Ovenden's gleeful recounting of vile, misogynistic remarks about Diane Abbott, Britain's longest-serving Black Member of Parliament, is disgraceful. This incident is a symptom of a much larger problem within Westminster and Starmer's boys' club. Beneath the polished image, this Labour government reveals itself as deeply flawed, out of touch and morally compromised.
While there is no denial that Ovenden's comments were inappropriate, resignation from a key role in delivering on government priorities will likely be quietly seen as an overreaction from Downing Street. Though undoubtedly nasty, cheap jokes from eight years ago should not be an adequate reason to leave No. 10, with this fiasco ultimately a sad sign of the times.
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