I have just returned from the centre of my town, after a lunchtime meeting.
Over the Conservative Club in the centre of the town the union flag was flying at half mast FFS.
The loss of a six year old boy is a terrible loss for the parents, I know I have been there, two decades ago. However the suspension of PMQ’s has elevated the death of young Ivan Cameron to that of the death of one of the elect that is the political class.The wall to wall coverage on his death and the linked loss of Brown’s daughter, was overblown. This was a personal tragedy, not a National one. Yesterday members of of the 1st Rifles were cut down by a roadside bomb. For their families a personal tragedy, but the procession of bodies on a weekly basis through Wootton Bassett is a a National tragedy. I do not see flags flown at half mast here for these young men and women, or Parliament suspended out of respect.
Ivan was not a Prince of the Realm, the mawkish tone of yesterday was off key. Matthew Parris writes on this, and I think he is right.
In my humble opinion I am cynical enough about Brown to believe he did not want to answer anything about the FOI veto, The Post Office rebellion etc, manipulation of grief is an ugly thing.