I’ve not been following all the ins and outs of this case. I’m just imagining modern Northern Irish politics goes something like this.

This much we do know: religious fundamentalist politician Iris Robinson, a woman with a bus pass and lot of opinions on how others should live their lives, had an extra-marital affair with a 19 year old boy. And there’s some sort of alleged financial scandal about her lending him money to start a restaurant business, not declaring it, and her husband – the Northern Ireland First Minister no less – turning a blind eye. He denies this, and has opened an inquiry into the matter.

If this was Italy, this sort of behaviour would probably boost her poll ratings. I suspect Northern Irish mores are somewhat different. Even if religion is less of a political issue than it used to be, I’m guessing some evangelical eyebrows have been raised in her constituency.

Now, I’m not one to judge other people on how they conduct themselves. Really I’m not. But she is. The 60-year old Money MILF is on record in radio interviews as saying that homosexuality is worse than paedophilia, and knows a good psychiatrist  who can ‘cure’ it. Oh, you Robinsons. You’re very entertaining. But why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the rod that is in thine own Iris?

This is the problem with politicians lecturing us on our personal lives, whether it’s Mrs Robinson’s hateful views on homosexuality, or Mr Cameron’s strange obsession with bribing people a pitiful amount to marry. They seem not only bigots when making policy, but hypocrites when they’re publicly hoist by their own petard.

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