What a repulsive lot we have become

It is greatly to Jonathan Aitken’s credit that he has come to the aid of Lord Browne in today’s Guardian. It is also greatly to the credit of the Guardian that it commissioned the piece.

Aitken does not offer false comfort (he commends “wintry realism” to Browne) and he does not make light of perjury, saying that his own conviction, following his difficulties with the Guardian, was “fair and just”. He does, however, provide a welcome relief from the knee-jerk defences of Browne inspired by homophilia and the vengeful attacks inspired by an almost Islamist love of “justice” — ie, punishment.

The tabloids grow fat by selling hate, lust, fear, greed and envy. Blame the sinner, not the sin; fill the jails and throw away the keys; and then run weepy stories when poor misfit children hang themselves in detention centres.

What a repulsive people we have become: bullying, sentimental and shrill.