General Chat

Don't care about his private/not-so-private life, but he's managed to balls-up the Education Dept and is now doing the same in the Home Office. nell

It's the children I feel sorry for. That little boy has been named in the press, will he ever live it down. Pat

A LABOUR MP broke ranks yesterday to publicly predict David Blunkett could lose his job by Christmas. Yesterday, the Mirror revealed Government insiders saying Blunkett will quit within a week to take the heat off Tony Blair. And last night Diane Abbott said almost any other Cabinet minister would have "gone by now". The Home Secretary has the backing of the Prime Minister and many colleagues over the fall-out from his affair with married publisher Kimberly Quinn. But Ms Abbott, MP for Hackney North and Stoke Newington, said most Labour MPs backed him as they were not allowed to take a different line from Mr Blair. Speaking on BBC Radio 4's The Week in Westminster Ms Abbott said: "Anyone else would have gone by now. "I'm not sure that Blunkett can survive until Christmas."

Actually, I'm not all that bothered if he's been fiddling visas and expenses - I doubt if he is the only one (not that that makes it right). What DOES make me mad and disgusted is that this man has carelessly and fecklessly fathered TWO children with another man's wife and then has the utter gall to demand his "rights" as a father! What about the two children involved in this sordid business, what about their right to lead an ordinary, normal childhood, let alone the husband of the woman? The Press will never leave those kids alone. And, I'm sorry, but when someone takes Public Office and gets paid an extremely good salary, the price they pay is to have their private life put under public scrutiny. And do you really want a Home Secretary who doesnt know how to use a condom? Yes, the rest of us "mere mortals" also do these wrong and harmful things, but no-one, except our near neighbours, is interested.If you are a Public figure however, you already know that if you get "caught" it will be very public knowledge - shows very poor judgment on his part, if nothing else.

Perish the thought, But he has been caught out using public funds and facilities for his own ends,Something should be cut off.He is in total breach of trust of the office he holds on behalf of the people of this Country. If he had any decency he would Resign. Hal xx.

Whew Thts a relief,I thought y6ou were getting vicious for a while. Hal

Personally I have never taken to the man, However, he has taken on a job that few are capable of, and has done his best. That is all I could ask for. As to his private life, I heartily condemn those who think that as soon as they have decided that someone is "Publicly Exalted", either by Office, Talent or Skill etc. that that individual should be judged by a standard which few of us mere mortals would achieve. Men and women have been having extra-marital affairs since for ever, get used to it. If he has been fiddling his expenses then that is a breach of trust and appropriate action should be taken. I am sure that those who have been howling for his blood would expect a lighter sentence when asked about the private phone calls they make from work, Or the time on the Firm's computer to be here. Jim

Chop What off Bendy. Hal

Can I give a loud FA-T Perhaps that should be Raspberry in respect for others sensitivity Does this mean that the Govt.will now be more sympathetic towards Fathers4Justice of which I am a Granny Member? Rose

We do not pay taxes so that our government can impregnant their married lovers and then have nannies to care for the children. There are plenty of working mothers who'd love cheaper childcare but the government is too busy looking after its own to bother with that. She's no better than him, the lying cheating sl*pper. If she doesn't like the publicity then she should have kept her legs together.

He ought to be in bed with the curtains drawn and the duvet over his head! Has the man no shame at all? He has made an utter fool out of this woman's husband. I think its an absolute disgrace. If he were a Tory Politician, he would have been sacked immediately. But then, thats the measure of Tony Blair, isn't it - anything goes and damn anyone who gets hurt. And before anyone says it - this man is a Public Servant, paid by the Taxpayer (that's me) and I expect his morals to be either the same or higher than mine. As for the woman involved, she is just as bad and whilst I agree the stress of it all isnt good for her unborn baby, I hope she gets it after her baby is safely born.

Seems a bit of "pot calling the kettle black" to me. A few things have emerged re visa's, train tickets etc., this week. Probably a lot more to come. They are all at it one way or the other. Really makes me mad, we are paying this lot at the end of the day. They are coining it in with all their "allowances" and everything and he has the cheek to give her a train ticket costing £180.

He is the most reactionary politician (Right or Left) this country has ever had. He would not look out of place in a dictatorship.

as for slease,how many of us are guilty?..work in an office,do you buy a biro/envelopes? is your pal a gp,does he/she keep you waiting two days for an appointment? often in life,its not what you know,but who you know! agree with everyone else,he should back off,with the custody thing,as stress causes hypertension in pregnancy. as a man,i admire people who overcome disability,and make something of their life. bryan.

Thanks - shall try to compare pictures of ex-lover and ex-wife!!! Joy

Wendy, do you mean his ex-lover or his ex-wife? Joy

I have read that he is a good home secretary. However, sleaze was supposed to be out with this government, I think. If he cared at all for his ex-lover, he would wait a while before doing anything; after all, the child is two years old and he's waited that long! Joy

Got to say I'm not that interested in 'Plunkitt'. Viv

Squeeky, thats what I had in mind, whats another three or four months........its not doing her health any good......

Not a lot in a general sense. However,if he has fathered a child he should be able to have access. I think having waited so long, he could wait a little longer until she has had the second child as the stress on her must be huge. Whatever the rights & wrongs, she is pregnant after all. The health of the mother & baby she is carrying should come first. As for the rest, the freebies & the nanny, I am undecided. Most jobs have some sort of perks. Just cos he is in a high powered job, does this make him any differrent? He hasn't actually done anything illegal has he? If he was anyone else, this would be a storm in a teacup. BUT, is that the point; he ISN'T someone else? As I say, undecided!