Oh Carol, you are such a fool

There are some things that you simply cannot say without expecting tonnes of odium and contempt to land on you. Carol Thatcher ought really to have known this and also to have known that there is no such thing as a private conversation if you are a) someone with her genes; and, b) in a television studio - even a green room. She anyway comes across as a rather silly mare in her public appearances and the fact of her being "dropped" by the BBC will not detract a great deal from the gaiety of our national life.

But... just read the comments on this piece from the Media Guardian this morning - a red letter day for the liberal intelligensia (i.e. not very liberal at all). Marvellous to hear from people who have no sense of proportion. The tone is as much to do with who she is as what she said - quite ridiculous. They'll be calling for the stoning-to-death squad from Monty Python's Life of Brian shortly, have no doubt. It is worth remembering that Jonathan Ross is more repugnant, though less stupid, than Miss Thatcher but has managed to keep his job. Obviously one is not comparing apples with apples, but nevertheless ... it don't 'arf smell a bit.

Sir Compton realises that by the very act of writing such things he lays himself open to charges of thought crime but - hey - that's half-free speech for you.