Ab Editor - //Andy: do we expect politics (and our politicians) to be objective? I think it's a madness to expect it. //
I think we do need to expect it, at least in broad terms.
It may be that Mrs May has a fervent distrust of people with red hair. As long as she doesn't say so, the electorate are never going to know that, so we can't make assumptions about her suitability as a PM based on mindless prejudices.
And Mrs May would never be so naive as to let slip such a personal quirk - because she is aware of perceptions and their importance.
Remember Neil Kinnock being advised to ditch his comb-over because people won't vote for a man who is not honest enough even with himself, to accept his hair loss?
I do expect politicians to be objective, and to be seen to be so in their public statements.
I am not naïve enough to imagine that politicians are objective, but I do expect them to go through the motions - a point Mr Fallon has not grasped it seems, and he is learning it the hard way.