We All Know That These Days One Must Be Most Careful What One Says, But Was There Any Need For Him To Apologise?

[anotheoldgit]

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/tory-mp-michael-fallon-says-claims-immigrants-are-swamping-towns-were-a-little-careless-9820768.html

[andy-hughes]

I think so, yes.

A grovelling volte face was not required, or offered.

Mr Fallon was careless in his choice of words, and that was the expression he used to refer to them.

I would not see that as an actual apology - has he apologised in the true sense of the term?

I don;t think admitting his words were careless is the same as saying sorry for them.

I think Mr Fallon meant what he said, but could have chosen a less inflamatory expression.

[Zeuhl]

Well 'swamping' is a derogatory term.

It may not matter much in the overall scheme of things but he is a Government Minister

Presenting the facts in a clear and factual manner rather than in an emotive and embellishing way is an important part of his job

[Gromit]

All part of a ploy by the Conservatives to pretend they are the party to tackle immigration, while at the same time they are admitting hundreds of thousands of immigrants into the country.

UKIP have the Conservatives deeply worried, so they are trying to be more like them.

[ToraToraTora]

no apology necessary he's bang on.

[mikey4444]

I agree with the last three posters ! Hardly a hanging offence but not Fallon's finest hour.

[mikey4444]

Sorry TTT...we crossed in the post ! I agree with Gromit, Andy and Zeuhl.

[Baldric]

//warning that some areas felt “under siege” and action was needed “to prevent whole towns and communities being swamped by huge numbers of migrant workers”//

Nothing there that is incorrect imo

I wonder why it is so difficult for some people to handle the truth when confronted with it?

[sp1814]

Yes, I think that he was right to apologise.

Good on him for being man enough to acknowledge that he might have been wrong...that's if it came from him, and wasn't an edict from upon high.

[Zeuhl]

/handle the truth/

THE truth baldric?

you mean there's only ever one?

interesting concept

in this case i don't think the towns were becoming flooded with water and the use of 'swamp' to mean overwhelm is usually applied to the inanimate, (work, orders, paper) not people.

Hence it is rude.

Saying that the towns' infrastructure is being put under severe pressure has the advantage over 'swamped' in that it is factual, not rude

and no less a Truth.

[Quizmonster]

According to The Oxford English Dictionary, the word 'swamp' - used figuratively, as in Fallon's case - means "to overwhelm by superior numbers". In how many towns in the UK are there more immigrants than native residents? If you can't think of any, then Fallon was clearly INcorrect and thus an apology was certainly in order.

[Baldric]

It conveys a fairly accurate picture, even if the oversensitive feel it is rude

[Zeuhl]

/a fairly accurate picture/

I think Government ministers are expected to do a little better than 'fairly' accurate.

He has a responsibility to be able to take decisive action without leaving himself open to accusations of prejudice and underlying derogatory attitudes

[jackthehat]

Haven't we been here before?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/1949863.stm

[chaptazbru2]

I totally agree with him !

[anotheoldgit]

Unacceptable for Michael Fallon to use the word 'swamped' but perfectly in order for the Prime Minister of the UK to describe a legitimate opposing politically party thus:

/// "UKIP is sort of a bunch of ... fruitcakes and loonies and closet racists, mostly." ///

[Quizmonster]

Jack, it is certainly possible for immigrant children to 'swamp' a school, given that they often come from much larger families that 'standard' British ones. However, that is a very different matter from claiming that towns are being swamped. As a result, Mr Blunkett was probably quite right, whereas Mr Fallon is certainly not.

[chaptazbru2]

I bet people in Blackburn would agree !

[anotheoldgit]

jackthehat

Brilliant link JTH, match point.

[Baldric]

If you spoke to some of the residents of areas that are being put under pressure by large numbers of Immigrants, I'm sure they would agree that 'swamped' was a reasonable term to use.

[anotheoldgit]

Quizmonster

/// Jack, it is certainly possible for immigrant children to 'swamp' a school, given that they often come from much larger families that 'standard' British ones. However, that is a very different matter from claiming that towns are being swamped. As a result, Mr Blunkett was probably quite right, whereas Mr Fallon is certainly not. ///

LOL, LOL, LOL it can't get any better than that.