All I can say is that I am going to stop referring to my wild and misspent youth; I'm clearly an amateur debauchee who has led an incredibly sheltered life. Does it change my perception of Cameron? No. Does it change my perception of Ashcroft? Hell, yes.
I think some people are being a bit blaisé about the potential damage this could do for Cameron.
Yes, he will "It's not worth commenting in".
On the other hand, there will be a lot of oinking in the commons, Guido almost certainly has a pig costume arriving today and we could see pig masks become as ubiquitous as V masks at any and every demo you can imagine. Hell I expect a guy in a pig suit at the first by-election.
And while Sky and the BBC might be blanking it from TV coverage, it's in the papers, it's all over twitter (12 hours and it's still top three WORLDWIDE) and there will not be a workplace or school it is not discussed today.
If he does try to stick around for the next election, there will be pigs everywhere.
He will forever be known as pigf*cker. It's like the joke where the punchline is "but you shag a sheep just once..."
it's one thing doing idiotic things in the playground or JCR. It is another to engage in such behaviour today, which is what your imagined response would amount to, if you are a grown up.
If... It's s big if. We had chickens during the last election as I recall. That worked out well. Funny to read the imaginative and vulger comments on here from people allegedly shocked at the story about an 18year old. Although I must confess I was more disgusted by the comments relating to Corbyn and Abbott.
Watching the Tories closing ranks is funnier than Dave and his pig.....
Indeed, the whole "this is all a perfectly normal youthful indiscretion" or "who hasn't done this at university" is actually funnier than the original story. What on Earth have they been up to?
Trying hard to think of any current world leader or historical leader who has had something similar.
I think some people are being a bit blaisé about the potential damage this could do for Cameron.
Yes, he will "It's not worth commenting in".
On the other hand, there will be a lot of oinking in the commons, Guido almost certainly has a pig costume arriving today and we could see pig masks become as ubiquitous as V masks at any and every demo you can imagine. Hell I expect a guy in a pig suit at the first by-election.
And while Sky and the BBC might be blanking it from TV coverage, it's in the papers, it's all over twitter (12 hours and it's still top three WORLDWIDE) and there will not be a workplace or school it is not discussed today.
If he does try to stick around for the next election, there will be pigs everywhere.
He will forever be known as pigf*cker. It's like the joke where the punchline is "but you shag a sheep just once..."
it's one thing doing idiotic things in the playground or JCR. It is another to engage in such behaviour today, which is what your imagined response would amount to, if you are a grown up.
If... It's s big if. We had chickens during the last election as I recall. That worked out well. Funny to read the imaginative and vulger comments on here from people allegedly shocked at the story about an 18year old. Although I must confess I was more disgusted by the comments relating to Corbyn and Abbott.
Oh Christ, get off your moral high horse for a minute hodges you cretin. As if the mail wouldn't run a million stories on Corbyn if he had done anything remotely like this.
This story, while hilarious, doesn't in any way reduce Cameron in my eyes, other than to cast an unusually bright light on quite what a different world our monied elites live in. I'm much more worried about what him and his gang intend to do to the country than what he might or might not have got up to with a pigs head. Admittedly you may say that there is an analogy there, but I couldn't possibly comment.
LOL at people saying this is just a bit of 'fun'. In what world is shagging a pig fun? I've know people do some crazy things in my last two years at uni, but no one has done something that bloody weird. I don't think anyone will care much about him sleeping around or taking cannabis - however the allegations regarding cocaine being at his and his wife's home are pretty serious. I think the whole pig thing in particular has the potential to make Cameron a bit of a joke figure, really.
I think some people are being a bit blaisé about the potential damage this could do for Cameron.
Yes, he will "It's not worth commenting in".
On the other hand, there will be a lot of oinking in the commons, Guido almost certainly has a pig costume arriving today and we could see pig masks become as ubiquitous as V masks at any and every demo you can imagine. Hell I expect a guy in a pig suit at the first by-election.
And while Sky and the BBC might be blanking it from TV coverage, it's in the papers, it's all over twitter (12 hours and it's still top three WORLDWIDE) and there will not be a workplace or school it is not discussed today.
If he does try to stick around for the next election, there will be pigs everywhere.
He will forever be known as pigf*cker. It's like the joke where the punchline is "but you shag a sheep just once..."
Indeed. But the damage is personal not political. In any case, Cameron won't lead the Tories into another election.
On that note, it might kill off any lingering thoughts that Cameron's 'full term' might involve a dual-leadership period where he remains PM for the last few weeks of the parliament / election period while a new leader, chosen in, say, March, heads the campaign. There'd be no point enduring the jokes for the sake of a commitment that by that point would be meaningless.
I'm still slightly confused as to what the Mail's agenda is with this. As there surely will be one. Yes, RD I think we can still safely say the Mail is part of the right wing press.
"Indeed, the whole "this is all a perfectly normal youthful indiscretion" or "who hasn't done this at university" is actually funnier than the original story. What on Earth have they been up to?
I'm sure if any of us find ourselves supping with a Tory in future we'll want a pretty long spoon.
Watching the Tories closing ranks is funnier than .....
