The Last Ditch by Tom Paine

FT.com / UK / Politics & policy – Brown furious at Sarkozy VAT attack.

 The British Establishment is more interested these days in controlling what people say than in getting on with the job. It seems to be a legacy of the Alistair Campbell salad days of New Labour, when continuous positive coverage masked the destruction being wrought on the nation's economy and liberties.

Mildly aggressive (and mostly factual) comments by TV personalities (mere nothings compared to the vile and continual personal attacks on Margaret Thatcher in her day) now have them demanding apologies like the prigs they are. Fortunately, they are too stupid to notice when the apology contains a further barb (by only saying sorry for remarks about Brown's "personal appearance", Clarkson effectively repeated the "Scottish idiot" jibe).

It is beneath the dignity of the Prime Minister's office (the man himself having none) to respond to such criticisms, still less to let it be known that he is "furious." Brown's responses are those of a petulant child, not a statesman. He is unfit for his high office, and always was. As for the BBC, it is time for it to understand that it only hires the services of its talent. It does not own their souls. I long for the day when I hear it (and other mere employers) say, "We don't agree, but it's up to him what he thinks."