Thursday 23 February 2012

The joy(ce) of drink

IanPJonPolitics, The BoilingFrog and Richard North, EU Referendum, have all commented on 'L'affaire Eric Joyce'.


It will indeed be interesting to see what transpires where the police investigation is concerned and whether if charges are brought and Joyce appears in court, what sentence will be handed down should the verdict be guilty. It will indeed be interesting to see whether the people of Falkirk do demand the recall of their Member of Parliament and whether the decision of his peers will concur.


It should be remembered that Joyce is a member of a class in our society that spends most of its time dictating how we should behave - some role model (not). From They Work For You comes two quotes by this sorry example from amongst the good and the great. First: ".....I go about my constituency occasionally with the cops on a Friday or Saturday night. We see a bit of violence in the streets and recognise where it comes from, what is happening and who the bad guys are—who has been caught up in things because they have drunk too much and so on....."; and second, speaking during Public Bill Committee: Drugs Bill: New Clause 1 - inclusion of khat as a Class A drug: "....I would be very reluctant to classify alcohol as category B. This debate goes on when we talk about how we should classify any type of drug. Ultimately, one of the most serious drugs is one that we tolerate enormously in society—everyone is this Room uses it, in moderation, of course—and it is alcohol." (Emphasis mine)


Richard North is correct to query why we have elections, as is IanPJ to maintain that this 'affaire' is just another reason why this rough house where the gang known as the rotten parliament hang out must be dissolved.




Update: It would appear that Eric Joyce had a previous 'problem' with the police in 2010. In case it has been 'amended' I am grateful to Max Farquar for taking a screen grab:



7 comments:

PeterCharles said...

Despite of having been known to over indulge occasionally in my youth I have always been infuriated when I heard inebriation being given as an excuse for violent or dangerous activity. I have always been of the opinion that one should be prosecuted on the basis of what actually transpired. Only after should inebriation or other similar contributory factors (drugs) be taken into account, whereupon whatever sanction was originally deemed proper should be doubled!

If you get violent when drunk you know it and should refrain from over indulging.

As to this MP, I expect a majority of his constituency would applaud his actions rather than abhor them so I doubt there would be a call for his recall, although it might be tempting for the Scottish Nationalists.

Dick Puddlecote said...

To be fair, Joyce is one of the good guys on minimum alcohol pricing, see here. So, this set of events is pretty bad for our side, and will be eagerly lapped up by the likes of Sarah Wollaston. :(

john in cheshire said...

It's a wonder how such brain damaged individuals (as it appears to me) are able to be selected as candidates, let alone that their voters are so stupid that they willingly vote for them. And, yes, I think the voters must be stupid to vote for people like Mr Joyce, and all the other 649 parasites who occupy seats in our Parliament.

TomTom said...

This is the same man who aged 15 was expelled from school for beating two female teachers, one pregnant. Clearly he has a violent disposition give free rein by alcohol.

IO do hope he is charged with homophobic aggravated assault on Stuart Andrew

livescore said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
TheBoilingFrog said...

Cheers Mr WfW as usual. P.S. I'm no longer chairman of a certain Oxfordshire branch.

WitteringsfromWitney said...

PC: With you in all that, bar possibly your last paragraph.

DP: I take your point, however perhaps Joyce should learn to behave himself and engage brain then, especially knowing that his misbehaviour may well be seized upon by the likes of Wollaston and her ilk.

jic: I know, I know........

TBF: A pleasure as always - re the ps: oh dear.......