POLITICAL correctness gone completely stark raving mad!

This week I was on the receiving end of the most incredible outburst from a political official.

In all my years as a journalist I have never been subjected to such an amazing attack against my integrity and the integrity of my staff.

Completely out of the blue a top Liberal Democrat took it upon himself to accuse News Shopper reporters of being homophobic.

And the reason for this outburst? They contacted all candidates in the forthcoming election to ask them for their details so voters could read about them in the newspaper and form opinions about the individuals.

But now Liberal Democrat candidates and Party HQ have distanced themselves from their National Campaigns Officer Duncan Borrowman, saying they are disappointed by the ridiculous comments.

Name - Andrew Parkes

Occupation - Journalist

Party - Neutral

Age - 42

Married to - Julia Parkes

Children - Ceara (female) aged 11, Hallam (male) aged seven

I echo their view that at least "Duncan Borrowman has had some sense to apologise" but still have to question the reasons behind his outburst.

Every election News Shopper asks candidates to supply the newspaper with their general details their name; a picture; their age; occupation; whether they are married; whether they have children and 100 words telling voters why they should elect them.

We have always published details fairly and accurately without prejudice of any sort.

For Mr Borrowman to claim asking for such information in 2005 "is irrelevant to the election, and by inference homophobic" is not just political correctness gone mad, it's simply absurd.

For the record Mr Borrowman: None of this information is irrelevant' to voters as you suggest, no member of staff at News Shopper is homophobic and, to date, no-one else in the Liberal Democrat party has had the slightest hesitation in sharing their details with the electorate.

For you information, it's not against employment law to ask someone their marital status.

And just so we're totally clear: I stand by my statement "your comments, following this perfectly reasonable request for information about candidates, say a great deal more about you than they do News Shopper" this is not libellous, as you suggest, but a statement of fact.

Mr Borrowman himself has now issued the following apology: "I will give you one apology (just the one!) that is to you, or any of your staff, if I gave the impression you are homophobic.

"I will not retract my position that I consider it totally inappropriate to ask for, or publish, the information." Lib Dem leader Charles Kennedy (married information taken from party's website) declined to comment about any statement made by Duncan Borrowman.

THE EMAIL EXCHANGE IN FULL

Please note, News Shopper has decided not to publish the identity of all the recipients of these emails.

From: Bede Macgowan
Sent: 07 April 2005 10:32
To: info@bromleylibdems.org.uk
Subject: News Shopper request

Hello,

Hope you are all well. Just to let you know we will be doing a page or so a week on the election and a spread the day before the polls. I need the following from the Lib Dem candidates for Beckenham, Orpington and Bromley/Chis. A mugshot of the candidates, their age, occupation, spouse of (insert number) years, and number of children. Finally they must each write (by April 26) just 100 words telling voters why they should elect them. Can you help please?

Many thanks, Bede MacGowan

From: Duncan Borrowman
Sent: 07 April 2005 11:15
To: Names and email addresses withheld
Cc: Andrew Parkes
Subject: FW: News Shopper request
Importance: High

I have received the email below via the Bromley Lib Dem website. I think it probably is also going out across all boroughs. Can people please provide the information requested.

***** HOWEVER I have informed the News shopper that we will NOT provide information on candidates marital status. It is irrelevant to the election, and is by inference homophobic.

Therefore please can no candidate provide information to the News Shopper if asked about their marital status.

I must say that the sort of information being asked for is really not appropriate to campaigning in 2005!

Duncan Borrowman
National Campaigns Officer
Liberal Democrats

From: Andrew Parkes
Sent: 07 April 2005 12:45
To: Duncan Borrowman
Subject: News Shopper request

Dear Mr Borrowman,

I am equally surprised and dismayed by your response to what is clearly a perfectly reasonable request from a newspaper to candidates.

You are wrong that the information requested from candidates is irrelevant - I would argue it is highly relevant.

The vast majority of people who vote for a particular candidate will never meet that candidate. They will form opinions on candidates from the information they have about them.

In an election people do not just vote for policies and parties, they vote for candidates.

As a general example, knowing that a particular candidate was married with children could well be very important information to a particular voter. To a parent concerned about a whole host of issues eg education provision, healthcare etc it would demonstrate an understanding that a single candidate could not have (I accept a single candidate may well have full sympathy with a parent's concern but could not, by definition, have the same first hand undertsanding).

None of the information requested by News Shopper about candidates is irrelevant.

Nor is this newspaper, or any of its staff, in any way homophobic, and I take great exception to your comments.

Whether any candidate chooses to provide this newspaper with information is entirely a matter for them but I believe it would be fair, not to mention honourable, for you to retract your statement and apologise for any offence it may have caused to staff at News Shopper.

Frankly, I believe your comments, and the very fact, you have chosen to interpret this perfectly reasonable request for information about candidates in the way you have, says a great deal more about you than it does News Shopper.

Andrew Parkes
Group Managing Editor

From: Duncan Borrowman
Sent: 07 April 2005 13:06
To: Andrew Parkes
Subject: RE: News Shopper request

Dear Mr Parkes,

Thank you for your email. I am afraid your comments regarding the understanding of people is ridiculous. Are you saying that politicians can't have views on care for the elderly unless they have been a pensioner. On regulation of newspapers unless they have been a newspaper editor. or on abortion unless thay have had one?

Why single out a persons marital status? Or whether they have children?

Why noit whether they have pets. Use a car or public transport. Eat meat. Have ever been a boy scout. Have a religion. None of these are any more random than marital status or children.

