I normally have little or no sympathy with politicians who are even remotely associated with sleaze, but then I do have a bit of a puritanical streak when it comes to that sort of thing.
With the whole Tessa Jowell thing I am a lot more sympathetic, as I have been in a similar situation. I take the view that marriage is a partnership and is based on trust. In my case, in a previous marriage, it turned out to be misplaced trust. The big difference is that Tessa’s husband seems to have been involved in dodgy deals which were boosting their finances while my ex-wife was involved in dodgy deals which were undermining ours, but the end result is the same – when I found out about it all, that element of trust had been lost and it was no longer a partnership. Breaking up was inevitable.
In hindsight I should have known more about what was going on, and I should have realised a lot earlier, but sometimes emotions over-ride common sense. If the same sort of thing has happened to Tessa Jowell then she has my sympathy. If she is anything like me she will be more upset about her relationship than her career, but there was not a choice between them. Giving up her career would not have altered the facts or the breaking of a trust.
If the alternative is to enter a marriage or a relationship with suspicion, drawing up pre-nuptial agreements and the like, then you might as well not bother. You are not giving it 100%.
Thanks Andrew. Someone has said something about this which I totally agree with. Esp as I have a horrible feeling that this is more to do with playing the game of ‘Hound and push from office a Labour cabinet minister’ than anything else!
Thats not to say that resigning is not a good idea – if only to give her time to sort her life out, not to mention that the stress of separation can make you lose concentration at work.
Jo's Journal // Mar 6, 2006 at 7:39 pm
Tessa Jowell…
I’ve been thinking about the whole Tess Jowells / David Mills case and their recent separation and what’s really shocking me about the whole affair isn’t so much the details but the reaction. Jowell was meant to be speaking at the OUL…
True and true
Hi Skuds,
It’s been a long time since I dropped by, swapped over computers and never took my favourites with me. Nice lay-out here.
May I say something about the Tessa thing. Just feel that it works out as a bit of a kick in the teeth for folk like you that have the better interests of us all at heart and knock on doors to try and do something about it. Whatever went on mate, it looks bad. I wish I could feel better about our politicians.
’nuff said, there’s always the football isn’t there?
Watcha Gràisg! Its good to hear from you – I was looking at your old ‘Gurn’ site just the other day.
You are right that it looks bad and politicians ought to do everything possible to avoid even the appearance of impropriety. I just think a blind spot in that area is much more understandable.