It's not nearly as funny as Leftists claiming (apparently with a straight face) that a single sourced story written by a man with a grudge and published in the Daily Mail is gospel
I'm still slightly confused as to what the Mail's agenda is with this. As there surely will be one. Yes, RD I think we can still safely say the Mail is part of the right wing press.
The Mail don't really like Cameron, they put up with him because the alternative (Corbyn) is worse.
TSE "I suspect that these sorts of stories will damage the leadership prospects of ....Boris Johnson and George Osborne as they will be perceived as guilty by association and pre-held preceptions as any former public schoolboy." Yes. Also this almost guarantees Cameron is gone by 2020. Hell hath no fury than a Lord scorned.
Watching the Tories closing ranks is funnier than Dave and his pig.....
Indeed, the whole "this is all a perfectly normal youthful indiscretion" or "who hasn't done this at university" is actually funnier than the original story. What on Earth have they been up to?
Trying hard to think of any current world leader or historical leader who has had something similar.
Disraeli and the marmoset?
If you ever knew the people in your university's rugby club, you would know exactly why they don't think it is unusual.
I actually had to endure first year in the same residence flat with two of them. Typical private school hoorays for whom drinking a pint of sick or sticking their cocks in anything (dead or alive) would not even make them blink.
That's why some people find this so easy to defend. It's their natural behaviour.
I think some people are being a bit blaisé about the potential damage this could do for Cameron.
Yes, he will "It's not worth commenting in".
On the other hand, there will be a lot of oinking in the commons, Guido almost certainly has a pig costume arriving today and we could see pig masks become as ubiquitous as V masks at any and every demo you can imagine. Hell I expect a guy in a pig suit at the first by-election.
And while Sky and the BBC might be blanking it from TV coverage, it's in the papers, it's all over twitter (12 hours and it's still top three WORLDWIDE) and there will not be a workplace or school it is not discussed today.
If he does try to stick around for the next election, there will be pigs everywhere.
He will forever be known as pigf*cker. It's like the joke where the punchline is "but you shag a sheep just once..."
Indeed. But the damage is personal not political. In any case, Cameron won't lead the Tories into another election.
On that note, it might kill off any lingering thoughts that Cameron's 'full term' might involve a dual-leadership period where he remains PM for the last few weeks of the parliament / election period while a new leader, chosen in, say, March, heads the campaign. There'd be no point enduring the jokes for the sake of a commitment that by that point would be meaningless.
Hmmm
not so sure re the political damage.
A bloke promised a cabinet job ( his version of events ) for funding the party ?
And which of those Oxbridge chappies like Boris or Osborne won't now have a bit more scrutiny if they want to be leader ?
I'm still slightly confused as to what the Mail's agenda is with this. As there surely will be one. Yes, RD I think we can still safely say the Mail is part of the right wing press.
Other than during a general election, when the Mail always supports for the Conservatives, they generally hates everybody and every thing.
I'm still slightly confused as to what the Mail's agenda is with this. As there surely will be one. Yes, RD I think we can still safely say the Mail is part of the right wing press.
It might be they think the Cons are getting away from them. What with an OM, and a clear set of policies, and a useless or at least divided opposition, and Cam determined, as far as we know, to campaign for "in".
It might be that under such circumstances, the DM believes that the current government's and their own priorities don't align very well. And hence time to undermine at least Cam if not the current govt.
I'm still slightly confused as to what the Mail's agenda is with this. As there surely will be one. Yes, RD I think we can still safely say the Mail is part of the right wing press.
The Mail don't really like Cameron, they put up with him because the alternative (Corbyn) is worse.
They will sell more copies and they will get a lot more online reads so they'll increase their advertising income. And they get to embarrass Dave on top. It's a dream scenario.
I'm still slightly confused as to what the Mail's agenda is with this. As there surely will be one. Yes, RD I think we can still safely say the Mail is part of the right wing press.
Other than during a general election, when the Mail always supports for the Conservatives, they generally hates everybody and every thing.
The Mail is on the side of clicks. I know it's caricatured as right wing, but it's mostly about provoking an emotional response. It's perfectly capable of running "Migrants will murder us all in our beds" and "Heartbreaking pictures of forlorn migrant children" on the same page.
I make a point of reading the Scotsman, Independent, Guardian, Telegraph and the Mail sites most days. I draw the line at the Express .
A side-issue to this is the one on laws against various forms of 'deviancy', which the coalition tightened up. So face-sitting porn (*) is illegal, but this is not?
We need a little more sanity in the laws. It shouldn't be a case of "my deviancies are fine, but yours are wrong".
Indeed. There are a lot of liberal-left fits of faux moral outrage to take off the books.
Starting with the Extreme Pornography Act.
Unfortunately the likes of Claire Perry caught the same disease.
I'm still slightly confused as to what the Mail's agenda is with this. As there surely will be one. Yes, RD I think we can still safely say the Mail is part of the right wing press.
The Mail don't really like Cameron, they put up with him because the alternative (Corbyn) is worse.
They will sell more copies and they will get a lot more online reads so they'll increase their advertising income. And they get to embarrass Dave on top. It's a dream scenario.
