MP assaults his girlfriend - should he remain in parliament?

[Laurel Green]

Telegraph said:

"I am pleased to be able to say that she has accepted my apology.

Wonderful, just wonderful.

[aw51 121565]

muffinmenace said:

What actually transpired? Oh we have no idea, just bit and pieces...

http://order-order.com/2014/07/23/gove-dragged-int...

Read the letter from the Dean of St Edmundsbury Cathedral contained therein .

Mind you, only 10 years ago she (the Dean) was my local vicar (and not very good at it, her eye was on promotion to the top even then ).

[saaby93]

Surely the rule is if you've done the crime (if you get caught or own up) you serve the time
If he's accepted a caution, that's it, move on with life.
Thats why we have a system of justice

[Pommygranite]

Laurel Green said:

Telegraph said:

"I am pleased to be able to say that she has accepted my apology.

Wonderful, just wonderful.

''Im sorry - you do know that right?'

'No, you really hurt me'

SMACK

''Please tell me you know I'm sorry'

'Ow that really hurt'

SMACK

'fkING SAY YOU KNOW IT'

'I know it now stop'

'Say I ACCEPT YOUR APOLOGY' SMACK.

'I accept your apology'

[steveatesh]

Article quotes "The definition now includes coercive control, bullying, keeping a person short of money, that sort of thing. That kind of behaviour can be just as bad as physical abuse if someone is living in a hellish situation day-in, day-out.

The proposed legislation risks having far reaching consequences then. As well as actual physical violence, which is already covered by legislation and common law, the proposal is to extend it to matters of "control". I wonder how many men are controlled by their partner in the terms stated and whether they would come forward to report it?

I doubt they would be allowed to create legislation that restricted it to action by men on women as I doubt the EU would allow it, although I stand to be corrected on that if any EU experts are about.

[crankedup]

Yes of course an assault charge warning from Police should not require an M.P. to resign. On the basis that a member of the House of Lords is entitled to remain a Lord despite having been convicted of fraudulent claims of expenses whilst performing public duties.

[davepoth]

ATG said:

freakybacon said:

Mrs Balls wades in...

http://www.theguardian.com/society/2014/jul/28/dom...

John Humphreys tore chunks or of her argument on the Today programme this morning. Good listening.

You could almost hear him rolling his eyes.

[aw51 121565]

saaby93 said:

Surely the rule is if you've done the crime (if you get caught or own up) you serve the time
If he's accepted a caution, that's it, move on with life.
Thats why we have a system of justice

If our 'system of justice' worked*, he wouldn't have been an MP earlier this year .



* Ref: the expenses scandal.

[carinaman]

The BBC are reporting that he's to stand down.

[Steffan]

carinaman said:

The BBC are reporting that he's to stand down.

Good. He should have resigned Immediately and perhaps kept a little dignity. As it is he has rightly been removed from office. such individuals have no place in UK politics. Good riddance to a very unpleasant man. I judge him by his actions which throughout this episode have been self serving, duplicitous and unctions and utterly inappropriate for any public figure. .

[BlackLabel]

carinaman said:

The BBC are reporting that he's to stand down.

However not until the next election.

If he's stepping down because of the police caution then why not go now?

[eccles]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-28528285

He's hardly being gracious about going!

[greygoose]

Steffan said:

carinaman said:

The BBC are reporting that he's to stand down.

Good. He should have resigned Immediately and perhaps kept a little dignity. As it is he has rightly been removed from office. such individuals have no place in UK politics. Good riddance to a very unpleasant man. I judge him by his actions which throughout this episode have been self serving, duplicitous and unctions and utterly inappropriate for any public figure. .

Dignity and politics rarely go hand in hand.

[IroningMan]

BlackLabel said:

carinaman said:

The BBC are reporting that he's to stand down.

However not until the next election.

If he's stepping down because of the police caution then why not go now?

Perhaps he's following the excellent example of Eric Joyce?

[carinaman]

I'm in two minds about this, I think it's one of those situations where there is more than two clear cut answers.

I'm using my personal experience and training of abuse and think it's probable some of those throwing stones may not be without sin and could well be privy to worse things that they're turning a blind eye to.

I'm not sure I'd place that much store in a letter from a Cleric or a Chief Constable.

[aw51 121565]

saaby93 said:

urely the expenses scandal is done and dusted now, and everyone caught up in it duly sanctioned?

Sadly "Yes it is", and "No they weren't" (unless just paying "mistaken" claims back with no meaningful consequences is being 'duly sanctioned'? [Hint: you or I would face disciplinary proceedings or worse - even prosecution - if we did this at our places of work - and rightly so.]

Hell, he can't even throw himself under a train without landing between the rails and the train missing him (google it, story from 2010 when he was supposedly feeling depressed about the expenses scandal ).

[brickwall]

This has been brewing for a while. It's not just his partner who has been on the receiving end of his anger management issues. He's an unpleasant piece of work and an electoral liability. Good riddance.

(For anyone with more detail - Guido has it here: http://order-order.com/2013/03/04/david-ruffley-st...)

[Pesty]

He'll still get the 60k that they get when they leave to help them adjust will he?