A right balls up

[gilesjuk]

Ed Balls caught using a mobile while driving:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/ ... 643321.stm

One rule for them, one for the rest of us eh?

[mw3230]

There but for the grace of God go .... I wonder how many of us! Not excusing him of course, just a little empathy .... On second thoughts, after the thread concerning the jockey I withdraw my empathy for fear of having an burning effigy of a mobile phone planted on my lawn

[ANTONISH]

"I 100% support the law on mobile phones" he says. Can't do the maths either.
I must admit to feeling mildly uplifted that this smug and unpleasant person hasn't got away with this offence.

[TwoPlusTen]

Ed Balls caught using a mobile while driving:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/ ... 643321.stm

One rule for them, one for the rest of us eh?

How is it one rule for them and one for us? He got caught, was assessed the standard punishment (correct) and paid up.

Or are you saying that as a government minister he should have been hung, drawn and quartered?

[gilesjuk]

How is it one rule for them and one for us?

Well I was just pointing out that he chose to ignore the law as he's an important government minister etc..

[goatwarden]

What puzzles me is that all these people on high salaries have not got the sense to use bluetooth kits and headset or built-in car 'phone kit. At least they would be legal then, even though they are still concentrating on a call, not the road.

[thirdcrank]

What puzzles me .....

In one report the great man was quoted as saying that he did not use the hands-free because his children were sleeping in the car and he didn't want to wake them up. After all he is the Children's Secretary, or some such. If things go according to plan - his plan that it - he'll soon be my MP.

[gilesjuk]

What puzzles me is that all these people on high salaries have not got the sense to use bluetooth kits and headset or built-in car 'phone kit. At least they would be legal then, even though they are still concentrating on a call, not the road.

He removed the phone from the car kit as the sound of phone call on speaker phone would have woken up his kids.

So in his eyes his children's sleep is more important than the safety of other road users. Typical self centred MP.

[stoobs]

That's because the welfare of children is "paramount", and that can be used to justify anything.

Of course, he hasn't the brains to think what effect a crash would have had on his little darlings. He could also have chosen to prioritise what it was that he wanted to do, but busy important people like him are just too busy and important to do so. Perhaps because he can't prioritise.....but that's starting to get circular.

[meic]

I suppose he could have looked after his childrens' sleep and safety by turning the thing OFF.
If he really cared about his childrens' safety he would not use the hands free either!!

As said by me before, I dont like this random lottery style enforcement of the mobile phone law.
Everyone can clearly see motorists blatantly clinging to their mobiles even during dangerous manoeuvres,
safe in the knowledge there is little chance of punishment. Anyone of lower standing than Mr Balls could just lie to the Police officer and the case would be dropped. Mr Balls on the other hand would not get away with lying and knew his re-election relied on him doing what he did.

[workhard]

What puzzles me is that all these people on high salaries have not got the sense to use bluetooth kits and headset or built-in car 'phone kit. At least they would be legal then, even though they are still concentrating on a call, not the road.

Last driver I saw overtake me whilst on the phone was in a brand new Bentley. My pants 15 year old Cinquecento has had a bluetooth unit put in it for pity's sake.

[irc]

"I 100% support the law on mobile phones" he says. Can't do the maths either.
I must admit to feeling mildly uplifted that this smug and unpleasant person hasn't got away with this offence.

Yes but when you are talking balls "100% support" for a law doesn't mean you actually obey it.

Not that Balls is alone amongst our parliamentarians in thinking the mobile phone law is for other people to obey.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2009 ... bile-crash

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/u ... 805123.ece

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/cr ... 98758.html

[[XAP]Bob]

Maybe all fines should be a percentage of income / wealth?
Maybe those who should be being held to a higher standard (MP's, Police (even off duty), magistrates etc...) should have an extra 10%?

Hmm - I love randomly replacing large sections of law with two lines and thinking about the consequences

[gilesjuk]

Yes but when you are talking balls "100% support" for a law doesn't mean you actually obey it.

Not that Balls is alone amongst our parliamentarians in thinking the mobile phone law is for other people to obey.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2009 ... bile-crash

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/u ... 805123.ece

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/cr ... 98758.html

This is the annoying thing, his job is basically one involving excellent decision making. Yet he can't even get the basics right, things like complying with laws that are there for safety reasons!

[thirdcrank]

In the midst of the understandable dismay at The Right Honorouble Gentleman's rubbish driving habits, we are getting some cheap jokes about this poor chap's name. Might this be the report of a fly-on-the-wall (or at least on the windscreen?)

- 'Ello, 'ello, 'ello. Wot 'ave we 'ere then?

- I'm sorry constable. I didn't want to frighten the children.

- I'm sorry too. I shall 'ave to give you one of these 'ere tickets. Wot are your name and hadress?

- Balls. And you know where you can find me*

- No need for that, Sir.

- Not you as well. It's my real name.

- I woz only trying to hadd some canteen 'umour to cheer you up, Sir. Any chance of an autograph?

- B***s.


* Legal note - OK for cabinet ministers only. Don't try it at home.