Should Paul Bigley go South?

[incuriam]

Should Paul Bigley go to Henley in order to apologise for insulting their MP during a BBC Radio Merseyside phone-in?

[thewillow]

But Boris IS 'a self-centred, pompous twit'.

[becks]

Quite what Boris thought he'd achieve by going there is beyond me, besides IIRC he didn't actually write said article anyway. Annoys me that this has got so out of hand, there's people getting killed everyday in iraq, iraquis and britons, write about that instead and stop winding each other up. from what i saw on the beeb this morning this guy was saying maybe liverpool is over-sensitive but what they were annoyed about what it being written that "over 50 people died at hillsborough" when it was 96. By writing over 50 it completely disrespected the people that died and their families, that's the question, it had very little to do with ken bigley anyway - and who is Paul Bigley to say BJ should resign??? Someone else wrote recently that he'd only ever been to liverpool once! Who knows, there's bigger things to get upset about in my book.

[buchanan]

No.  Boris, whilst scattily charming on "Have I got News For You" lived up to every cliched southern / london is the centre of the universe cliche with his comments which were insensitive to say the least.

 

[bernardo]

Boris Johnson's constituents would probably heckle Mr Bigley if he tried to apologise for his comments.

[archbishop]

I like Boris Johnson and find him to be one of the few politicians that tell the truth.

He did write the article by the way.He is the Editor of the Spectator (fine magazine) and writes his own stuff.

[archbishop]

Oops, GAB Willow and Bernardo.

[flanker]

I subscribe to The Spectator and didn't find the editorial too bad, and yes, I think the Liverpudlians did over react to Bigley's death: they need to get a grip - sad, yes, but it is one life - and let's not forget, he was there for the big pay day. He knew the risks, its on TV everyday. Personally, I don't think Boris shoud've been made to apologise - an editorial is an opinion piece, and is therefore perfectly valid.

[mullein]

paul bigley should not apologise,if tony blair was a caring prime minister he may have been able to do something to save ken bigley,all this goverment is interested in is lining their pockets with our taxes, the people of liverpool have every right to be angry.. it is a free country and ken bigley was murdered in a horrific way,paul bigley has every right to be angry after all the mp did insult the memory of his brother, mullein

[Donkey]

mullein what exactly could tony blair have done to save Ken Bigley.. i have asked this on here before with no answer , so maybe you could answer it please

[mullein]

well they could have released those two women hostages for a start.. their is nothing to say they couldnt have rearessted them once ken was free, why would it have hurt to try that under the good friday agreement they have released lots of prisoners,all tony blair did was spout hot air and kept his head as low as possible,maybe we should have tried to exchange ken bigley for tony blair,,,mullein

[Donkey]

"well they could have released those two women hostages for a start.. their is nothing to say they couldn't have rearrested them once ken was free" Mullein, I didn't expect you to answer and I certainly didn't expect you to answer with what you did.. 1. Releasing the two women hostages would mean negotiating with terrorist, This would mean a rise in the number of kidnappings in Iraq as they believe we will negotiate every time they kidnap someone. What happens then when we don't negotiate next time, the prisoners are killed. Or maybe you mean every time someone gets kidnapped we give them what they want. 2. Your second comment about re-arresting the woman prisoners is just stupid as this would surly increase kidnappings in Iraq

[mullein]

to donkey ok that was a bad comment i just feel desperate about the situation, allthough it is now to late to do much and all the talking in the world wont change things, what the answer is i dont know and paul bigley had every right to direct his anger at that mp,,i also believe paul did more to try and release his brother and the irish government than hot air blair,,i also dont agree with blair saying on tv last night that the black watch would be home for xmas thats if they survive.he is just saying the xmas thing to keep the familys happy, my husband was in the forces for 15 years and i know how promises like home for xmas work,,,apology from mullein

[georgit79]

umm, Paul Bigley isn't Ken Bigley...or is it me getting confused?

[georgit79]

Yes, it's me getting confused. Sorry! I'll butt out now. Except for this.....

GAB everywhere! Arrrgggghhhh!

[tomd]

Paul's his brother, personally I though his attack on Boris was embarrasing for him and people would have more sympathy if he'd said nothing. However, having spoken about this to a Scouse friend, she said that she'd heard nothing public about his death apart from a bad taste joke in a comedy club (don't shoot the messenger) and thought Boris's comment was unfounded. I am by no means a supporter of Blair but I think he acted in the only way he could.

[pipsar6]

Boris was expressing an opinion that has already been served up by writers and is not a new theory...look at the mass hysteria and mourning for lady Diana...it's a society wide thing.

Society is in mourning generally...feeling sorry for itself and wallowing in self pity.

I could go on but i'm going to bed instead