Tory MP John Redwood has been in the news a lot recently, telling us all just how great a hard Brexit is going to be for us.
By “us”, Redwood is probably referring to his fellow Rothschild directors, who no doubt will find their substantial salaries a useful cushion against any fallout from a hard Brexit.
But in the light of the Tory and tabloid outrage about sexist language used by two Labour MPs recently, it should probably be pointed out that Redwood once argued on his blog that ‘date rape’ should not be criminalised in the same way as ‘stranger rape’, because it is just a “disagreement between two lovers”:
Awaiting heartfelt condemnation from his fellow Tories.
Don’t go holding your breath now …
Pride's Purge 
Reblogged this on sdbast.
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If you want to dispute John Redwood’s ideas about Brexit then that’s good, or if you disagree with what he said about rape then that’s also fine, but to conflate these two totally unrelated issues and then not actually address either of them is just a bit weird.
[To be outraged enough to write a comment about this blogpost, but your outrage not be about what Redwood said about date rape, is just a bit weird] – TOM
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Tom – You assumed that I’m not outraged by what John Redwood said about rape. In fact I am, and I’m able and willing to discuss it without using mindless rhetoric. Are you? You also assumed that I was outraged by your blogpost – I wasn’t, because you’re not that important. By the way, the worst part of what Redwood said seems to have passed you by.
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Amanda, I’m not sure how exactly you’re using the word conflate. I don’t see an implication Redwood’s two positions are morally equivalent or similar in nature, except in that they’re both Redwood’s positions and they’re both newsworthy. To me it’s the same as “Meghan Markle, actress in the TV series Suits, is dating Prince Harry” – is that ‘conflating’ acting and dating, or just reminding us of why someone is newsworthy to the target audience?
Tom doesn’t write long analyses. But honestly, Redwood’s sexist comment can stand for itself as appalling without whatever critical analysis you’re unhappy that Tom didn’t make.
Can I make an assumption? Just a guess, but you agree with the sexist criticism but not the Brexit one. If that’s true, do you really want to make a big fuss of how you don’t like the brevity of the former, instead of just… accepting being on the same side as someone you disagree with at times?
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Alex – Your guess was wrong, I don’t agree with John Redwood about either of these issues, or anything else I can think of! I’ve seen some of Tom Pride’s work (on here, FB, etc.) and I agree with you that he doesn’t seem able to analyse political issues, either within his blogposts or in response to comments. I think your comparison of his work with mindless celebrity gossip is spot on.
[Amanda, Here’s a radical idea. if you don’t like my blog, don’t read it. I promise you I won’t force you.] – TOM
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That’s OK Tom. I quite like to read mindless gossip sometimes. The problem is that you seem to take yourself and your ‘opinions’ rather too seriously. You don’t mind me making an occasional comment on that basis, do you?
By the way, the worst part of what Redwood said seems to have passed you by. Have you spotted it yet?
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He appears to believe there is a reasonable amount of force a man can use to assault a woman. How interesting.
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Well done Chris – you and I seem to be the only people who spotted it.
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