Summary
WHENEVER Sir Humphrey Appleby, the masterful civil servant in the hit comedy Yes, Minister, wanted to frighten the life out of hapless politician Jim Hacker, he would tell the minister his proposed plan of action was "courageous". Safety is all for politicians. Delivering policy with all the personality of the speaking clock is admirable. Being able to say: "I cannot possibly comment," with the same bonkers shrillness as: "I am a Dalek," is admirable. But courage? No, no, no.
So what should we make of ex-Home Secretary, Jacqui Smith? Smith was the first MP to be exposed in the expenses scandal when her husband Richard's two blue movies were mistakenly included in her expenses claim. (And I say "mistakenly" because who in their right mind, even a Dalek mind, would think that the best way to pauchle their expenses was by leaving in a twenty quid claim for four pay- per-view films, two of which were porn, in an otherwise legitimate internet package?) She lost her seat at the last election but now Smith has taken on the role of presenter in a Radio 5 Live investigation into the pornography industry, a surprising move for a politician, even an ex one. Brave or foolish? "You might ask," she says, smiling somewhat wanly, "why am I bringing it all up again?"See the full content of this document
Extract
Jacqui Oh!
Actually, the question is unnecessary. It doesn't take long in her company to realise Smith is taking control back from a situation she felt left her voiceless. She was also accused of "flipping" her main residence - a more complicated issue - but it was the sex scandal involving the first ever female Home Secretary that produced a very particular kind of schadenfreude. (Smith suspects her gender made her a particular target and sceptics need only look at YouTube comments on her election defeat to realise how sexually aggressive attacks on her are. The C word is used, of course. But she's repeatedly described as a "whore", a "bitch" and even her abilities in bed are questioned.)
The press used the word "humiliated". Is that what she felt? She hesitates. "Yes," she says finally. "It'...See the full content of this document
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