Hugh Gaitskell and Bessie Braddock

H Class NZSco I done a round the land on HINAKURA AB 65.

Big girl, Bessie, What is the SWL of the bitte?
Historic photo.
Rgds.
Dave

Two politicians much beloved by the political cartoonist.
Hugh always shown with the big nose. Bessie, well.....

[COLOR="Blue"]Wasn't 'on her' but remember a Purser telling me about the 'Who? Ha!' when PM to be Harold Wilson had a cocktail party thrown in his honour (?) on the Aureol in Liverpool.[/COLOR]

There is always the old story about Churchill and Bessie.

Bessie Braddock, who in all honesty was for many years a very good representative of her constituents in Liverpool Exchange division and a long serving member of the House of Commons, but shall we say not exactly blessed with good looks.

So the story goes, apparently one late evening Winston was giving a speech in the Commons and Bessie jumped up and said something like "Winston, you are drunk !"...at which Churchill answered her straight back and said "Yes Madam and you are ugly...but in the morning I shall be sober !"

Such good banter is sadly not allowed in these days of PC nonsense, where so many people take offence at the slightest little thing, which to my mind is destroying one of the pillars of British and other Western culture and society ie Free Speech, which does not augur well for our future.

We must always remember Voltaire's comment at the time of the French Revolution, saying "I disagree completely with what that man is saying...but I will fight to the death for his right to say it !!!"

We live in very dangerous times and people like Bessie and Hugh Gaitskell thoroughly understood that the British people do laugh at themselves in all good faith, but the 'snowflakes' these days are so 'precious', seeing offence where there is none !!

So, I presume I'm next on the black list !....."Don't tell them [your name] Pike !"

Regards

In this era of global warming how is it that the number of 'snowflakes' is increasing to such a degree?
No doubt Sir Humphrey could explain.

I was going to put a "wait for it post" on this thread but never got round to it. However, here it is, the old furphy about Bessie Braddock and Winston Churchill. An oldie but a goodie that never happened. He's supposed to have said the same thing to Lady Astor who actually wasn't a bad sort.

John T

I remember the story as relating to Lady Astor. I chuckled anyway !

Lady Astor. the curse of the lower deck RN, stopped hard laying allowance on small ships.

Vickentallen - Nice to see you posting!
Rgds.
Dave