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David Ruffley’s apology for domestic abuse is not enough. Now he must go David Ruffley’s apology for domestic abuse is not enough. He must go
(about 4 hours later)
David Ruffley, a Conservative backbench MP once predicted to have a glittering political future, has been cautioned by police for domestic abuse. The news broke last night when his lawyers released a statement saying the MP, who had once worked for Ken Clarke, had apologised for his “inappropriate action”, and the apology had been accepted by his former partner. It was the traditional appeal to discretion. Nothing to see here, move along, trust the authorities.David Ruffley, a Conservative backbench MP once predicted to have a glittering political future, has been cautioned by police for domestic abuse. The news broke last night when his lawyers released a statement saying the MP, who had once worked for Ken Clarke, had apologised for his “inappropriate action”, and the apology had been accepted by his former partner. It was the traditional appeal to discretion. Nothing to see here, move along, trust the authorities.
Let’s not make this personal. I know nothing about Ruffley, except that he is reported to have suffered from depression for which he has my sympathy. This is about him because his story reflects two giant problems haunting public life.Let’s not make this personal. I know nothing about Ruffley, except that he is reported to have suffered from depression for which he has my sympathy. This is about him because his story reflects two giant problems haunting public life.
The first is the national scandal of the scale of domestic abuse – more than 800,000 cases a year, of which fewer than one in 10 are prosecuted. This is a crime to which both the home secretary and the Crown Prosecution Service have promised to give the highest priority.The first is the national scandal of the scale of domestic abuse – more than 800,000 cases a year, of which fewer than one in 10 are prosecuted. This is a crime to which both the home secretary and the Crown Prosecution Service have promised to give the highest priority.
Every week, two women die at the hands of their partners, often after a long history of violence in a relationship only sustained by the manipulative behaviour of the abuser. Domestic abuse is a crime on such a huge scale, one that damages so many lives, that it would be statistically bizarre if at least a handful of the 650 MPs at Westminster had not inflicted or experienced it. It is a crime without frontiers of class or money.Every week, two women die at the hands of their partners, often after a long history of violence in a relationship only sustained by the manipulative behaviour of the abuser. Domestic abuse is a crime on such a huge scale, one that damages so many lives, that it would be statistically bizarre if at least a handful of the 650 MPs at Westminster had not inflicted or experienced it. It is a crime without frontiers of class or money.
The second problem is of an entirely different kind. This is the problem of what might be called the establishment blob. That is the one that allows too many MPs to believe, deep down, that being at Westminster is a kind of get-out-of-jail-free card. No one would say so, of course, but tradition and practice suggest that the authority of a seat in parliament renders impunity on all those who are elected.The second problem is of an entirely different kind. This is the problem of what might be called the establishment blob. That is the one that allows too many MPs to believe, deep down, that being at Westminster is a kind of get-out-of-jail-free card. No one would say so, of course, but tradition and practice suggest that the authority of a seat in parliament renders impunity on all those who are elected.
Still surprised that it was apparently possible for a network of MPs to abuse children without detection back in the 1970s and 80s? I give you the heavy fog of silence that has fallen over Mr Ruffley since he attacked his partner four months ago.Still surprised that it was apparently possible for a network of MPs to abuse children without detection back in the 1970s and 80s? I give you the heavy fog of silence that has fallen over Mr Ruffley since he attacked his partner four months ago.
We don’t ask all that much of our MPs. But probity is non-negotiable. A police caution is not the same as a conviction in a court of law but it would be likely to exclude anyone from a senior legal or managerial position. Ruffley cannot stay in parliament.We don’t ask all that much of our MPs. But probity is non-negotiable. A police caution is not the same as a conviction in a court of law but it would be likely to exclude anyone from a senior legal or managerial position. Ruffley cannot stay in parliament.
Yet he obviously thinks he can. If it wasn’t for the dean of Saint Edmundsbury Cathedral in Bury St Edmunds, the Very Reverend Doctor Frances Ward, who knows Ruffley’s now ex-partner, he might still be ignoring the muted criticism from rural Suffolk and building sympathy among friends at Westminster. Instead, the dean has written a letter describing meeting her friend, his victim, “wincing in pain”. The MP’s position, she declared, is untenable. The local police and crime commissioner agrees. Now his so-far loyal local party should understand the outrage that would be provoked if they let him fight the next election.Yet he obviously thinks he can. If it wasn’t for the dean of Saint Edmundsbury Cathedral in Bury St Edmunds, the Very Reverend Doctor Frances Ward, who knows Ruffley’s now ex-partner, he might still be ignoring the muted criticism from rural Suffolk and building sympathy among friends at Westminster. Instead, the dean has written a letter describing meeting her friend, his victim, “wincing in pain”. The MP’s position, she declared, is untenable. The local police and crime commissioner agrees. Now his so-far loyal local party should understand the outrage that would be provoked if they let him fight the next election.
Maybe it’s our politics, the way that it makes it impossible to admit to being wrong or being in the wrong. But he is, and he must go.Maybe it’s our politics, the way that it makes it impossible to admit to being wrong or being in the wrong. But he is, and he must go.