Yes. I am posting on Iain Dale again. He MUST now apologise
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In today’s Sun Adrian Chiles makes it clear that Carol Thatcher was not “joking” when she used (repeatedly) the word Golliwog:
Carol was in full flow, talking about who’d win the Australian Open. “You also have to consider the frogs,” she said. “You know, that froggy golliwog guy.”
“Ooh,” she added – waving an arm about. “If I was Prince Harry I’d get shot for saying that.”
Before I’d worked out what to do, Jo Brand – plainly aghast – leant across and said: “Excuse me, did you just say golliwog?”
“Yes, well, he’s half-black,” Carol explained, waving her hand in front of her face.
In the light of these details surely Ian Dale must now apologise for defending her. He got his facts wrong and should admit that. Otherwise I am afraid this nasty incident will colour how people see him forever.
By the way, we have had a few people say that we should let this matter drop or that such a strong position is somehow not “netiquette”. Well, let me say now: LabourList will always fight the hard fight for Labour values and will tirelessly expose those who support unfairness and intolerance, whether purposefully, or, as we are still willing to believe in Iain Dale’s case by accident. However, an apology is now becoming long overdue and it is rightly making people wonder. As for “netiquette”, we will always act fairly and thoughfully, but this is proud to be a political website not a prissy debating club.
UPDATE: Dale might like to note that James Forsyth at the Spectator is now acknowedging the seriousness of the remark: “Obviously, this is only one participant’s version of events. But if it is accurate, it shows that the remarks were offensive, that Carol Thatcher was using golliwog as a term for black people.”
UPDATE MONDAY: To be fair to James I now understand he had already made clear his concerns about what was said, which shows that not all Tories are as misguided as Dale! Sorry that wasn’t clearer James.
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