Yep - I bet that the DM will get more than 1k comments on this article by the end of the day. And their comments section is always good for a laugh.
I think some people are being a bit blaisé about the potential damage this could do for Cameron.
Yes, he will "It's not worth commenting in".
On the other hand, there will be a lot of oinking in the commons, Guido almost certainly has a pig costume arriving today and we could see pig masks become as ubiquitous as V masks at any and every demo you can imagine. Hell I expect a guy in a pig suit at the first by-election.
And while Sky and the BBC might be blanking it from TV coverage, it's in the papers, it's all over twitter (12 hours and it's still top three WORLDWIDE) and there will not be a workplace or school it is not discussed today.
If he does try to stick around for the next election, there will be pigs everywhere.
He will forever be known as pigf*cker. It's like the joke where the punchline is "but you shag a sheep just once..."
Indeed. But the damage is personal not political. In any case, Cameron won't lead the Tories into another election.
On that note, it might kill off any lingering thoughts that Cameron's 'full term' might involve a dual-leadership period where he remains PM for the last few weeks of the parliament / election period while a new leader, chosen in, say, March, heads the campaign. There'd be no point enduring the jokes for the sake of a commitment that by that point would be meaningless.
Hmmm
not so sure re the political damage.
A bloke promised a cabinet job ( his version of events ) for funding the party ?
And which of those Oxbridge chappies like Boris or Osborne won't now have a bit more scrutiny if they want to be leader ?
I'm still slightly confused as to what the Mail's agenda is with this. As there surely will be one. Yes, RD I think we can still safely say the Mail is part of the right wing press.
Other than during a general election, when the Mail always supports for the Conservatives, they generally hates everybody and every thing.
Thinking about it, the line the Tories should definitely take is "Lord Ashcroft wanted a job in exchange for his previous political donations. We do not believe in money buying political favours."
It's the perfect response. Student antics, even disgusting ones, seem like small fry compared to the issue of political corruption. And it forces Labour MPs to be seen to be supporting the Ashcroft side.
I'm still slightly confused as to what the Mail's agenda is with this. As there surely will be one. Yes, RD I think we can still safely say the Mail is part of the right wing press.
The Mail don't really like Cameron, they put up with him because the alternative (Corbyn) is worse.
They will sell more copies and they will get a lot more online reads so they'll increase their advertising income. And they get to embarrass Dave on top. It's a dream scenario.
Yep - I bet that the DM will get more than 1k comments on this article by the end of the day. And their comments section is always good for a laugh.
I think some people are being a bit blaisé about the potential damage this could do for Cameron.
Yes, he will "It's not worth commenting in".
On the other hand, there will be a lot of oinking in the commons, Guido almost certainly has a pig costume arriving today and we could see pig masks become as ubiquitous as V masks at any and every demo you can imagine. Hell I expect a guy in a pig suit at the first by-election.
And while Sky and the BBC might be blanking it from TV coverage, it's in the papers, it's all over twitter (12 hours and it's still top three WORLDWIDE) and there will not be a workplace or school it is not discussed today.
If he does try to stick around for the next election, there will be pigs everywhere.
He will forever be known as pigf*cker. It's like the joke where the punchline is "but you shag a sheep just once..."
Indeed. But the damage is personal not political. In any case, Cameron won't lead the Tories into another election.
On that note, it might kill off any lingering thoughts that Cameron's 'full term' might involve a dual-leadership period where he remains PM for the last few weeks of the parliament / election period while a new leader, chosen in, say, March, heads the campaign. There'd be no point enduring the jokes for the sake of a commitment that by that point would be meaningless.
Hmmm
not so sure re the political damage.
A bloke promised a cabinet job ( his version of events ) for funding the party ?
And which of those Oxbridge chappies like Boris or Osborne won't now have a bit more scrutiny if they want to be leader ?
He didn't get one though, which has to cast doubt on the credibility of the claim. In fact, not only did he not get a cabinet job, he wasn't given any government job. There might have been legitimate practical reasons for going back on such a promise had one been made, but surely there'd have been a consolation offer if so. But there hasn't been. Proving such an offer was never made is of course impossible (something of which Ashcroft is no doubt fully aware). Nonetheless, the circumstantial evidence to verify it is weak.
"Had this biography come out during the election campaign I suspect it might been a ‘game changer’."
You really think so? The Tories won the election, not because everybody loved Dave and thought what an upstanding person he is, but because they didn't trust Ed Miliband with their job, their home, their money or their country.
Whether Dave "had" the pig a long time ago will/would make little difference...
Does Ashcroft have it in for Osbo as well ? Perhaps this is all for Boris's benefit - even if worse headlines were to appear about Boris it would probably further boost his popularity.
Thinking about it, the line the Tories should definitely take is "Lord Ashcroft wanted a job in exchange for his previous political donations. We do not believe in money buying political favours."
It's the perfect response. Student antics, even disgusting ones, seem like small fry compared to the issue of political corruption. And it forces Labour MPs to be seen to be supporting the Ashcroft side.
