Were you offended?

You can refer to me as part of a swarm of people any time you like, eloethan.

I think there has been a bit of swarming up and over fences at Calais by some of the swarm we're talking about.

That's only one interpretation of the word, Eloethan. A swarm can also mean a moving crowd (of people).

One can swarm up a tree as well as across the English Channel.

[I can see that my post of 10.28am would have been better written as swarm of people].

I have never heard of swarm of people. It is not tongue in cheek.

It is for some people easy not to be upset or offended by terms that don't apply to them or their families. If you were one of those people, however, you might not appreciate being likened to an insect.

I was really responding to TerriBull's post when she was talking about a swarm of people on the London Underground.

Yes Soontobe, we have all heard of the term.... swarms of people.You constantly ask these 'innocent' questions, I really think it's all tongue in cheek.

Gracesgran. I do think though it is impossible to get a person, any person, to be 100% perfect in words. And also since words have different meanings in different parts of any country.

Elegran.
I have always thought the weather would be better if they really tried harder.

I have never heard the term as regards people though annodomini? Have you?

For July read August - they can't even get the calendar right!

I wish the Tories would get a grip on the weather, it is so changeable at the moment, not at all like July. They are so careless about the comfort of their citizens - I bet it will fine for the glorious 12th, though!.

It wouldn't matter to me who had said it, from whatever party .

not careless or demonising, they are media frenzy words.

Oh come on GG, just another Tory dig!

Good point JBF. To me the issue is the demonising of groups. I would agree that this was more careless than by design but do I really want a careless PM? Add to that the track record of the Conservatives in demonising groups in order to appear to be the saviours of those who worry a little about those groups and I do think it is reasonable to challenge DC and for us to expect him to be more judicious with what he says.

No!

Spot on, nigglynellie. You have to be so worried about which words public figures use but you can ignore the meaning. Harriet's joining in the game of uproar again.

We mustn't forget in the midst of all this, that many more immigrants settle in each of Germany, France and Italy, than ever come to the UK. So perhaps the word was a little hysteria inducing.

Agreed nigglynellie, just cheap point scoring, the equivalent of going ' nan na
Nana na!'

It's all a load of rubbish, the media once again trying to decide things for us and whip up a bit of controversary. Most people would agree with the use of the word, not an insult to anyone, just a fact, there are swarms of people trying to come here.

As someone educated in a top public school, Harriet Harman knows perfectly well that referring to a swarm of people is a totally acceptable expression as defined in all dictionaries. To express such outrage is clearly ridiculous and makes her efforts to score political points, as that's all it can be, look completely pathetic. FGS, Labour go from bad to worse!

Where have you been all your life, soon? You must have heard of swarms of bees in the countryside and sometimes even in London! On the news, we sometimes hear of swarms of locusts destroying crops in developing countries. I've even encountered a swarm of ladybirds.