudered in Iraq  & it shows you what an idiot he is

One rule for one, a different for another!

No Robert it is not just you. I am amazed that no newspaper is calling for his resignation.Peter Mandelson had to go just for making a phone call,but then again he's been looked after and gone onto bigger things.I just don't know how they all get away with it.I suppose you just have to be mates with Tony.

He's nowt but a bl**dy hypocrite, shame he's got no hunting mates....

Geoff :)

and the wooden spoon for stirring goes to ......

:p :p :p

....Geoff!! With his total dedication to rocking the boat

Ta da :D :D

Who moi.... :rolleyes:

Geoff  :)

p.s. anyone know how to do a suprised smiley??

No :D

*sulking now *

Geoff :(

: eek :

Without the spaces :rolleyes: Can't abide to see a chap sulk :D :D

   Ta mel xxx

The one thing is though it depends on whether you lie about the affair or not. Boris is married and lied(allegedly) but David B has been upfront about it and he was divorced at the time. Still doesn't explain the morals of it though especially fathering chidren .

Lucy

David Blunkett was divorced, but his mistress wasn't (and still isn't)!

Yes I know sorry didn't mention that. :) I don't know whether Boris's mistress was married ?

It still boils down to I from what I have heard it is whether they lie about the allegations or tell the truth once the stories and allegations emerge.

Lucy
xx

I can't find any information that Petronella Wyatt was married. Anyone know?

Edit: Googling tells me "Ms Wyatt went to Florida in 2003 where she became engaged to the stepson of a friend of Lady Wyatt's. She planned to marry her fiance in January this year, but called it off at the last minute"

His mistress was and is still married, but she had left her husband at the time, although now back with him.
Why has all this come to light, well simply because Blunkett wants to keep in touch with his son and she doesn't want any contact.
Whatever you think of him it's great that someone in such a high postion feels strongly enough to risk his career for his children

Yes, I'd agree with that - but I would also say that this entire situation reflect more badly on the govt than it does David Blunkett himself.

I don't think anybody should loose their job if they have an affair as no other profession as far as I am aware is made to resign. (let me know if their is :) )

I do however strongly feel that is somebody lies whether it be about an affair or anything else such as whether a Government knew that they was no evidence  of a country storing and intending WOMD to declare war and invade a country or use their position in the gain for their own good then I would question things. :)

Lucy
xx

Just to say I think that the invasion of Iraq was right for humanitarian (sp) reasons and should have been under direction of the UN.

Having an affair with someone involves lying and deceit. Would you want a senior minister who would do this making life and death decisions ? Could you trust them ?

Doh - I've just reread your second para, Lucy :) That's more or less what you said, sorry ! But why would lying and deceit not be sackable ? Anybody who can do that to his/her wife/husband must be unreliable at best :(

Daisy

People who are willing to lie to those they're supposed to love best won't give two hoots about lying to people they don't know from Adam (that's us, by the way!). :(

Excatly I am talking about employment here and not what happens in their private life and families :)

I have worked with so many lying, dishonest people but doesn't mean thay have done anything wrong in the workplace :)

You must also not judge until you know the full story as their are many reasons behind affairs and it is not as cut and dry as we sometimes see :)

Lucy
xx

I think that it is easier just to stick to not having an affair in the first place - then no justification is necessary :(

Daisy

Hi Daisy

I am not saying that we need to justify, just to understand the circumstances :) We often do not agree with things but can be less judgemental if we know the whole story :)

Lucy
xx

There are too many people around that feel that they have just cause to have an affair ( where one or both are still living with other spouse and both parties know this). Very few have my sympathy I'm afraid :(

Daisy

Daisy

I agree that the majority of affairs are wrong but as you say there still can be the very few that you could have sympathy for :) We shouldn't tar anybody with a label until the whole story is known :)

Lucy
xx

I doubt whether we'll ever know the TRUE story :) But I cannot imagine that there are any excuses here that I would feel in the slightest excusable :( I imagine that he knew she was married and that he obviously wasn't practising safe sex (which his government has been preaching about for years)

Sorry - no sympathy for him, which is a shame as I did have respect for his achievements until now :(

Daisy

If some one feels able to conduct an affair with a married women in private, but at the same time preach to us irks the value of a stable family background, is IMO opinion a hypocrite of the highest order.

Thats a case of do as I say, not as I do, and not a basis for trust and respect, if a government minister hasn't trust and respect how can he do his job?

All day in the media people have having been backing DB with the arguement that he he is a deeply moral man, how can this be when after the women ends the affair he persues her with threats of legal action, surely as a moral man he would see that it is the children who will come out the losers, fought over in court for access rights pulled from piller to post and taken out of the stable family enviroment B cherishs one weekend in four.

Of all the people in this case the only one who seems to have any dignity is the womens husband, he says he'll stand by her and treat the children as his own, I wish I could say I would have taken his stance in similar circumstances , but I doubt I could be so forgiving if my trust in my parnter had been betrayed in the first year of marriage.

