Comments by "Ellie" (@ellie698) on ""If You'd Like To Be LESS Patronising!" Piers Morgan Clashes With Writer Over Fiona Bruce" video.

  1. One has to be very careful how one frames a sentence like this. For a perpetrator or friends of a perpetrator of any crime to state that is was a "one off" or as the favourite get out phrase of politicians very often used to say "an error of judgement", these phrases are designed to diminish the act that is being referred to. So these phrases have to be repeated very carefully and a certain tone of voice can be used. Fiona Bruce was doing her job very carefully as instructed yes. To be honest, I would personally have preferred it had she said something like "Stanley Johnson claims it was a one off" it "Stanley Johnsons friends claim that this domestic violence offence was a one off". Both phrases are equally truthful but give that truth without unnecessarily undermining the seriousness of what it is alleged he did. It's a balance that needs to be struck. Personally I think the BBC script didn't get the balance right here. The statement came off as dismissive of the seriousness of an assault, perpetrated by a husband to his wife. He is not denying the assault but by adding the phrase "one off" it is a blatant attempt at minimising the seriousness of it. As perpetrators and their apologists do.
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