David Mellor

[sivam]

Hilarious. Breeding will out. Been at the sherry.

[frugalfred]

Interesting that he's never married the Cobham woman - but of course she'd forego her "Viscountess" title if she remarried.

[Baldric]

http://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/david-mellor-caught-on-tape-in-foulmouthed-tirade-at-london-taxi-driver-in-row-over-route-9881324.html

[sandyRoe]

I wonder does he still need the football shirt to score?

[sivam]

The author of the football shirt story is detained in prison at the monemt. Just deserts.

[Peter Pedant]

That Bordello Woman ?

no I mean - Antonia [ I am not a prostitute ] de Sanchez ?
Do tell.....

Interesting story at the time:
The landlord was allowed to bug his own house without telling anyone
Not sure if that would hold now

[Peter Pedant]

she's heeeere
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2271002/Antonia-Sancha-51-mistress-helped-bring-David-Mellor.html

out of the slammer....

long bit in the daily wail - how much is true ?

and now doesnt talk to journalists - well there;s a change

[douglas9401]

He really doesn't seem to be a people person.

[Quizmonster]

Just about the only word to indicate supposed 'superiority' that this wretched Tory ex-minister didn't use was 'pleb'!

[agchristie]

He should be cast in 'Wind in the Willows' this Xmas.

Question is, should he be cast as Ratty or Mr Toad

[lady-janine]

ag - more the pantomime dame I would think.

[agchristie]

^ Ha!

[andy-hughes]

The problem here is two-fold.

The first is Mr Mellor being inexcusably rude and pompous, and the second is the taxi driver recording the conversation and selling it to The Sun.

Obviously Mr Mellor was angry, and rude, but these sort of incidents happen in London cabs every day - it's simply that the nation has access to this one in all its rather ugly detail to consider and discuss, instead of the majority which are forgotten moments later.

I heard a selection of London cabbies on the radio, all of whom seem to have picked up Mr Mellor as a fare, and they all agreed that he tends to know which route he wants to take, and directs the cabbie accordingly, and that most times, he is perfectly affable.

One drive put forward the interesting concept that cabbie / passenger conversations are private, and should not be revealed, and that the driver, once identified, will be ostracised for his actions.

We shall see - but of the two, it is Mr Mellor who does not emerge covered in glory on this occasion.

[mrs_overall]

I have missed this - does anyone have a link please?

[mrs_overall]

Forget that - I found a link on another thread in News

[Quizmonster]

Andy, it's interesting that Andrew Mitchell, another Tory ex-minister, recorded a meeting in his office between him and several policemen regarding the Plebgate matter. It seems to have been perfectly acceptable for HIM to tape people without their being aware in HIS place of work, so I can see no reason whatsoever why a cabbie should be denied a similar facility in his.

Thanks for the Besr Answer selection, Sivam.

[jno]

andy, there's a third possible issue: was the cabbie doing his job by taking the best route? This doesn't always happen; and a passenger being diddled might have reason for anger.

The worst case scenario in fact is that the cabbie deliberately provoked Mellor in order to have something to sell the Sun.

I'd like to know more about this.

[Cloverjo]

I'm no fan of Mellor, but I think he is entitled to ask the cabbie to take his preferred route. The fact that the cabbie didn't, led to Mellor losing his temper. I don't see any disdain for "the working class"; just a man who paid a driver to do what he asked for.
He said some things he shouldn't have in his anger.

[Jomlett]

Mellor told the Sun: “This man seriously provoked me and ruined a wonderful day. Once I had lost my temper, which I regret, he then secretly recorded me. I will leave the public to judge his actions.”

Now Mick Cash, general secretary of the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union, said it should be no surprise that his black cab members across London were considering “a boycott of the Tory toff David Mellor over his outrageous, pompous and disgraceful tirade against one of their colleagues”.

[Cloverjo]

I've been in a taxi with OH, where the driver took a circuitous route. OH knew the area well and knew the driver was trying to get more money for the ride this way. The driver ended up with a lesser tip as OH had already worked out how much it should have cost and the resulting tip, and he got that amount anyway. It could have ended in an argument if I hadn't ushered him out.

[andy-hughes]

JNO - "andy, there's a third possible issue: was the cabbie doing his job by taking the best route? This doesn't always happen; and a passenger being diddled might have reason for anger."

Of course, that is possible. Cabbies usually know the quickest routes to anywhere in London, hence The Knowledge, but they also know of accidents and roadworks of which the passenger may not be aware. So the cabbie may have a legitimate reason for going off the standard route - but the concensus from what I heard was that most of them will take the customer's route, if asked, and Mellor usually asks.

"The worst case scenario in fact is that the cabbie deliberately provoked Mellor in order to have something to sell the Sun."

I think that's highly unlikely. Rows can blow up out of nothing, and both parties can find themselves embroiled because they reacted first and thought afterwards. It may be that Mr Mellor was a little 'tired and emotional' after his day out - which explains but does not excuse his behaviour.

"I'd like to know more about this."

I think your wish will be granted!