That would need to be true though. Ashcroft would sue the pants off anyone making that claim if it were not.
I'm still slightly confused as to what the Mail's agenda is with this. As there surely will be one. Yes, RD I think we can still safely say the Mail is part of the right wing press.
The Mail don't really like Cameron, they put up with him because the alternative (Corbyn) is worse.
They will sell more copies and they will get a lot more online reads so they'll increase their advertising income. And they get to embarrass Dave on top. It's a dream scenario.
Yep - I bet that the DM will get more than 1k comments on this article by the end of the day. And their comments section is always good for a laugh.
"Had this biography come out during the election campaign I suspect it might been a ‘game changer’."
You really think so? The Tories won the election, not because everybody loved Dave and thought what an upstanding person he is, but because they didn't trust Ed Miliband with they job, their home, they money or their country.
Whether Dave "had" the pig a long time ago will/would make little difference...
The Tory meme during the election was you can't trust Ed Miliband because he's a back stabbing weirdo might have lost its potency when your leader has this story with pigs to deal with.
I'm still slightly confused as to what the Mail's agenda is with this. As there surely will be one. Yes, RD I think we can still safely say the Mail is part of the right wing press.
The Mail don't really like Cameron, they put up with him because the alternative (Corbyn) is worse.
They will sell more copies and they will get a lot more online reads so they'll increase their advertising income. And they get to embarrass Dave on top. It's a dream scenario.
Yep - I bet that the DM will get more than 1k comments on this article by the end of the day. And their comments section is always good for a laugh.
The one about Dave not being able to call SamCam "Babe" any more is the best.
The other one about Dave being a threat to our national charcuterie is also good.
That is brilliant.
To be honest, the whole affair confirms a belief that has been growing in me for a while, now. All of us must have somehow slipped a parallel reality in May, one where political life is entirely scripted by Armando Iannucci. It's the only rational explanation.
I'm still slightly confused as to what the Mail's agenda is with this. As there surely will be one. Yes, RD I think we can still safely say the Mail is part of the right wing press.
The Mail don't really like Cameron, they put up with him because the alternative (Corbyn) is worse.
They will sell more copies and they will get a lot more online reads so they'll increase their advertising income. And they get to embarrass Dave on top. It's a dream scenario.
Yep - I bet that the DM will get more than 1k comments on this article by the end of the day. And their comments section is always good for a laugh.
An image falls within this subsection if it portrays, in an explicit and realistic way, any of the following— ... (d) a person performing an act of intercourse or oral sex with an animal (whether dead or alive) (Section 63 7 (d)).
"Does it change my perception of Cameron? No. Does it change my perception of Ashcroft? Hell, yes."
Really? You'll be able to look at a pig without wondering to yourself whether Cameron's had it?
Honestly, it's so far outside my normal experience, I don't know what I'd think. To run with your example, let's pretend that Cameron had a thing for pigs. People's sexual proclivities aren't something I try to judge others on, nor do I use it as a basis for friendship. Mote, beam etc.
He's certainly lost respect, and he'll be the butt of endless japes in the Twittersphere and beyond, but it's not as if it really bears on his ability to run the country.
There will be more revelations, and I'll be better able to make an assessment once Ashcroft has fully vented his spleen.
Romantic opportunities were one of the perks of the job. ‘All the girls fancied him,’ according to one account.
Cameron’s most significant conquest was a beautiful blonde called Laura Adshead, who seemed destined for a stellar political career. Educated at Cheltenham Ladies’ College and Oxford, she dated him for a year.
When Cameron ended it, Laura was so upset that she reportedly had to be given a period of compassionate leave from work.
Later, she moved to America, where her hard-partying lifestyle spiralled into drink and drug addiction.
Subsequently, she became a nun.
Now in her late-40s, she is known as Sister John Mary and lives at the Abbey of Regina Laudis in a little town called Bethlehem, in Connecticut.
I think some people are being a bit blaisé about the potential damage this could do for Cameron.
Yes, he will "It's not worth commenting in".
On the other hand, there will be a lot of oinking in the commons, Guido almost certainly has a gs everywhere.
He will forever be known as pigf*cker. It's like the joke where the punchline is "but you shag a sheep just once..."
Indeed. But the damage is personal not political. In any case, Cameron won't lead the Tories into another election.
On that note, it might kill off any lingering thoughts that Cameron's 'full term' might involve a dual-leadership period where he remains PM for the last few weeks of the parliament / election period while a new leader, chosen in, say, March, heads the campaign. There'd be no point enduring the jokes for the sake of a commitment that by that point would be meaningless.
Hmmm
not so sure re the political damage.
A bloke promised a cabinet job ( his version of events ) for funding the party ?
And which of those Oxbridge chappies like Boris or Osborne won't now have a bit more scrutiny if they want to be leader ?
He didn't get one though, which has to cast doubt on the credibility of the claim. In fact, not only did he not get a cabinet job, he wasn't given any government job. There might have been legitimate practical reasons for going back on such a promise had one been made, but surely there'd have been a consolation offer if so. But there hasn't been. Proving such an offer was never made is of course impossible (something of which Ashcroft is no doubt fully aware). Nonetheless, the circumstantial evidence to verify it is weak.
