In The Same Cell

On The Review Show, David Aaronovitch resented a very thinly veiled cinematic call for the prosecution of his beloved Tony Blair from Roman Polanksi, who is, after all, Roman Polanski. Point taken. So lock up the pair of them. In the same cell.

But Aaronovitch went on to decry those who reject representative democracy in favour of "some visceral relationship" between the populace and the Leader. Until very recently, this country was in fact governed by just such a figure, complete with the fondness for the "device of demagogues and dictators" to give his actions extraparliamentary validation. Can Aaronovitch name him?

Ah, Polanski. I think you all know what comes next. Add him to the list along with Peter Tatchell, Richard Dawkins, Stephen Fry, Philip Pullman, Germaine Greer, Channel Four, Patricia Hewitt, Harriet Harman, Johann Hari, numerous social services departments and the associated academic departments over several decades, and all the rest of them. What's that you say? They don't claim to be moral authorities? Really? And just wait for any intervention by A C Grayling...