19 April 2007

Des the eloquent

Matthew Parris has some fun at Des Browne's expense:
Des Browne must go. Not because of the detainees’ excursions into the media but because of Mr Browne’s into the English language. As Ann Treneman reported, he really did say: “I have expressed a degree of regret that could be equated with an apology.” People should be hanged for this kind of thing. Urged to resign, he said: “I decline to accept the invitation to set out the parameters for ministers in terms of exactly what the threshold is for resignation.”
Imagine the Brownes at breakfast.
“Did you say you wanted a poached egg, dear?”
“I have expressed a degree of affirmation, my love, that could be equated with a positive response.”
“And do take your umbrella today. It looks like rain, don’t you think?”
“I decline to accept the invitation to set out the parameters for precipitation in terms of exactly what is the threshold for protective accessories, honey.”
It’s bordering on mental illness, isn’t it?

No, it's not mental illness - Mr Browne is a lawyer.

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