Well two points
- the job offer issue will simply hang around like a bad smell and be used by the opposition to discredit the Tories - cue Len mcCluskey
- there's then the LA issue itself. I've had more than my fair share of criticism from PB righties over the years when I've said there's nothing particularly generous from LA's funding of VCs and polls if it's subsidised by the rest of us taxpayers. Maybe the blues should start looking more critically at who's giving them funding.
I think some people are being a bit blaisé about the potential damage this could do for Cameron.
Yes, he will "It's not worth commenting in".
On the other hand, there will be a lot of oinking in the commons, Guido almost certainly has a pig costume arriving today and we could see pig masks become as ubiquitous as V masks at any and every demo you can imagine. Hell I expect a guy in a pig suit at the first by-election.
And while Sky and the BBC might be blanking it from TV coverage, it's in the papers, it's all over twitter (12 hours and it's still top three WORLDWIDE) and there will not be a workplace or school it is not discussed today.
If he does try to stick around for the next election, there will be pigs everywhere.
He will forever be known as pigf*cker. It's like the joke where the punchline is "but you shag a sheep just once..."
Indeed. But the damage is personal not political. In any case, Cameron won't lead the Tories into another election.
On that note, it might kill off any lingering thoughts that Cameron's 'full term' might involve a dual-leadership period where he remains PM for the last few weeks of the parliament / election period while a new leader, chosen in, say, March, heads the campaign. There'd be no point enduring the jokes for the sake of a commitment that by that point would be meaningless.
Hmmm
not so sure re the political damage.
A bloke promised a cabinet job ( his version of events ) for funding the party ?
And which of those ?
He didn't get one though, which has to cast doubt on the credibility of the claim. In fact, not only did he not get a cabinet job, he wasn't given any government job. There might have been legitimate practical reasons for going back on such a promise had one been made, but surely there'd have been a consolation offer if so. But there hasn't been. Proving such an offer was never made is of course impossible (something of which Ashcroft is no doubt fully aware). Nonetheless, the circumstantial evidence to verify it is weak.
It feels to me like Ashcroft became a bit of an embarrassment during the GE2010 campaign due to his wealth, profile and prominence. Dave didn't get good press about it at the time and perhaps he decided it was just too much of a liability to proceed with in coalition.
So if I were Ashcroft, I'd have been annoyed too - it's ungrateful and rude.
That said, being a big donor to the party and volunteer/organiser should not entitle you to any government job - and doubtless many people would be criticising Cameron if it did - so even though he may have a grievance, I think Ashcroft hasn't conducted himself with any real sense of class in this affair.
I'm still slightly confused as to what the Mail's agenda is with this. As there surely will be one. Yes, RD I think we can still safely say the Mail is part of the right wing press.
Other than during a general election, when the Mail always supports for the Conservatives, they generally hates everybody and every thing.
On topic: The Mail has taken a very odd approach to this story, undermining their own serialisation by presenting it as an act of revenge by Lord Ashcroft.
I doubt that this will make any difference to anything politically. It's just a major personal embarrassment for the PM that he is going to have to tough out. The posh really are another country, aren't they? Ho, ho.
I'm not sure it's anything to do with poshness. I've seen some working class people do some fairly odd things as well (and no, no details).
In fact, I probably saw more dubious behaviour at the state schools I attended than the public schools.
Also, it might not be wise to insinuate all posh people are like this. Otherwise we might have to ask Charles what he got up to as a youth ...
Defending your Tory chums I see, oh wait you are not a Tory.....oops. Never heard of anything like it from working class people so you are either Tory or move in very strange circles indeed.
I don't think it is class based. Any group of young lads, trying to fit in with a tribal culture, such as a gang, or a sports team, or a job with a strong team culture such as the armed forces, police or fire sevice can get up to some crazy stuff when drink has been taken. I well remember The Dance Of The Flaming Arseholes. ...... I think the drug taking is the more serious allegation for Cameron to deal with, to be honest, as it tries to drag his wife into it as well.
TFS, we may be a bit more genteel up here , but to me pig's did not feature in any jolly japes. Trying to equate that with normal is NOT normal.
I'm afraid this is the end of Cameron. (If true.)
Much as you may wish it to be, its not.
I agree too ! But your comment also gives the hint that you think dead pig-fucking is quite normal. I thought it only happened in Wyoming !
There seems to be some "but its the Daily Mail you lefties don't believe it" commentary around.
The Mail is the best tabloid there is. Lurid, sensationalist, hypocritical - everything its readers want. Hence the huge circulation. A large part of the problem I have with the paper is that it applies absurd at times amount of spin on stories. Doesn't mean that the stories are made up (thats for The Sun...), just out of context.
"Does it change my perception of Cameron? No. Does it change my perception of Ashcroft? Hell, yes."
Really? You'll be able to look at a pig without wondering to yourself whether Cameron's had it?
Honestly, it's so far outside my normal experience, I don't know what I'd think. To run with your example, let's pretend that Cameron had a thing for pigs. People's sexual proclivities aren't something I try to judge others on, nor do I use it as a basis for friendship. Mote, beam etc.
