As Paul Waugh’s reporting over at his essential blog, it seems like the row between Shami Chakrabarti and Andy Burnham is at an end – and all because of a smartly-worded letter that the culture minister sent yesterday. In it, he expresses some regret for his previous statement, and outlines his actions in terms of civil liberty and freedom of speech:
“I do not accept that I have in any way ‘debased my office of state’. Indeed, I think it is in the interests of democracy to preserve the liberty of politicians to speak about current issues and public figures in expressive language that is all part of the cut and thrust of political debate…”
How could the director of a liberty group reject this appeal? And, indeed, Chakrabarti has accepted Burnham’s explanation. Here’s how she responded:
“I am grateful for Mr Burnham’s personal letter which seems to show genuine regret for the distress that his remarks caused me and my family.
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