Brown Campaigns; Calls Voter Bigoted

[alfred russel]

The problem Brown has is that, at a rough guess, half his vote will come from badly-educated bigots. He was unwise to let on to them what he thought about them.

She didn't let him finish many sentences did she? I'm no admirer of the man but he is HM's Prime Minister, a minimal politeness would seem to be in order IMO.

I haven't seen the tape yet (and can't watch it now), but an account I read indicated she was concerned about east european immigration. I guess you could be bigoted about east europeans, but I would tend to assume she was into old fashioned protectionism rather than bigotry. Having seen it, do you think that is fair?

[Richard Hakluyt]

She didn't really say, she just seemed concerned about "all these East Europeans flocking" into the UK. Earlier on she had talked about layabouts on the dole.

I think it's a stretch to call her a bigot on what was said. I'd say she was a believer in the "lump of labour" and would prefer idle Brits to do the work rather than importing foreigners to do it. Brown could have challenged her perhaps and found out more about her beliefs, but he was in an emollient mood (in public) and chose not to.

[Sheilbh]

What does her occupation have to do with anything? I'm sure there are racist nuns and priests, but that does not excuse being a racist. It's interesting to see how far Europe hasn't progressed from 19th century conceptions of who is white enough to be part of the mainstream.

She's clearly not racist.  I've said before that what motivates British anti-immigration feeling is far more xenophobia than racism.  I think for most people colour doesn't really matter to Britishness.  From what we've heard I don't know if she is xenophobic then.

Plus Eastern Europeans are the largest immigrant group in recent years.  Over 1.5 million since 2004, though as Brown said many have left and many Brits work in Europe.  And of course I'm middle class.  I don't feel the squeeze on low paid jobs or whatever else.

She didn't let him finish many sentences did she? I'm no admirer of the man but he is HM's Prime Minister, a minimal politeness would seem to be in order IMO.

She let him get his point across.  It wasn't her being aggressive she just got to meet the PM and dumped all her fears on them: immigration, debt, etc.  At the end, though, she was saying he was very nice and praising Brown for improving the local schools - he was saying 'nice to meet you, lovely family' etc.

I haven't seen the tape yet (and can't watch it now), but an account I read indicated she was concerned about east european immigration. I guess you could be bigoted about east europeans, but I would tend to assume she was into old fashioned protectionism rather than bigotry. Having seen it, do you think that is fair?

Protectionism isn't really an issue in the UK, the only exception I can think of is that most people seem to think that the government should sometimes intervene to stop a foreign company taking over a British one.  I think this is because we get the impression that everyone else does (somewhat true) and the recent case of Kraft buying Cadbury's saying they wouldn't close down the British operation and then closing it down.

[Barrister]

On the one hand I would like more politicians to call voters on their own really stupid points.  I would like them to call a voter a bigot, if they really wewre a bigot.

That being said however it should be down in front of the person, not behind their back, and the woman didn't say anything obviously bigoted.  Veiled, maybe, but not clear enough.

[Neil]

Kraft is going to ruin Cadbury's?  That's too bad.  They're the best chocolate company in the world, by far.

[Palisadoes]

The Labour party keeps reaching new lows. They're pathetic.

[Sheilbh]

I didn't see anything 'wrong' with the issues she brought up or the way he handled her during their discussion; after all they parted on good terms, she intending to vote for new labour. (in a key 189 majority labour held seat, no less) .

I thought it was a Lib Dem seat

Personally I think this might have been a SkyNews set up, they've had access to radio mike feeds several times this election, and were waiting for a slip up, as it was Gordon handed them a blinder.

But that just points to the incompetence of the Labour campaign.  As the media have reported, in the last two elections Tony Blair used Labour party mikes that they controlled and switched off as soon as the media bit was done.  This allows your image to be in the hands of the media not the party.

[Agelastus]

She's clearly not racist.  I've said before that what motivates British anti-immigration feeling is far more xenophobia than racism.

Although the "they're taking our jobs" isn't quite xenophobia; more like igorance as to how the economy works.

I think for most people colour doesn't really matter to Britishness.  From what we've heard I don't know if she is xenophobic then.

Agreed. All I ask is that if you are a British subject you are loyal to Queen and Country. Colour is immaterial - and I am on the right in British politics, the side generally tarred with the racism and xenophobia brush.

Brown's comment is interesting. The quote I have seen is "Oh, everything, she's just a sort of bigoted woman who said she used to vote Labour." Which shows a certain denseness on Brown's part - apart from the negativeness of the phrase bigoted woman, he's talked to her for five minutes, parting on apparently friendly terms, without realising that she was going to vote Labour in the election...at least, before his comment was broadcast across the country.

[jimmy olsen]

Though I do agree with BB, politicians should be able to call out moronic voters, getting caught doing so behind their backs is awful.

[alfred russel]

She didn't really say, she just seemed concerned about "all these East Europeans flocking" into the UK. Earlier on she had talked about layabouts on the dole.

I think it's a stretch to call her a bigot on what was said. I'd say she was a believer in the "lump of labour" and would prefer idle Brits to do the work rather than importing foreigners to do it. Brown could have challenged her perhaps and found out more about her beliefs, but he was in an emollient mood (in public) and chose not to.

I saw the interview--it was painful and cringeworthy. I can see Brown was pissed about being left out there with her. But she didn't deserve to be called a bigot. I like Brown, but he sucks as a politician.

[Fate]

The Labour party keeps reaching new lows. They're pathetic.

No. This speaks more about how backwards British are when it comes to race relations.

[Agelastus]

The Labour party keeps reaching new lows. They're pathetic.

No. This speaks more about how backwards British are when it comes to race relations.

I'm starting to understand why the Fate Rule is needed on Languish.

[Fate]

The Labour party keeps reaching new lows. They're pathetic.

No. This speaks more about how backwards British are when it comes to race relations.

I'm starting to understand why the Fate Rule is needed on Languish.

[Josquius]

Myeh. Not too big a disaster. Brown could have headbutted her and stole her purse and it wouldn't have made his popularity any worse.
If people vote for labour they're really not voting for Brown.

[Palisadoes]

The Labour party keeps reaching new lows. They're pathetic.

No. This speaks more about how backwards British are when it comes to race relations.

Nothing she said was particularly "bigoted", though. Immigration is quite a big concern here in the UK (particularly given the unemployment), and by labelling those who disagree with your policies on it as "bigots" really doesn't reassure people that you care what they think (even more so when they are your core voters!).