BrianH
At the Start
Ah, clivex, I remember well "Satanic Verses" and the fatwa.
Roy Hattersley, who was at the time deputy leader of the Labour party, with 35,000 Muslim voters to concentrate his mind in his Birmingham constituency, announced his “vehement opposition” to the banning of books, but at the same time called for the paperback edition of Rushdie’s novel not to be published, and was accused of “trying to have it both ways”. A valid accusation indeed.
But a politician who was much more supportive of the fatwa is one that your postings lead me to believe is more your cup of tea than the tub of lard.
The Chingford polecat, Lord Tebbit described Rushdie’s “public life” as “a record of despicable acts of betrayal of his upbringing, religion, adopted home and nationality”. He had used the right of free speech to “insult, demean and degrade” and was, in short, “a villain”.
He didn't ask what cricket team the author supported though.