Apology from our editor

I like your subtle style.

So what?

By your own standards, you are no longer a bigot. Well done.

ahhh... but i made a genuine mistake and apologised. has thatcher? has dale? has staines? NO

Charles, that's what Derek was doing. He spent far too much time posturing over the Carol Thatcher use of "Golliwog" and escalated it as soon as Iain Dale stepped in.

We all know that he was playing a role, taking the moral high-ground to make a stick to beat Dale with. It's an easy trick to do.

The reason that Derek is so apologetic now is that he has been shown to be somewhat of a hypocrite.

You can't go around admonishing people for using offensive language, being holier than thou, when you have no idea how offensive your own language is. It's just not coherent.

Unfortunately for Derek, the people who he has offended the most were the people he had just been keying up against Iain Dale.

Is that what you call karma?

Good old Charles with his 'Zen' and his 'Karma'.
All this new-age nonsense is pretty strange. Are
you sure you aren't a Lib Dem?

Nonetheless, demeaning language is the language
of the weak. I prefer not to use it. So the various
terms bandied around by all parties aren't showering
anyone in glory.

Still, I believe Free Speech is the most important
right we have. So even though I don't approve of Derek's
reference, or the posts on Guido's site, those people have every
right to act like asses if they wish. That's the nature
of free speech. Unless you are inciting to crime or committing
perjury, you can upset whoever the hell you like. They
have the choice to *not listen to you* and go elsewhere.

The correct response to any such comments isn't to
try and 'ban' them, or get up on your high horse
(while committing a similar faux pas yourself), but
to rise above it and lead by example.

Comment like yours is just more of the same claims and kicking someone up the ass. It's pure trolling and flamebait: unaccountable wind-up. It's illogical and selfish - the politics of ego.

So, you can cut the bullshit and patronising attitude. It just makes you look a bigger ass. Still, it's your karma.

Mr Ash - I assume you are Mr Draper's little helper on this site. You have a peculiarly similar turn of phrase my man.

Yeah, Celia, always a bad sign. I fear this website may end in tragedy.

The difference is dear boy that 'we', though I don't answer to anyone, or speak for anyone else, is that 'we' know Guido doesn't despise the mentally handicapped, as I'm sure, many of the posters of so called racist comments are not racists.

'We' understand context (and what a sense of humour is). I could no more stomach someone calling someone else a nigger than anyone else if it was meant to cause offense but if it was one black guy to another, it's a different matter.

I would say concentrate on the politics but this IS your politics.

honour man, do you have any?

Mr Draper has acted with honour. well done.

Has Derek Draper started referring to himself in the third person now?

Can't see there's much reason for Derek to apologise. I thought "windowlicker" was what it said as well. Personally, I think, his apology is just throwing a bone to the usual mob of keyboard warriors who should be holding Paul Staines to task over HIS use of the word. But, they'd have to admit they were being judgemental and someone on their team was being an ass.

I do hope this entire series of posts and articles is drawing to a close soon, it's cringeworthy.

A milestone has been reached. The campaigning LabourList has secured its first apology.

Nobody, however, could have predicted it would be Derek Draper's.

Here we go again. Derek front and centre. Just break this damaging habit will you Labour List? even the signpost to somewhere else - with a fullish explanation - is getting in the way of the mission. IMO.

It was in November 2008 that Guido Fawkes dubbed his own readers and commenters "window lickers" and "mad" so don't be too hard on yourself for repeating this type of thing.

On the other hand separating Derek's personal stuff - including personalised politics - from this site is essential. If Labour List is to prosper or even survive at all.

Can I suggest a full week of no posting here Derek? One day at a time as they say.

I certainly wouldn't put Guido or Iain in charge of Conservative Home as they are too anarchic and/or personal. So can Derek Draper catch the wave and become a self-effacing, story-before-author editor/contributor such as Montgomery, Coates, Isaby?

Dear Editor,

Please, please, please, no more postings from Mr Draper. You obviously aren't aware how appalling this whole exchange between him and Guido appears to your once-enthusiastic readership.

GS