He's certainly lost respect, and he'll be the butt of endless japes in the Twittersphere and beyond, but it's not as if it really bears on his ability to run the country.
There will be more revelations, and I'll be better able to make an assessment once Ashcroft has fully vented his spleen.
I'll probably cope, all things considered.
Plus, the links to LBJ quote and the Black Mirror episode make me really, severely doubt its veracity.
Michael Deacon @MichaelPDeacon 55s55 seconds ago The people tweeting that they can't wait till this week's PMQs are going to be so disappointed when they find out
Oh dear, how sad, never mind.
I think the pertinent question should be : Does the average pig farmer get higher subsidies than a chicken farmer ?
Surely no one thinks he has a thing for pigs. These secret societies of chums that run the country, that demand allegiance by doing degrading things so that there is a certain level of control over you, are a fact, though. Whether there is truth to this particular incident.
"Does it change my perception of Cameron? No. Does it change my perception of Ashcroft? Hell, yes."
Really? You'll be able to look at a pig without wondering to yourself whether Cameron's had it?
Honestly, it's so far outside my normal experience, I don't know what I'd think. To run with your example, let's pretend that Cameron had a thing for pigs. People's sexual proclivities aren't something I try to judge others on, nor do I use it as a basis for friendship. Mote, beam etc.
He's certainly lost respect, and he'll be the butt of endless japes in the Twittersphere and beyond, but it's not as if it really bears on his ability to run the country.
There will be more revelations, and I'll be better able to make an assessment once Ashcroft has fully vented his spleen.
I'll probably cope, all things considered.
Plus, the links to LBJ quote and the Black Mirror episode make me really, severely doubt its veracity.
Romantic opportunities were one of the perks of the job. ‘All the girls fancied him,’ according to one account.
Cameron’s most significant conquest was a beautiful blonde called Laura Adshead, who seemed destined for a stellar political career. Educated at Cheltenham Ladies’ College and Oxford, she dated him for a year.
When Cameron ended it, Laura was so upset that she reportedly had to be given a period of compassionate leave from work.
Later, she moved to America, where her hard-partying lifestyle spiralled into drink and drug addiction.
Subsequently, she became a nun.
Now in her late-40s, she is known as Sister John Mary and lives at the Abbey of Regina Laudis in a little town called Bethlehem, in Connecticut.
Look what he did to this nice girl. If only they shared joints at the beginning, she could have been his wife !
The story was recounted to them by a contemporary of Mr Cameron who went on to become an MP – and who claims that another member of the group has photographic evidence to prove it.
The unnamed individual said to possess the picture failed to respond to the authors’ approaches.
"Does it change my perception of Cameron? No. Does it change my perception of Ashcroft? Hell, yes."
Really? You'll be able to look at a pig without wondering to yourself whether Cameron's had it?
Honestly, it's so far outside my normal experience, I don't know what I'd think. To run with your example, let's pretend that Cameron had a thing for pigs. People's sexual proclivities aren't something I try to judge others on, nor do I use it as a basis for friendship. Mote, beam etc.
He's certainly lost respect, and he'll be the butt of endless japes in the Twittersphere and beyond, but it's not as if it really bears on his ability to run the country.
There will be more revelations, and I'll be better able to make an assessment once Ashcroft has fully vented his spleen.
I'll probably cope, all things considered.
Plus, the links to LBJ quote and the Black Mirror episode make me really, severely doubt its veracity.
Black Mirror is a Charlie Brooker anthology series which you can find on 4od.
Romantic opportunities were one of the perks of the job. ‘All the girls fancied him,’ according to one account.
Cameron’s most significant conquest was a beautiful blonde called Laura Adshead, who seemed destined for a stellar political career. Educated at Cheltenham Ladies’ College and Oxford, she dated him for a year.
When Cameron ended it, Laura was so upset that she reportedly had to be given a period of compassionate leave from work.
Later, she moved to America, where her hard-partying lifestyle spiralled into drink and drug addiction.
Subsequently, she became a nun.
Now in her late-40s, she is known as Sister John Mary and lives at the Abbey of Regina Laudis in a little town called Bethlehem, in Connecticut.
Couldn't they have tried harder than "little town called Bethlehem" though?
The story was recounted to them by a contemporary of Mr Cameron who went on to become an MP – and who claims that another member of the group has photographic evidence to prove it.
The unnamed individual said to possess the picture failed to respond to the authors’ approaches.
@JamieRoss7: I am finding that most crisis management firms are reluctant to tell me what advice they would give to a client accused of shagging a pig.
A bloke promised a cabinet job ( his version of events ) for funding the party ?
And which of those ?
He didn't get one though, which has to cast doubt on the credibility of the claim. In fact, not only did he not get a cabinet job, he wasn't given any government job. There might have been legitimate practical reasons for going back on such a promise had one been made, but surely there'd have been a consolation offer if so. But there hasn't been. Proving such an offer was never made is of course impossible (something of which Ashcroft is no doubt fully aware). Nonetheless, the circumstantial evidence to verify it is weak.