You could of course do some creative journalism and ask people what are their personal aspects that they think the electorate would be interested in - rather than prescribing some hackneyed and dated criteria.

I am continuing to advise our candidates to present to you the number of words of biographical information requested, but not to fall into making statements on your restrictive criteria.

Duncan Borrowman

From: Andrew Parkes
Sent: 07 April 2005 13:45
To: Duncan Borrowman
Subject: RE: News Shopper request

Dear Mr Borrowman,

Thank you for your further email.

Please re-read my email. I did not say "politicians can't have views on care for the elderly unless they have been a pensioner. On regulation of newspapers unless they have been a newspaper editor or on abortion unless thay have had one?"

What I said was: "knowing that a particular candidate was married with children could well be very important information to a particular voter. To a parent concerned about a whole host of issues eg education provision, healthcare etc it would demonstrate an understanding that a single candidate could not have (I accept a single candidate may well have full sympathy with a parent's concern but could not, by definition, have the same first hand undertsanding).

There is a vast difference.

I do not wish to be pedantic, but your suggestion that asking whether someone is single or married could be construed in any way to be homophobic is ludicrous.

Are you for one moment suggesting that by someone stating they are single, a right-minded member of society would consider them to be gay? I would further have to ask what you might be saying about the electorate in Bromley?

Surely you are not suggesting voters in the borough might be influenced against a particular candidate due to their sexual orientation?

All I was suggesting is that voters would be interested to have a whole range of information about their candidates. I equally assumed candidates would be only too happy to provide this information.

Clearly I was wrong.

regards (and for nthe record)
Petts Wood
Neutral
Andrew Parkes
Aged 42
Journalist
Married to Julia Parkes, also aged 42
Children - Ceara (female) aged 11, Hallam (male) aged 7

From: Duncan Borrowman
Sent: 07 April 2005 13:51
To: Andrew Parkes
Subject: RE: News Shopper request

Dear Mr Parkes,

I have tried to telephone you three time, but you clearly are not receiving calls from me.

Under employment law it is illegal to ask a persons marital status. Being an MP is employment.

To be frank it us to us what we give you, it is up to you what you publish.

The issue is closed - we will not give it, and if you don't understand why then I depair.

On you comment in your previous email: "Frankly, I believe your comments, and the very fact, you have chosen to interpret this perfectly reasonable request for information about candidates in the way you have, says a great deal more about you than it does News Shopper."

I do trust as a journalist you have been trained in libel. I look forward to your apology for that statement.

Duncan Bororwman

From: Andrew Parkes
Sent: 07 April 2005 14:05
To: Duncan Borrowman
Subject: RE: News Shopper request

Dear Mr Borrowman,

Thanks very much for your emails, I've found the debate extremely interesting, and I'm sure our readers will be equally fascinated.

Please can I just confirm your official position, is it correct you are National Campaigns Officer for the Liberal Democrats?

Andrew Parkes

From: Duncan Borrowman
Sent: 07 April 2005 14:29
To: Andrew Parkes
Subject: RE: News Shopper request

Dear Mr Parkes,

I am perfectly happy to state my position on this in your paper.

Let me know how many words I have to present it in.

Duncan Borrowman

From: Andrew Parkes
Sent: 07 April 2005 14:47
To: Duncan Borrowman
Subject: RE: News Shopper request

Dear Mr Borrowman,

Thanks for your offer, but I'm sure we've got what we need from you.

We will obviously ask candidates from other parties for their opinions and also contact other members of your own party.

Just for your information, we are currently checking the websites of members of the Lib Dem Shadow Cabinet and, to date, they have all elected to state their marital status. For your further information, a number of the people on your cc. list have also chosen to supply News Shopper with details of their marital status.

Just to be absolutely clear, it is not illegal under employment law to ask someone's marital status or to hold this information on file.

And, you're absolutely correct in your assumption that I, as a journalist have been trained in libel.

Andrew Parkes

From: Duncan Borrowman
Sent: 07 April 2005 15:03
To: Andrew Parkes
Subject: RE: News Shopper request

I am sure you have. For clarity, if you look I did not accuse any of your staff of being homophobic. I said that the inference of publishing it in this way could be interpreted as homophobic. I will give you one apology (just the one!) - that is to you or any of your staff if I gave the impression that you are homophobic.

I will not retract my position that I consider it totally inappropriate to ask for or publish the information.

LIBERAL DEMOCRAT CANDIDATES

  • Jef Foulger, 49, Lib Dem candidate for Beckenham is happy to say he is married to Julia (also 49) and has three children, Rebecca, 24; Katy, 23, and Will, 19.
  • Alex Feakes, Lib Dem candidate for Lewisham West, is 30 and runs a film and video business. He lives with his partner of more than four years and has no children.
  • Nick O'Hare, candidate for Old Bexley & Sidcup, is a happily married man who has lived in the borough for 11 years. His hairdressing business is also in the constituency and he speaks three languages.
  • Peter Bucklitsch, Lib Dem candidate for Dartford, is a 56-year-old computer consultant. He has been married to his wife Rosalyn for 30 years and they have two children in his words, one of each.
  • Liberal Democrat candidate for Gravesham is Bruce Parmenter. A 40-year-old taxi driver from Gravesend, he is divorced and has three girls and a boy.
  • Ben Abbotts is a 29-year-old political consultant who is the Lib Dem candidate for Sevenoaks. Mr Abbotts, who has been married to his 32-year-old wife Zara for four years, has two daughters, Tallulah and Sienna.

To date, no-one has declined to give us their details.