Should we care about old "crimes"?

[Dave2002]

The whipped up fuss about Chris Huhne makes me wonder whether anyone other than a journalist, politician, or someone in the energy industry who might be affected by any legislation relating to energy production, really cares about old alleged crimes.

Some crimes such as murder should clearly not be put aside, but does it make sense to continue to worry about things that happened years ago that really most people probably don't care about

[Mahlerei]

I daresay the law wouldn't overlook our crimes/misdemeanours so why should they do so in this case? But the real issue is whether Huhne has fibbed about this whole affair. Sorry, I have absolutely no sympathy for him.

[Flosshilde]

It happened several years ago, & it's only come to light now because of the 'vengeance' memoirs of his ex(?) wife. If she felt strongly enough about it why didn't she say anything at the time?
Margaret Cook also seemed to be able to put up with Robin Cook's shortcomings, including (alleged) sexual inadequacy, for many years, until he 'dumped' her (rather unpleasantly, it has to be said), & then she couldn't wait to complain. It's all rather distasteful.


Actually, when I saw the thread title I thought it was going to be about George Davis.

[french frank]

We live in an age where public figures can't get away with anything.

I used to marvel at the fact that so many of them do risk their reputations - and their jobs - whether purely amorous (Fred the Shred, Giggs, Huhne) or criminal (alleged crimes of Strauss-Kahn and, again, Huhne). I'm now coming round to the view that the population in general is just as deviant but less vulnerable because the press don't care about people whose affairs won't sell newspapers.

So I disagree with Mahlerei's "I daresay the law wouldn't overlook our crimes/misdemeanours" because 'we' wouldn't have our misdemeanours pried into in the same way in the first place. But, I'm afraid if highly placed people, or even people who have ambitions to achieve high office or celebrity, misbehave, it's what they must expect, especially when we have a politically motivated press.

[Philidor]

Chris Huhne's alleged crimes and misdemeanours are part of a structural crisis afflicting the Liberal Democrats. They never expected to be in power, hence....



It's one thing to make a promise in your manifesto which you then break. That's bad enough. But to be photographed, again and again, making it as a campaign pledge, is asking for trouble.

When you're a protest party no one really cares about skeletons in the cupboard. Okay, if you've murdered someone, or run over a dog, questions will be asked. But in a mild sort of way.

But Huhne's a cabinet minister. If he's lied or broken the law that's serious. The press will never leave him alone. It's their job not to leave him alone. Cabinet ministers must be fireproof. The LibDems probably need a complete clear-out of MPs to be fit for purpose.

Plus Labour and Conservative MPs have always hated the holier than thou attitude of the LibDems. They know they're just as dirty as them - dirtier in many cases - and now take visceral pleasure in seeing them subject to the same scrutiny.

Plus Huhne had challenged Cameron and Osborne in cabinet - a dangerous thing to do when you're not fireproof. Did he really expect them to take it on the chin? Say what you want about Cameron and Osborne, but they're serious politicians, trained for power from an early age. Plus they're protecting Clegg. Huhne's a likely leadership challenger and Clegg's useful to the Tories just at the moment. They'll defend their man.

[Flosshilde]

I'm now coming round to the view that the population in general is just as deviant but less vulnerable because the press don't care about people whose affairs won't sell newspapers.

Of course we do - I've been in a similar situation to Mrs Huhne (with regard to points for speeding). But as I said above, nobody would have known about it if she hadn't decided to spill the beans now; what her motives are I've no idea - desire for justice to be done? - I wouldn't have thought so: she's waited several years. Some have put it down to vengeance; it could be a desire to gain publicity & make some money.

I'm sorry that it has become yet another excuse to bash the LibDems (heaven knows, we've got enough already ). I have absolutely no doubt that there are others in the Conservatives & the Labour parties who have committed the same crime.

[PatrickOD]

Some crimes such as murder should clearly not be put aside

One would think so Dave, but then......

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-13564778

[Mahlerei]

It seems pretty straightforward to me; assuming the allegations are true - and I accept they may not be - there is no earthly reason why Huhne should get away with it. Simply because a crime/misdemeanour goes undetected doesn't lessen the wrongdoing.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

I just wish they'd all stop wasting time on minor misdemeanours by Chris Huhne and start bashing the real villains, starting with Michael Gove.

[Flosshilde]

Well quite. It's all part of an orchestrated distraction from the real business. I'd add Andrew Lansley to the potential bashees.

[Philidor]

It seems pretty straightforward to me; assuming the allegations are true - and I accept they may not be - there is no earthly reason why Huhne should get away with it. Simply because a crime/misdemeanour goes undetected doesn't lessen the wrongdoing.

Exactly. These LibDems need to grow up PDQ. If they want to be in government - and they clearly love ensconcing their bottoms in ministerial limousines - they must expect greasy hacks to go through their bins. Why should LibDem bins be hack-free?

I just wish they'd all stop wasting time on minor misdemeanours by Chris Huhne and start bashing the real villains, starting with Michael Gove.

Why not both? It's the role of the press to catch LibDem cabinet ministers telling fibs and to bash the appalling Gove. Unless whinging LibDems and their supporters demand special treatment? If so, on what grounds?

[Mahlerei]

What I find particularly galling is the shock/astonishment expressed by these politicians when they're finally run to ground and punished. Look at the Tory peer Lord Hanningfiedl, apparently dumbfounded that he has been found guilty on six counts of false accounting and still maintaining he has done nothing wrong. It's that arrogance that draws the public ire; despite Huhne's alleged misdemeanour being at the other end of the spectrum it could be seen as part of a continuum of casuistry and deceit. Little wonder that otherwise reasonable and fair-minded people despise politicians so.

[mangerton]

What I find particularly galling is the shock/astonishment expressed by these politicians when they're finally run to ground and punished. .........Little wonder that otherwise reasonable and fair-minded people despise politicians so.

Quite agree, mahlerei, I find it galling too, and as I have said elsewhere, I find the arrogance of these people quite deplorable.

On that basis, I'm not quite sure why you say "otherwise" above. Would "all" not be more appropriate?

[Dave2002]

It seems pretty straightforward to me; assuming the allegations are true - and I accept they may not be - there is no earthly reason why Huhne should get away with it. Simply because a crime/misdemeanour goes undetected doesn't lessen the wrongdoing.

So all those people who overtake me in a 40 mile speed limit when I'm already doing 42 mph should be rounded up? Should I turn myself in? There are a heck of a lot of people out there, very probably including most of us at times, who break the law. Then we can get into issues such as "do we know we're doing it?" (not always), or "do we have intent?" (some people clearly do). I'm pretty sure that some people do know they're doing "wrong", do have intent, and what's more don't care. It's not only politicians.

The biggest failing of course is being caught!

[Mandryka]

Does anyone else suspect Huhne is being torpedoed from within the cabinet?