It feels to me like Ashcroft became a bit of an embarrassment during the GE2010 campaign due to his wealth, profile and prominence. Dave didn't get good press about it at the time and perhaps he decided it was just too much of a liability to proceed with in coalition.
So if I were Ashcroft, I'd have been annoyed too - it's ungrateful and rude.
That said, being a big donor to the party and volunteer/organiser should not entitle you to any government job - and doubtless many people would be criticising Cameron if it did - so even though he may have a grievance, I think Ashcroft hasn't conducted himself with any real sense of class in this affair.
Ashcroft was accused of being less than honest about his status even under Hague's leadership. Now this article - Cameron was right not to trust him.
Ah initiations, how I remember them. Never did anything like this, but still some pretty random stuff.
I don't see this story lasting beyond the end of the week. It also makes Ashcroft look extremely petty.
The thing is, most of the population don't get involved in weird degrading initiations, and don't really want to be ruled over by secret societies, whereas people in certain circles like yourself probably think it's normal.
On topic: The Mail has taken a very odd approach to this story, undermining their own serialisation by presenting it as an act of revenge by Lord Ashcroft.
That was exactly what I noted earlier.
I wonder if the Mail is sending a message to Cameron.
Comments
"Sounds like you knew the pig"
LOL!
Watching the Tories closing ranks is funnier than Dave and his pig.....
I wonder whether the money he makes from his grubby little book will make up for all the pointless opinion polls the fool wasted his money on, LOL!
All I can say is that I am going to stop referring to my wild and misspent youth; I'm clearly an amateur debauchee who has led an incredibly sheltered life. Does it change my perception of Cameron? No. Does it change my perception of Ashcroft? Hell, yes.
We had chickens during the last election as I recall. That worked out well. Funny to read the imaginative and vulger comments on here from people allegedly shocked at the story about an 18year old. Although I must confess I was more disgusted by the comments relating to Corbyn and Abbott.
Trying hard to think of any current world leader or historical leader who has had something similar.
Disraeli and the marmoset?
This story, while hilarious, doesn't in any way reduce Cameron in my eyes, other than to cast an unusually bright light on quite what a different world our monied elites live in. I'm much more worried about what him and his gang intend to do to the country than what he might or might not have got up to with a pigs head.
Admittedly you may say that there is an analogy there, but I couldn't possibly comment.
On that note, it might kill off any lingering thoughts that Cameron's 'full term' might involve a dual-leadership period where he remains PM for the last few weeks of the parliament / election period while a new leader, chosen in, say, March, heads the campaign. There'd be no point enduring the jokes for the sake of a commitment that by that point would be meaningless.
Yes, RD I think we can still safely say the Mail is part of the right wing press.
"Indeed, the whole "this is all a perfectly normal youthful indiscretion" or "who hasn't done this at university" is actually funnier than the original story. What on Earth have they been up to?
I'm sure if any of us find ourselves supping with a Tory in future we'll want a pretty long spoon.
You couldn't make it up...
Yes. Also this almost guarantees Cameron is gone by 2020. Hell hath no fury than a Lord scorned.
I actually had to endure first year in the same residence flat with two of them. Typical private school hoorays for whom drinking a pint of sick or sticking their cocks in anything (dead or alive) would not even make them blink.
That's why some people find this so easy to defend. It's their natural behaviour.
not so sure re the political damage.
A bloke promised a cabinet job ( his version of events ) for funding the party ?
And which of those Oxbridge chappies like Boris or Osborne won't now have a bit more scrutiny if they want to be leader ?
It might be that under such circumstances, the DM believes that the current government's and their own priorities don't align very well. And hence time to undermine at least Cam if not the current govt.
Just a thought...
"Does it change my perception of Cameron? No. Does it change my perception of Ashcroft? Hell, yes."
Really? You'll be able to look at a pig without wondering to yourself whether Cameron's had it?
I make a point of reading the Scotsman, Independent, Guardian, Telegraph and the Mail sites most days. I draw the line at the Express
That is all.
Starting with the Extreme Pornography Act.
Unfortunately the likes of Claire Perry caught the same disease.
So tempting to repost the Petting Zoo animation.
"not so sure re the political damage.
A bloke promised a cabinet job ( his version of events ) for funding the party ?"
And God only knows what he promised the pig
So we're agreed what a leader did in the past is fair game ?
It's the perfect response. Student antics, even disgusting ones, seem like small fry compared to the issue of political corruption. And it forces Labour MPs to be seen to be supporting the Ashcroft side.
"Had this biography come out during the election campaign I suspect it might been a ‘game changer’."
You really think so? The Tories won the election, not because everybody loved Dave and thought what an upstanding person he is, but because they didn't trust Ed Miliband with their job, their home, their money or their country.
Whether Dave "had" the pig a long time ago will/would make little difference...
http://www.tatler.com/news/articles/september-2014/inside-oxford-university-secret-drinking-clubs
Does Ashcroft have it in for Osbo as well ? Perhaps this is all for Boris's benefit - even if worse headlines were to appear about Boris it would probably further boost his popularity.
