Quote of the day 7th November 2017



Some of the allegations of wrongdoing involving rape and sexual abuse at Westminister are extremely serious and should be impartially investigated by the police.

No political party can afford to be complacent about this or is in a position to score points.

It is not just a matter of attitudes having moved, and wanting serious allegations investigated is not a witch-hunt.

Rape has never been acceptable. Sexual assault has never been acceptable.

I welcome the fact that the party leaders have reached a cross party agreement on a programme of action to tackle sexual abuse and harrassment in politics.


However, and to quote Ian Fleming,

 "But, but, but and again, but."

Wanting serious charges investigated and making sure that if they are proved correct the guilty should be punished should not blind us to the facts that

 * some of the accusations being thrown around Westminster are almost certainly rubbish,
 * some of those accused may be innocent and
 * some of the conduct described is not sexual harrassment or anyone else's business.

Justice means punish the guilty but not the innocent.

Just as the authorities should take seriously and investigate the claims of those who say they have been abused, we should take seriously the comments of any supposed victim who vehemently denies that an alleged incident ever took place.

And any source of information - such as the infamous "spreadsheet" - which contains allegations that on this basis can reasonably be assumed to be false cannot safely be used to damn anyone else without separate corroboration.

Comments

Jim said…
You raise a point I have been concerned about for a long time, and no not just in Westminster.

Under UK a person is (quite rightly in my opinion) Innocent until proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt.

I have been concerned for some time that the mere accusation of Rape is enough to ruin a persons career, and indeed their home life too. Often the person accused is found innocent by a court of law, yet the strife continues as the person was not proven innocent.

Now dont get me wrong, I do indeed think rapists and people who commit sexual offences against children should face all appropriate charges, but sometimes I think the simple accusation of it is enough to ruin peoples lives, and innocent people spend the rest of their lives on the run from it.
12:28 pm
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