Sunday, February 10, 2008

Ming's treatment bemoaned by John Mortimer

Rumpole creator John Mortimer says the contrast between the popularity of John McCain in the States and the treatment of Ming Campbell is emblematic of Britain's old being 'ignored':

One of the few figures who acted like a statesman was Sir Ming Campbell. A life at the Scottish Bar had trained him in the art of asking apparently simple questions which could pierce and deflate pomposity.

But Sir Ming had committed a serious crime; nothing to do with alcohol or dangerous drugs or rent boys, he had knowingly achieved the age of 66. Alarmed whispers spread through the Liberal party: 'Do you know that Ming is 66?' It was vital to get rid of this embarrassing old-ager and to hustle him off the scene as though he was deaf, dumb and doubly incontinent. It is no use being an accomplished statesman in our world if you cannot at least pretend to be young.

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