To be honest, the whole affair confirms a belief that has been growing in me for a while, now. All of us must have somehow slipped a parallel reality in May, one where political life is entirely scripted by Armando Iannucci. It's the only rational explanation.
Another reason to vote for OUT:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-34309642
Someone called Nick Clegg (???????) say's that voting OUT could see the moaning, whining Scots **** off once and for all....
Finally the English get a say not just on Europe but on what we think to Scotland.
#bringiton
https://www.reddit.com/r/unitedkingdom/comments/3lq479/david_cameron_accused_of_necrophilia_with_dead_pig/cv8pftn
An image falls within this subsection if it portrays, in an explicit and realistic way, any of the following— ... (d) a person performing an act of intercourse or oral sex with an animal (whether dead or alive) (Section 63 7 (d)).
http://www.robfahey.co.uk/blog/the-pm-the-pig-and-musings-on-power/
He's certainly lost respect, and he'll be the butt of endless japes in the Twittersphere and beyond, but it's not as if it really bears on his ability to run the country.
There will be more revelations, and I'll be better able to make an assessment once Ashcroft has fully vented his spleen.
Romantic opportunities were one of the perks of the job. ‘All the girls fancied him,’ according to one account.
Cameron’s most significant conquest was a beautiful blonde called Laura Adshead, who seemed destined for a stellar political career. Educated at Cheltenham Ladies’ College and Oxford, she dated him for a year.
When Cameron ended it, Laura was so upset that she reportedly had to be given a period of compassionate leave from work.
Later, she moved to America, where her hard-partying lifestyle spiralled into drink and drug addiction.
Subsequently, she became a nun.
Now in her late-40s, she is known as Sister John Mary and lives at the Abbey of Regina Laudis in a little town called Bethlehem, in Connecticut.
https://twitter.com/ladpolitics/status/645891476065529856
- the job offer issue will simply hang around like a bad smell and be used by the opposition to discredit the Tories - cue Len mcCluskey
- there's then the LA issue itself. I've had more than my fair share of criticism from PB righties over the years when I've said there's nothing particularly generous from LA's funding of VCs and polls if it's subsidised by the rest of us taxpayers. Maybe the blues should start looking more critically at who's giving them funding.
An English teacher would surely hand this back.
Can't someone he likes have a word/give some lessons?
Edit: or is this awful grammar, awkward phrase construction, repetition of words etc deliberate trolling? If so, fair play
So if I were Ashcroft, I'd have been annoyed too - it's ungrateful and rude.
That said, being a big donor to the party and volunteer/organiser should not entitle you to any government job - and doubtless many people would be criticising Cameron if it did - so even though he may have a grievance, I think Ashcroft hasn't conducted himself with any real sense of class in this affair.
It's like living in a black mirror/thick of it crossover first draft that would have been tossed for suspension of disbelief issues.
The Mail is the best tabloid there is. Lurid, sensationalist, hypocritical - everything its readers want. Hence the huge circulation. A large part of the problem I have with the paper is that it applies absurd at times amount of spin on stories. Doesn't mean that the stories are made up (thats for The Sun...), just out of context.
Plus, the links to LBJ quote and the Black Mirror episode make me really, severely doubt its veracity.
oh, wait...
New politics? Ha!
But being rude about someone just because of their looks is pretty pointless.
I don't see this story lasting beyond the end of the week. It also makes Ashcroft look extremely petty.
It is utterly brilliant.
"A contemporary of Mr Cameron who went on to become an MP"
....and who has had his own Prime Ministerial ambitions thwarted maybe?
That is putting it mildly.
Wonder when HMRC will launch their next exhaustive investigation into the "Sleeze From Belize" tax arrangements?
Hmmm
not so sure re the political damage.
A bloke promised a cabinet job ( his version of events ) for funding the party ?
And which of those ?
He didn't get one though, which has to cast doubt on the credibility of the claim. In fact, not only did he not get a cabinet job, he wasn't given any government job. There might have been legitimate practical reasons for going back on such a promise had one been made, but surely there'd have been a consolation offer if so. But there hasn't been. Proving such an offer was never made is of course impossible (something of which Ashcroft is no doubt fully aware). Nonetheless, the circumstantial evidence to verify it is weak.
It feels to me like Ashcroft became a bit of an embarrassment during the GE2010 campaign due to his wealth, profile and prominence. Dave didn't get good press about it at the time and perhaps he decided it was just too much of a liability to proceed with in coalition.
So if I were Ashcroft, I'd have been annoyed too - it's ungrateful and rude.
That said, being a big donor to the party and volunteer/organiser should not entitle you to any government job - and doubtless many people would be criticising Cameron if it did - so even though he may have a grievance, I think Ashcroft hasn't conducted himself with any real sense of class in this affair.
Ashcroft was accused of being less than honest about his status even under Hague's leadership. Now this article - Cameron was right not to trust him.
Edit: apologies @dair already cracked this one
http://youtu.be/bRhlRM6rYck
I wonder if the Mail is sending a message to Cameron.
In any case I'd have thought disliking sexism should be a general principle, not a selective old pals act.