Mr Brown and the B word

Politicians are not my favourite people but this week Gordon Brown went up in my estimation. Interviewing a woman who was whinging on about Eastern Europeans taking our jobs he was heard to comment that she was a bigot when he walked away. Sadly he forgot he had a personal microphone on and the comment was clearly not meant to be overheard.

He thinks he made a mistake - I think it might well go in his favour.

On holiday I met a lovely woman out walking her elderly dog. She was so pleasant that it came as a shock when she suddenly remarked that she couldn't stand those people who lived in the South East of England. I wanted to say 'So have you met all of them?'.

When we moved to Scotland thirty years ago I heard loads of people saying they couldn't stand the English. Fortunately they were in the minority and hospitality and friendship has far outweighed the occasional racist attitude.

It's the 21st Century. Racism has had its day. It has killed and injured enough people to last another millenium.

Mr Brown, for once you were right. Don't be ashamed of telling it like it is.