Report comment

This will probably be my last post on this thread. Those who have commented since my previous post (except Richard Whitehurst) broadly have one thing in common. You accept the status quo. You defend the status quo because it is the status quo. If any of you watched the regional BBC News for London last night at 6.30 you would have seen the latest in a series about the dire state of London's prisons. Last night there was a perforce brief look at the Norwegian system. It might pay further investigation. It would broaden the debate beyond the narrow concerns of Lazarus Law and Anonymous x 2 who might be the same person for all I know. How can one tell with all these anonymous posters?

And finally to Martin Moloney my old sparring partner. I regard myself as a writer. I enjoy words and using them and watching the effect they have. Satirical overstatement (or indeed understatement) is part of the writer's box of tools. Even more important is passion. We live in divided times made more divisive by the absurd referendum of 2016. To call Cameron an idiot for calling it is not I would say intemperate. It's clearly true just looking at the personal cost to him and his party (indeed George Osborne strongly advised against it). If you seek high office you surrender the right to privacy or adverse comment.