Stifling Debate

The latest knee-jerk reaction to an off-the-cuff remark is the BBC and Scotsman's reporting of Bill Aitken's comments regarding methadone users.

In the midst of a series of sensible points, Bill has been quoted as saying some such users sit 'fat, dumb and happy' on them.

Needless to say an unnecessary apology will be on its way from the man, his chastisement will prevent him from speaking his mind quite as much in the future and once again we all lose out as a result of a 24-hour media that seems to boss the politicians around all too easily.

I just hope the less PR-conscious Annabel Goldie (compared to David 'look at my family' Cameron) will back him up.

I think he has a perfectly valid set of points that are well-deserving of being explored but, like Boris and his Liverpool comments, Prof Chris Harvie and the dump that is Lockerbie and Samantha Power with her Hillary 'Monster' Clinton off-the-record remark, I think it's safe to say that Bill Aitken will be apologising through gritted teeth at some point today.

It's just a shame the seemingly acceptable parameters of conversation in this country are narrowing and narrowing. I blame those fat, dumb and happy journalists myself but what can you do...