I’m gunna be blunt: this pi**ed me off.
I think I’ve criticised every party leader in some way or another
after seeing them on telly or reading something about them or what they’ve
done/said, but 1 thing I will not do is treat someone as though members of
their family are fair game to slag off because I don’t like them.
I am me: I am not my dad. Frankly my dad is an abusive arsehole.
That does not mean that I am. It doesn’t mean that I can be expected to inherit
being disliked, I didn’t pick my dad I got the one nature gave me, not my
fault.
Fortunately for Ed Miliband he actually has a father worth
defending, and despite their differences I’m glad that the other party leaders
have stood by him in condemning the Daily Mail for claiming Ed’s father ‘hated Britain’
in order to tarnish Ed’s reputation.
Firstly I think Ed is a much better judge of his father’s politics
than a newspaper can be, as they are after all family.
Secondly I think Ed should be judged on what Ed says and does, not
his father’s beliefs; especially as clearly Ed’s father didn’t hate Britain because
he defended this country in the 2nd world war. Yes, I’ve criticised Ed
myself once or twice; but who his father is does not reflect in my view his
ability to run this country.
In fact it would be just as stupid as asking the current Daily
Mail staff to inherit being disliked because of the fact that between 1934 and
1939 the Mail was pro-Hitler (we don’t hold it against you; but don’t think we’ve
forgotten).
In conclusion I would like to say a big thanks to the Daily Mail:
I already said I’m glad his opponents in government stood by Ed in this in
giving you the middle finger - but if they didn’t they could probably have
really used this to damage him and the fact that they stood up for him, and criticised
you fear-mongering guys and girls has left me that little bit less cynical of
British politics than I was yesterday. It proves that they are guided by a
sense of right and wrong and not just self-interest. Not the outcome you were
hoping for was it?
