Is this how MPs behave?

To be fair to John Prescott (and believe me I don't find that an easy thing to do) he didn't know that it was an egg. All he felt was something hit him....it could just as easily have been a fist or a knife and he reacted in self defence.

I think John Prescot's punch was in response to someone throwing an egg at him. Not fully justifiable but to some extent understandable.

For goodness sake, he apologised because his job was on the line - he didn't just knock the man down , he then wrote a blog defending his behaviour. If you were pushed over by a lout, would you think an apology unreserved or otherwise was enough - I bloody wouldn't regardless of the political persuasion if the person concerned. My point is how right wingers rush to his defence

Mr. Dale's apology does seem heartfelt and genuine. We have all done/said things we shouldn't. rueful

I was pleased to read that and I thought it was a reflection of the character I had hoped I had observed in him.

He has apologised unreservedly.

Right wing, left wing or raving loonie, a thug is a thug.

I said in my post 13.14 Ian Dale is open about his sexuality.

He is one of the newspaper reviewers on Sky News (also a commentator on many progs) and when he is with Anna Botting and Jaqui Smith he has a right old twinkle about him.

I like him because if he thinks Labour, Tory, Lib Dem, UKIP etc. are wrong he will say so. Quite rightly. In other words not a politically partisan commentator.

He was wrong in his actions, I don't think anybody defended what he did. If you bring up the fact he was a Tory to try and make a point, don't be surprised when that point is bashed back with fair comment.

Noooo, not correcting you Ana, defending me, I was at that conference and I didn't push the chap out

I add a smiley

Ha! There is some justice after all! Iain Dale is to receive a caution:
www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-24285711

He may have been removed by a security firm Anniebach, but did any party members come to his support? Was the firm not engaged by the Labour Party?

How could we find out?

Surely not...?

Oh! I didn't know. That is a very interesting wonder....???

Aka Ian Dale is gay. Does this affect your hypothesis ? (wondering to self if gays have testosterone issues)

Ana Yup

Didn't John Prescott throw a famous punch too? This has nothing to do with politics but everything to do with testosterone methinks.

I knew I could rely on someone on here to correct me!

The elderly man removed from the labour party conference was not removed from the hall by labour party members , he was removed by staff of a security firm.

But he was state school educated!

Why can't you lot who support the Tories just for once accept a Tory behaved badly? Hard to believe I know!

Ana -much as I abhorred the treatment of the pensioner at the Labour Party conference, you are really scratching around to compare that with Ian Dale's behaviour where he actually knocked the man to the ground

They all have their share don't they!

I dare say a lot of Labour supporters do as well - remember that old man thrown out of the Labour Party conference for daring to mention the Iraq war?

He was rude and arrogant as well as aggressive. Is that how Tory supporters behave?

Having spent my entire professional life in publishing I am somewhat surprised by this man's comment: "I did what any self-respecting publisher would do – got out of the car, ran across, got him in an armlock and pulled him out of the shot." It used to be a gentleman's profession.