Cast your eyes over Boris’ statement on Lewis:
I believe that my deputy Mayor Ray Lewis is being made to suffer now because he has had the guts to serve in this administration and because he has had the courage to speak out against a stifling orthodoxy that has failed too many of our children. These allegations did not stop him from becoming a JP. They did not stop him from becoming an outstanding and respected prison governor. They did not stop him founding a school that has done untold good for East London children and they should not stop him from serving as my deputy Mayor.
Note in particular the first section: “It’s because he’s with me.” Doesn’t it remind you of anything in a case rather like this? Ken smeared anyone questioning Ray Lewis as racist, and so drew attention from Jasper himself and onto the accuser’s motivation.
Boris effectively does the same here; different smear, same tactic. It’s a diversion, quite simply. Accusations are made, so the accuser is accused and hopefully attention moves to that. The smear has nothing to do with the actual charges in and of themselves, but it serves as a distraction.
As with Jasper, it’ll fail. But it’s worth noticing. Boris is a (sometimes bad) politician, with all the cynicism that can imply - and we shouldn’t forget it.
Tags: excuses · language4 Comments
4 responses so far ↓
As well as cynical it is just bizarre. The allegations come from various sources including a Bishop and the Church of England. To accuse them of taking part in a political witch-hunt is incredible.
Yup, that the Guardian, Channel 4 and the BBC have rounded on this must have those rightwingers that claim they’re a bunch of pinko news outlets foaming at the mouth.
Anyone else notice that Iain Dale suddenly has too much work on and can’t blog for the next 48 hours? Cynical, me? Never!
Boris’s father-in-law has just died. Not going too well this week.
[...] very possible that Lewis is merely aligning himself with Boris’s claims, but the Mayor more than anyone is guilty of exacerbating the confusion. The Bishop of Chelmsford [...]