Odious, odious, they've got it odious

I heard that Owen Jones, the left-wing Guardian columnist had a run-in with the odious Andrew Neil on the latter’s BBC This Week programme, so watched a bit of it on the i-player. Neil was clearly nonplussed that a young upstart like Jones might question whether the Spectator, whose board Neil chairs might promote racism, despite what in normal circumstances would be classed as racist commentary appearing in its rankling pages. Perhaps it shouldn’t be considered racist because it’s clever racism, or ironic racism, or something else that wouldn’t cause an upset in the Carlton Club. So well done Jones for rattling Neil’s cage. But what really annoyed me was Michael Portillo taking the opportunity in the piece to say – unchallenged (least of all by leading light Liz Kendall sat next to him on the sofa) – that anti-semitism is endemic in the Labour Party. As ever in these cases, no evidence whatsoever is brought forth to substantiate the charge, which as any objective observer would soon discover is absolute bollocks. Portillo may claim, as he did on the programme that he is no longer a member of the Tory Party, but beware – behind that soft-focus, urbane continental railway loving exterior there still lurks someone who adequately defines a member of the ‘nasty party.’  Thankfully, This Week is normally broadcast well after my bedtime so I never watch it.