Andrea Jenkins who gave middle finger gesture to electorate is our new Education minister.

This is how far standards have dropped under the current government. Can you imagine Thatcher or Heseltine behaving in such a way.

CatsCatsCats

She's given an explanation and I really don't blame her. So she's to merely stand back and smile when abusive, inflammatory and perhaps threatening comments are flung at her?

I think she kept her cool really well, certainly better than I'd have managed.

Maybe she should spend a couple of days in a secondary comprehensive and see for herself what teachers in some schools face every day. Somehow I don't think threatening language and making a rude gesture would be accepted. I have a feeling that "I'm only human" wouldn't go down well in a disciplinary hearing.

She is simply showing us the legacy of the soon to be ex PM. There is no longer any need to hide the distain. Any evidence that the comments were perhaps threatening?

If that is how she conducts herself under pressure, heaven help us!

CatsCatsCats

She's given an explanation and I really don't blame her. So she's to merely stand back and smile when abusive, inflammatory and perhaps threatening comments are flung at her?

I think she kept her cool really well, certainly better than I'd have managed.

Many other MPs have been more abused than that and kept their cool with class.

She is definitely not government material.

She gave an explanation? Really? I thought she simply blamed "the baying mob" who, by all accounts, had more than enough reasons to bay at her. The British public have had to put up with lies, deceit, obfuscation, maladministration of public funds and broken promises from this shower of shite government and so, imho, that public has every right to shout and heckle one of the many people responsible. Flicking the finger at them has simply proved what we've known all along: they hold us in contempt and have now, quite literally said"F**k you".

She's given an explanation and I really don't blame her. So she's to merely stand back and smile when abusive, inflammatory and perhaps threatening comments are flung at her?

I think she kept her cool really well, certainly better than I'd have managed.

annsixty

No, arrogance is an upper class thing.
What she did denotes no class at all.

Well at least private schooling can't be blamed for inappropriate behaviour this time! (Joke)

Whitewavemark2

Baggytrazzas

Absolutely unacceptable behaviour from someone in that public position. What is wrong with these people? Do they really believe that this is acceptable behaviour, or know that it really isn't but think yet again that the rules applying to the rest of us do not apply to them? No way should we be forced to accept this, and if it was up to me I wouldn't even accept an apology at this point.

She didn’t apologise - she blamed the bystanders!

That is a clear case of victim blaming. We have been victims of this corrupt government for far too long.

The more time that passes, the more we just accept this behaviour from those who are supposed to be working in our interests.
It defies belief, to me.

No, arrogance is an upper class thing.
What she did denotes no class at all.

Arrogance, I'd imagine.

What on earth possessed her!

Where do people learn these rude gestures? I don’t even know they’re rude gestures till somebody tells me!

Classy.

varian

Yet they still get votes!

If only we had a well educated electorate who questioned the propaganda of the right wing gutter press.

... a well educated electorate is anathema to a right wing government - and to the press barons and the extremely wealthy elite. Critical thinking is something they literally cannot afford to allow us to indulge in

Also, as the industrialist Henry Ford said, "It is perhaps well enough that the people of the nation do not understand our banking and monetary system, for if they did, I believe there would be a revolution before tomorrow morning." Or very similar words - the quote is not exact, I understand. Although the US and UK banking systems are similar (we influenced their banking system), there are some differences in practice. But the principle remains the same.

Yet they still get votes!

If only we had a well educated electorate who questioned the propaganda of the right wing gutter press.

Baggytrazzas

Absolutely unacceptable behaviour from someone in that public position. What is wrong with these people? Do they really believe that this is acceptable behaviour, or know that it really isn't but think yet again that the rules applying to the rest of us do not apply to them? No way should we be forced to accept this, and if it was up to me I wouldn't even accept an apology at this point.

She didn’t apologise - she blamed the bystanders!

Absolutely unacceptable behaviour from someone in that public position. What is wrong with these people? Do they really believe that this is acceptable behaviour, or know that it really isn't but think yet again that the rules applying to the rest of us do not apply to them? No way should we be forced to accept this, and if it was up to me I wouldn't even accept an apology at this point.

Perhaps if she stays as Education Minister under a new 'Boris reincarnation' regime, when she visits schools, children will think this is the traditional way to greet a new Education Minister and respond accordingly.

Whitewavemark2

?

Being a geologist I love that WWM2

growstuff

I wonder what the reaction would have been, if Angela Rayner had done it.

The media would have been all over it. As they were when she used the word 'scum' (I might agree with the sentiment, but if you want standards in the House, they have to apply to everyone - even at conference receptions).

The gesture was reckless - but indicative of the level of contempt for the electorate, those that are weary of the government anyway.

What way are we allowed to show our displeasure - demonstrating is clearly fraught with difficulties now? Booing is a very mild indication of grievances, and - just listen to the hissing, booing and braying that actually goes on in the HoC - is that really any different from a crowd showing it's anger in exactly the same way?

If she can't take the heat, she should stay out of the political kitchen.

The irony is that those who condemned Rayner for her comment will quite possibly, in some cases, applaud Jenkyns for her gesture.

I wonder what the reaction would have been, if Angela Rayner had done it.

I'd be just as disgusted as I am with Jenkyns. Any politician, who flicks the finger at the public, is clearly demonstrating their arrogance and disdain for the people who pay their wages.

I wonder what the reaction would have been, if Angela Rayner had done it.

Well that shows us how important education is to this temporary government.