Hi I do agree with you in what you are saying but I have never personally heard him preach about the value of a stable family life? I have heard other ministers but cannot remember him doing so?

I am still out with the jury on this one as I do not know the whole story as haven't seen the news since early this morning or have not had the pleasure to read the papers :)

Lucy
xx

Hi Lucy,

I didn't remember him saying that either, but The Times  today say he said it in 2000, and again in a slightly differnt form in 2001. :)

Aaah then that does change things :) He not practicing what he preaching so I have to change my view here towards the no sympathy vote for him. He has also admited he has used his expenses which is for him and his spouse to pay for a train ticket for her. He has said it was a genuine mistake and he will or has repaid the £180.

Well said Rob...

So are we likely to see Blunkett dressed as Santa and handcuffed to a Minister :)

Or do we wait and find that Father's rights suddenly get a higher profile in the Labour party ;)

:)

The Lab guidedog will have to dress up as Rudolf :D

Lucy
xx

Although Boris johnson is married and had an affair with Petronella Wyatt, this was used as an excuse for the sacking. The real reason that Michael Howard got rid of him was because of his comments regarding the people of Liverpool after the Ken Bigley murder.

He basically said that they had displayed too much emotion and had overdone the mourning, his comments were seen to be very insensitive at a very politically sensitive time. I think that the affair was the straw that broke the camels back as far as MH was concerned.

What about the MP expenses row? They are all immoral, deceitful and dishonest, there is nothing to choose between many of them, unfortunately it is a rare thing these days to hear about an MP who is honourable.

My biggest dillema at the moment, is come next year, when we are all at the ballot box, who the hell do you vote for, for the good of the Country????? IMHO they are all as corrupt as each other.

Hairypooch I have to take acception as I have a lovely friend who is also an MP, a really good family man & very very caring. I would trust him totally.

Take exception Sam, I like many others only go on what I read and hear in the media. There is always an exception to a rule and you have obviously found this in your friend. But I do think that a lot of them lose sight of why they went into the job, ie, working for their constituents and generally trying to make Britain a better place.

I also said that it is a rare thing to find an MP who is honourable, not unheard of though.

Some of us trusted TB and the Labour party, look where that got us. Trust has to be earned and I will never trust TB et al :)

I like many others only go on what I read and hear in the media.

A very dangerous mistake to make as recent event show!!!

So, if we don't take note of what is going on in this Country by way of media coverage, (appreciate some newspapers are the biggest culprits of untruths) ;)  talking to our local MP, etc, how do we keep informed? My local MP is Michael Howard, and yes, he is one of the few that I genuinely like and feel I could trust,  but he isn't strong enough to be a leader.

I am as sceptical as the next person when it comes to believing all that I read, but I take some of it on board and make informed decisions. I oppose just about everything this Government has done so far, but that is because of their proven track record, not what I have digested from the news.

The only dangerous mistake I ever made was voting for TB 7yrs ago

I don't think he's done anything toooo bad.  DB can certainly afford child support, she's back with her hubby (sounds like a nice forgiving guy) and as for the Visa business we all have perks....she didn't look like she was a one woman threat to the UK.  Loads of men have affairs as do (fewer :) ) women. At least she didn't have to fret about her make up or bed head with DB :D or matching undies for that matter...
I'd rather let the guy alone to do his job until elections dictate otherwise and not see my taxes wasted. I'm sure alot of the population will be subjected to worse behaviour at the up and coming xmas do's.

It's no wonder that people are disillusioned with politics if we don't even expect our MPs to have any morals :( :(

Daisy

Hi spook, its not too bad if its not your wife DB's messing about with behind your back ;)

Sure lots of women have affairs, but she had only been married for two months when it started.  And the same month she has IVF she has unprotected sex with DB.  Why bother with the IVF, if she was going to use DB as the sperm donor anyway!

Hmmm makes you wonder if he was the victim of a honey trap....

He just doesn't seem like a love rat.....certainly not the first man to think with his trouser brain. At least it was a relationship.....if he were a tory or Blue Peter presenter she would've been a leather clad proffessional 'masseuse' with a supply of narcotics at hand.

I think he's been a fool but I also think he's got a rough deal. Being a Father should be his most important role. She got her nanny, her baby and her hubby back and she's thrust all concerned into the spotlight. It's her that sounds a tad devious IMHO

Men! :rolleyes:  :D

Hi

I have heard that it was DB who leaked the story of the affair to the press because she has refused to let her son take a paternity test after her and her husband were reconciled and the rumour is that she is pregnant with his child at the moment and is also denying access or paternity test to that baby when it is born. She is then supposed to have leaked the story of the quick visa application in retaliation. As far as the affair goes IMO it was her wearing the ring so she is in the wrong (though obviously he has no morals) and I've never heard him preach family values either so not quite a hipocritical as John Major with Edwina Currie (uuurrrrggg and double uuurrrggh).

As far as the visa application goes that is a breach of trust and power and if he's gonna be sacked for anything it should be that not his private life.

Nikki.:)